A day in Hitchin can take you in several directions.
You might arrive with a sensible plan involving a bit of shopping, a coffee and a quick wander around the town centre. Then someone spots a shop they want to visit, someone else suggests a couple drinks, and before you know it, three hours have passed, and everyone is starving.
Which is usually a sign that the day is going well.
The good news is that you do not need to leave Hitchin to find somewhere worth settling into. Right in the heart of town, on Bancroft, you will find Craft and Cleaver – a smokehouse built around low-and-slow American barbecue, good drinks and the sort of atmosphere that makes “just one quick meal” a fairly unreliable promise.
Where to eat in Hitchin town centre
Craft and Cleaver Hitchin is located at 17 Bancroft, just a couple of minutes from the town square.
That makes it an easy stop if you have been exploring the independent shops, browsing the market, meeting friends in town or simply wandering around without a particularly ambitious itinerary.
We are also around a 15-minute walk from Hitchin Train Station, with nearby car parks including St Mary’s Square and Portmill Lane East and West.
So, whether you have arrived by train, driven in for the afternoon or already live locally, getting to the restaurant is relatively straightforward. No expedition equipment required.
A good place for lunch in Hitchin
If you are looking for lunch in Hitchin, Craft and Cleaver is a useful option when you want something more substantial than another sandwich but are not quite ready to commit to a full evening out.
Our menu is built around American barbecue, with smoked brisket, burnt ends, pork belly, pulled pork, fried chicken, burgers and a selection of sides. There are also vegetarian and vegan options, so the table does not need to reach a diplomatic agreement before ordering.
For something a little more relaxed, you can make a meal out of a few smaller dishes and sides. If you have arrived hungry after a morning of shopping, there are also sharing options and proper smokehouse plates that should take the edge off.
You can see the current dishes on our Hitchin menu.
Or make an afternoon of it
Lunch does not have to mean eating quickly and immediately returning to your errands.
Our Hitchin restaurant also has a beer garden with room for 50 people, making it a good place to sit outside when the weather decides to be helpful. Order some barbecue, grab a craft beer or cocktail and give yourself a little longer before heading home.
We also offer bottomless brunch, with 90 minutes of drinks available alongside a main course. It is available during the day, making it a suitable option for birthdays, catch-ups and afternoons that have become considerably more enjoyable than originally planned.
Naturally, “we’ll only stay for lunch” is not a legally binding statement.
Where to eat in Hitchin for dinner
If you are staying in town into the evening, Craft and Cleaver is a straightforward choice for dinner.
The food is the main event, with meat smoked fresh in our pits over wood and a menu that changes with the seasons. Alongside the barbecue, you will find burgers, other plates, sides, desserts and a drinks list covering craft beer, cocktails, wine and spirits.
There is enough variety for a group with different tastes, but the menu still has a clear identity. We are not trying to be everything to everyone. We are a barbecue restaurant, and we take that responsibility quite seriously.
Especially when brisket is involved.
A restaurant with something to do afterwards
One advantage of eating in the town centre is that you can easily turn dinner into a proper evening out.
At Craft and Cleaver Hitchin, that can happen without needing to organise a second venue. Our shuffleboard table is available to book for dates, birthdays, work socials and nights out with friends.
It is a good option if you want something to do before your meal, after dinner or between drinks. It is also a useful way to discover which of your friends becomes strangely competitive when a wooden puck is involved.
You can find out more about shuffleboard at Craft and Cleaver Hitchin.
Somewhere for dates, groups and casual plans
Not every visit to Hitchin has the same purpose.
You might be meeting someone for a date, organising a birthday, catching up with friends or trying to find somewhere that can accommodate a group without making the booking process unnecessarily complicated.
Craft and Cleaver works for all of those occasions. The atmosphere is relaxed; the food is designed to be enjoyed together and there is plenty to make the visit feel like more than simply stopping for something to eat.
For larger groups, we can help arrange the details directly. Those parties should contact the restaurant so we can make sure everything is organised properly.
What should you order?
That depends on how hungry you are and how willing the table is to share.
If it is your first visit, smoked brisket is a sensible place to start. Burnt ends are another popular choice, while smoked chicken, pulled pork, cheeseburgers and fried chicken offer plenty of alternatives.
For groups, sharing trays and combo options make it easier to try a few different things. Add some sides, perhaps a dessert, and you have a meal that is considerably more interesting than everyone ordering the same thing because nobody wants to decide.
Finish the day properly
Hitchin is a good town for spending a few hours without needing to rush from one activity to the next.
You can browse the shops, explore the town centre, meet friends, attend an event nearby or simply enjoy being somewhere other than your kitchen. Then, when you are ready for food, Craft and Cleaver is close by with smoked barbecue, drinks, outdoor seating and shuffleboard waiting in the wings.
Whether you are after a relaxed lunch, an evening meal, a birthday dinner or a full night out, we would absolutely love to see you.
Ready to book?
Find us at 17 Bancroft, Hitchin, SG5 1JQ.
You can book a table at Craft and Cleaver Hitchin or explore the current menus before your visit.
Come for the barbecue. Stay for the drinks. Blame the shuffleboard when the evening runs late.
