“ad” – Why is this here?

If you have been driving down Milton Road lately, you will have noticed that the old Milton Arms has been going through a bit of a transformation.

Hickory’s Smokehouse has now officially taken over, turning what was once a steady, cheap-and-cheerful family pub into something on a completely different scale. I will be honest: I never particularly enjoyed spending time in the old Milton Arms, but what they have done to the space is truly special, bringing authentic American-style barbecue right to our doorstep and filling a massive gap that Cambridge has desperately needed.

Cambridge simply doesn’t have anything like this, making it a very welcome addition to the city. Walking in, it is everything you would expect from a proper American-style joint. It is huge, the sports are on the big screens, there is a wide selection of bourbon, heaps of slow-smoked meat, painfully friendly service, and practically everything you could possibly imagine to keep the children entertained.

Before I dive in, I can hear the inevitable whinging already from people complaining because it is owned by Greene King. Yes, yes, I get it – Greene King = bad, but I cannot deny what they have achieved here. When Hickory’s was bought out, the original founders were kept on to run the ship, and they have done a brilliant job maintaining the soul and standard of the place.

The Smokers

After I posted my review of the Peterborough launch a few months back, I noticed a lot of comments popping up claiming that their imported American smokers aren’t actually on site and that the meat is smoked off-site and shipped in. That is utter nonsense. I had the pleasure of seeing the two absolute monster smokers in the back kitchen and they took up an entire room in the kitchen, running non-stop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week burning genuine hickory wood.

A Quick Word From Our Meddling Government

I attended the launch event of the Peterborough venue a few months back at the same time the new HFSS regulations came into practice regarding the advertising of “junk food”. Under these rules, if a meal is compensated as part of a press launch for a chain restaurant then it is considered an advert, therefore content creators are limited in how they can feature certain high-fat items without jumping through endless legal hoops. It got to the point where it basically wasn’t worth the hassle, so I ended up paying out of my own pocket for the meal in Peterborough just so I could properly show off the meat on my Reel and blog!

For this visit to the Cambridge launch money was a little tight, so decided to take them up on their kind offer. For the reason I am focusing primarily on the new venue itself to stay legal, but if you want to see an in-depth breakdown of the food quality, you can check out my full Peterborough review.

The Menu

That said, the menu here is identical and massive. They have got everything from 16-hour slow-cooked Texas brisket and ribs that you can simply suck the meat straight off the bone, to deep-fried onion blooms and their signature frickles (deep-fried pickles in Cajun batter).

If it is your first time visiting, I highly recommend going for the Smokehouse Platter for two as it gives you a bit of everything. Unless you are hunting out niche specialist pop-ups (like Meated), you will be hard-pressed to find better barbecue food anywhere in the region.

The Family Setup

Just like the Peterborough site, Hickory’s has gone all-out for families. There is a built-in mini cinema room for the kids to settle down and watch a film, giving parents a much-needed chance to sit back and actually have a conversation over dinner. Add in a constantly running popcorn machine and a dedicated sweet station, and it is safe to say the little ones are sorted. If you cannot get a babysitter for the evening, this is easily the next best thing.

Bourbon & Drinks

As a frequent scotch drinker who has recently been exploring the world of bourbon, I was delighted to see such an extensive selection lined up behind the bar. This is a million miles away from standard supermarket fare like Jack Daniel’s or Jim Beam. They are stocking proper, authentic American whiskeys that are a cut above the usual – including two of my absolute favourites, Angel’s Envy and Elijah Craig. Sitting back with a glass while watching the football (and NFL) on the big screens felt like being transported straight back to the States for an evening.

Hickory’s even brews their own house IPA. To be completely honest, I wasn’t hugely fond of it (you can definitely taste the Greene King taste there), but it was still a cool touch to see them offering their own custom pint.

American Service Culture

The service here is utterly insane. I genuinely do not understand how the team manages to remain so smiley, high-energy, and happy throughout a busy shift! It is that true American customer service culture you often hear about – nothing is ever too much trouble, and every single interaction comes with an enthusiastic, contagious smile.

The Verdict

This is a superb addition to Cambridge and a vastly better use of the building than a standard Hungry Horse. I admit I will slightly miss the random nights of Rock ‘N’ Roll Bingo that used to go down on a Thursday, but this transformation is exactly what the local area needed. It is brilliant for families, ideal for a night out with the lads, and an absolute must-visit for meat lovers. Naturally, the barbeque isn’t going to be as good as the deep south of America but for Cambridgeshire, this is as good as it can be. I will be back without a doubt and I look forward to exploring their huge menu even more.

Thanks for reading! 👍