Hickory's Smokehouse could be back open by spring after devastating blaze

The Hickory's Smokehouse restaurant which was destroyed by fire could be open again as early as next spring, bosses have revealed.

The successful chain is desperate to get the popular American-style eatery up and running again as soon as possible after it was devastated by the blaze last month.

Senior figures have already held meetings to discuss how the restaurant can be rebuilt quickly.

Flames ripped through the Wall Heath restaurant, which had only been open since November last year, after the fire was started by an electrical fault.

The venue was almost completely destroyed by the inferno, as around 100 firefighters battled to bring it under control.

The restaurant on Kidderminster Road had proved extremely popular since opening on the site of the former Kingfisher club last November and was regularly fully booked.

Bosses said they were keen not to lose the link they had built up with the local area. Events to be held on the restaurant car park have already been planned for the coming months as the restaurant is rebuilt.

Spokeswoman Paula Brown said: "We are aiming for six to nine months build time. Surveyors are seeing if anything is salvageable."

The company declared right away that it intended to bring back the Wall Heath restaurant and bosses are keen to get on with the job as soon as they can.

Wall Heath councillor Dave Tyler said he was pleased to hear the restaurant will rise from the ashes.

He said: "The last thing we want is to see a historic building left derelict and empty and vanish into the wilderness.

The devastation left by the blaze as the well know thatched roof was wrecked by the blaze. Picture: Oldbury Fire Station

"We want investment to keep coming to the village and keep the village alive because that restaurant is integral to the village.

"We all woke up to the shocking news and I hope the company can get back up and running as soon as possible."

More than 20 rooms at the adjoining Kingfisher Hotel were evacuated while the A449 was closed as a result of the blaze.

Crews from Brierley Hill and Stourbridge were the first to arrive at the smokehouse and were joined by 12 more teams as smoke billowed out of the roof of the restaurant and high into the Black Country sky.

Firefighters used a hydraulic platforms as they battled to bring the fire under control.

The owners of Hickory's, which has five branches in total in the UK, said they were distraught for their team and the community.