Live Music at Hickory’s Smokehouse in West Kirby – Once in a while you dine out in a restaurant, enjoy a beer and think, mmm…I could just eat that again. Such was the case here, a superb fully authentic American restaurant chain called Hickory’s Smokehouse. We were initially contacted a few weeks ago and asked if we would like to perform at their restaurant. It was our first time at Hickory’s Smokehouse so we were unsure of what to expect. Over the water we went, up to the Wirral. Based in West Kirby, Merseyside and as described on their website as a “Buzzing American BBQ joint serving hickory-smoked and grilled meat, kids’ menu, shakes and US beers”.
We’ve witnessed restaurants attempt the American Theme before only to be closed a year down the line. Now, we’ve actually been to America performing a couple of times and obviously had to eat. One of the things Americans offer in restaurants is a great service. There’s a fine line between friendly and cheesy. Not your typical “Have a nice day now” but a balance of helpfulness, friendliness and assertiveness for your customers. They appreciate your custom. Now I’m not an expert in the restaurant business, far from it but in my opinion without this; even if you’re serving the greatest food in the world, customers will rarely return. It’s all about the overall experience.
Hickory’s Smokehouse have, by all accounts hit the nail on the head. If it was not for the accent you really would actually believe you are in America when you enter. Excellent service, mouth watering smoky smells, a great choice of music and a buzzing atmosphere hit you as soon as you walk through the door. We were greeted upon entry by a really friendly lady who asked us to wait in the bar area for our table. We checked out where we would be performing and ordered a drink. We explained to the bar man who we were and he was so friendly and helpful. Asking about the type of music we do etc.,
The food is a real take on American styled eateries, from the side dishes to the specially imported ole pit smokers from Missouri, not to mention the music, you’d think you were in the Hill Billy Mountains and Dolly was just around the pass. Then the old Chigago blues tunes were pumping out, It really was a great selection. Having met Buddy Guy himself in Chicago I’m sure he would really give it the thumbs up.
Within 5 minutes we were shown to our table which had been reserved by management. The waitress took our order, gave us a jug of water and a little bag of fresh popcorn. All the little touches you would expect in an American restaurant. You can kind of see why Americans become really confused when they have to queue up in establishments such as Wetherspoons and pay for their food at the bar and then queue up again for a drink leaving their food to go cold.
With chatty trendy bartenders, nippy waiting on staff and an open kitchen the service was excellent. Our food arrived and wow how good is that. I opted for a salad and Andy for a burger. It was one of the best meals we’ve ever had. As we were coming to the end of our meal the manager approached us and asked what time we would need to set up as she would have to clear the space. Talk about efficiency. The hassle it saves when you need to move people and apologising, feeling really awkward. The staff even helped us with our gear so it was like having our very own roadies.
As the time approached playtime it did seem to empty out a bit although there were still a few present to perform to. The ones that were still in there did stay which is always a good sign. We introduced ourselves and played it cool for the first few songs to warm them up. We noticed a couple of tables finishing their drinks and heard them saying “should we stay for another and watch the band?” and that is exactly what they did.
We were approached by one of the barmen and asked if we could sing happy birthday for one of the bar staff as a surprise. We happily agreed and the bar staff entered with sparklers as the staff and punters in the restaurant burst into song to the unsuspecting bar tender.
After hearing our Birthday performance we were approached by a group of girls who were out celebrating for their friends birthday. They asked if we could do the same for her. It was a double celebration, Yeah. The group of girls ordered another round of cocktails and a fish bowl I think, so it worked out quite well. So with the birthday requests out the way, we played our last 45 minutes worth of songs. A group of lads arrived towards the end of the second set and were really getting into the music. I think there was some type of chemistry going on between the two groups as we could see a few flirtatious looks, especially from the men.
Overall it was a successful gig. We got asked for “one more song. One more song” so that’s always a good sign. Our music suited the venue and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
If you’ve never tried Hickory’s Smokehouse in West Kirby we highly recommend it. With the food, the atmosphere, the service and the venue we can see why it is a success. You can literally see the staff are treated fairly as they are all walking around with smiles on their faces and going the extra mile for everyone. They work really well together as a team; almost like a big family.
Thank you to all the staff at Hickory’s smokehouse for being so warm and welcoming and for supporting live music. Thanks to our appreciative audience who cheered, clapped and sung along; we couldn’t do it without you. We shall be returning in the New Year for another gig and are looking forward to it already.
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