Fire-wrecked Hickory's Smokehouse rebuild nearing completion

Hickory's Smokehouse in Wall Heath is set to reopen in around three months, after a fire gutted the site due to a fault in a refrigeration unit.

The fire-wrecked eatery on Kidderminster Road saw 15 firefighters tackle the flames, with around 100 firefighters on the scene at its height in August.

It had only opened in November 2015, on the site of the famous Kingsfisher Club, and was extremely popular.

The venue was demolished following the fire, with only the white fencing from the former restaurant remaining.

Ward councillor Dave Tyler said the village were 'looking forward to the reopening'.

He said: "A lot of the people in the village are really overwhelmed and cannot wait for it reopen.

"It'll also bring more jobs to the area and more business so it's really good news that it's planning to come back.

"They're building it at an incredible rate and I'm looking forward to it opening again."

Guests in the 22 rooms at the Kingfisher restaurant and hotel complex next door were evacuated due to the fire.

Crews from Brierley Hill and Stourbridge were joined by 13 more appliances as firefighters had battled the blaze at the barbecue-style restaurant.

But now the restaurant has proposed a re-launch date of July.

A Hickory’s spokesman said: “We are delighted to confirm that due to the overwhelming level of support they have received from the local area, they will be rebuilding the restaurant and work is expected to be completed by mid-summer 2017 with a proposed re-launch date of July.”

At the time of the fire, a councillor said it was 'terrible news' because the eatery was a 'great addition' to the community.

Councillor Nicola Richards said: "Absolutely terrible news about Hickorys in Wall Heath.

"It's a great addition to our community."