Piper Private Equity, the company behind Hickory's Smokehouse restaurants, has invested £6m into the brand for expansion.
The equity firm, which owns stakes in Be At One and Turtle Bay, plans to open 10 more restaurants in the next three to five years, with the aim of reaching 100 outlets across the UK.
Hickory’s offer diners slow cooked barbecued meats and is famed for its 52oz prime rump steak, known as the Texas Slab, which costs £70.
The restaurant was founded by Neil McDonnell in 2010 and currently has three branches in Chester, West Kirby and Rhos-on-Sea.