Meet the Sandbach family who travel miles to eat at every Hickory's Smokehouse!

By Deborah Bowyer 22nd Dec 2024

Meet the Richards who are just made about Hickory Smokehouses. (Photo: Simon Richards)
Meet the Richards who are just made about Hickory Smokehouses. (Photo: Simon Richards)

Amanda and Simon Richards are something of connoisseurs when it comes to eating food from a particular restaurant.

The Sandbach couple had their first date at Hickory's Smokehouse in Chester back in 2010 and even paid another visit the day after their wedding day en route home to sample their favourite food.

Since then their love affair with Hickory's Smokehouse, which originated in Chester, but has now branches all over the country is something of a legend.

The couple had a drawing done to celebrate their Hickory's journey! (Photo: Simon Richards)

For they have visited every Hickory's, whose website is here in the country and make a habit of going back for every anniversary and birthday and even had their impromtu engagement party at you guessed it - Hickory's!

And Amanda, who works in the Early Years sector, and Simon, a Sandbach town councillor and also a trained teacher, have even passed their love of Hickory's on to their children Oliver (6) and Lily (4).

The Hickory's Grand Tour! (Photo: Simon and Amanda Richards)

For the youngsters love going to eat out at Hickory's and even had their own homemade 'passports' so they can keep a track of their visits with mum and dad.

"When I turned 30 I had it on my bucket list to visit every Hickory's in the country," said Amanda whose favourite dish is Southern Fried chicken.

Their children just love Hickory's. (Photo: Simon and Amanda Richards)

"We just love Hickory's and so do the children who love the children's meals and the cinema showing Disney films. They don't want to go out to eat anywhere else!"

Amanda and Simon are such legends at Hickory's that the firm even sent them special embroidered Hickory's jackets and invite them to any new ones opening.

The couple have even set up their own Instagram page here to chart their amazing Hickory's journeys and had a picture made to celebrate the very restaurant which first cemented their relationship all those years ago.

But it wasn't all plain sailing for Simon when he decided he wanted to take Amanda for a meal to Hickory's in Chester on their first date.

Lily Richards - just mad about Hickory's too! (Photo: Simon and Amanda Richards)

"When we got there we found it was full but because I used to go there with the American football team I played with they found us a space in the sports bar to eat.

"The restaurants have such a lovely atmosphere and the staff are so helpful and welcoming. We just love Hickory's," said Simon.

"We have based ourselves in an area so we can visit two or three if we're on holiday."

The couple get invited to any pre-launch events if a restaurant is reopening so they can test out the service and food and give their feedback.

And it looks like the Richards may well have a few more miles to cover in 2025.

"I think they're opening around another 10 new ones," said Simon.

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