Taste of the past in Kingfisher revamp

And now more history of the The Kingfisher Club, in Wall Heath, near Kingswinford, is being unearthed ahead of its transformation into a family restaurant.

The club is being transformed into Hickory's Smokehouse restaurant, making it the chain's first outlet in the West Midlands.

Piles of debris and decor have formed outside the Kidderminster Road venue as workers set about clearing the building.

The work has shed light on the long-forgotten history of the building, as ornate features have been uncovered by workers.

Staff were delighted to discover the venue's cellar was home to a secret casino for the club's discerning customers in the 1970s.

It featured a vault door and 1970s style newspaper still on the walls inside.

As years of decorations and fittings were stripped back the new owners found an archway near the main entrance.

The impressive structure has now been incorporated to the design of Hickory's so it retains original touches to add to the restaurant's character.

Hickory's spokeswoman Jennie Grimes said works remain on track to open the new restaurant in November.

She added: "We have really enjoyed spending time in the local community and getting to know the neighbours and businesses.

"It's so interesting to hear everyone's memories of time spent in The Kingfisher.

"We have even learnt that the cellar was once a secret casino back in the 1970's - this story was backed up by the volt door and the 70's style wallpaper we found down there."

"At this point we are coming to the end of the strip out and the local building team will be starting their ground and structural work."

She has asked members of the community to email jennie.grimes@hickorys.co.uk with any suggests and questions about the restaurant.

The work has already been welcomed after the chain said it was looking to create 60 jobs at the restaurant.

Councillor Dave Tyler, ward councillor for Kingswinford North and Wall Heath, said he hoped the chain would be a success.

Hickory's Smokehouse has establishments across north England and Wales, but the Wall Heath restaurant will be its first outlet in the West Midlands.

The venue was popular at its height with acts and hosted an early line-up of The Beatles in the 1960s.

As a cabaret venue it attracted Bob Monkhouse, Frank Carson and Bernard Manning.

The venue bowed out with a 1980s-themed party when Born In The Eighties took to the stage. Ten staff were made redundant.

The Kingfisher Country Club itself was built in the 1930s when it was known as the Kingfisher Lido, where it housed the only Olympic sized swimming pool outside of London.

Other acts to grace the stage through the years have included The Supremes, Gerry and Pacemakers and Joe Longthorne.