The Shack delighted with opening night of Hitchin restaurant

The business finally welcomed customers for the first time yesterday (August 6), eight months after announcing they would be taking over 32 Sun Street following Deroka's closure.

Manager Ash Millward was pleased with the success of The Shack's first day in Hitchin, and said it was "worth the wait" after a delayed opening.

"Tonight’s gone really well, and lunchtime was fantastic. It’s just nice to see people coming out and giving us a try," he told The Comet.

Inside new Hitchin restaurant The Shack. (Image: Dan Mountney)

"I think the opening was absolutely worth the wait. The ethos we always have is that if we have wait a little bit to deliver then we’ll do that. We want to give people as close to perfection as possible.

"Waiting for the refit was worth it too. The guys at Colin Hill have done an excellent job, because I know it was a lot of headaches for them."

Serving up burgers, chicken tenders and wings, grilled sandwiches, a variety of sides and desserts, The Shack joins a bustling street food scene in Hitchin that already contains Cawsburger, Chicken George, Café 77, Cantina Carnitas and more.

Ash was full of praise for the likes of Cawsburger, but believes The Shack can bring something new to the town.

"Cawsburger are so fantastic with their smash patties and they are killing the game with their burgers, so we’re not trying to be them," he said.

The Don-Le-Clay burger (right) was among the dishes Ash recommended for new diners. (Image: Dan Mountney)

"What we have is a little bit more of the dining aspect, so that bit extra and over the top service. It will be hard to compete in this scene but that’s what we want to bring."

The opening of the Hitchin restaurant sees the business achieve a long-term goal, with Ash continuing: "We initially wanted to open in Hitchin before we opened in Biggleswade, but we just never found the right place for us.

"Once this place in Sun Street came up we knew we had to go for it.

"I opened the Biggleswade site and then two months later we knew we were coming here, so plans were in place straight away.

"Hitchin has always been the goal so being here is happy days."

As for the menu items he would recommend, Ash added: "I would recommend all of it, but the one that people always see on social media is the Don-Le-Clay. It’s a lot to deal with but it’s a fantastic burger.

"I’m more a Stack kind of man, which is chicken, a beef patty and then more chicken. It’s a good, meaty burger that just puts you to sleep, so that’s what I’d go for."