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ORDER ONLINE (519) 743-4331 574 Lancaster St. W.
Kitchener ON N2K 1M3 [email protected]
 
Lancaster Co.
 

About Us

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The Smokehouse

Born from years on the North American competition BBQ circuit and a family's passion, The Lancaster Smokehouse blends traditional barbecue techniques with the local flavours of the Waterloo Region, with regional dishes such as pigtails.

Chris Corrigan stands under a canopy at a barbecue competition wearing a Hog Tails BBQ Team apron, sunglasses, and a bandana, tending ribs beside a tray of cooked meat while other teams work in the background.
A cartoon pig in sunglasses and a leather jacket rides a motorcycle with smoke trailing behind it, alongside the text “Hog Tails Bar B Que.”

Chris and Cathy Corrigan found their love for barbecue early on, and soon friends and family were asking them to cater gatherings. That demand pushed the family into the competition circuit, where they toured across Canada and the United States, earning awards from judges at multiple sanctioned events. In 2009, they opened Hog Tails BBQ in Waterloo, becoming one of the region’s first dedicated barbecue restaurants.

In 2011, Chris and Cathy purchased the historic Lancaster Tavern and opened The Lancaster Smokehouse, bringing their barbecue to a larger space with deeper roots in the community. The restaurant grew quickly, becoming a recognized part of the region’s food scene. For several years, Hog Tails and The Smokehouse operated alongside one another before Hog Tails was eventually sold and later closed.

Chris and Cathy Corrigan stand with their family and host John Catucci at The Lancaster Smokehouse after filming their “You Gotta Eat Here!” episode, posing behind a decorated cake that reads “Thank You Y.G.E.H.”

In 2013, The Lancaster Smokehouse was featured on the Food Network Canada series You Gotta Eat Here!, where host John Catucci highlighted the restaurant’s barbecue, history, and family‑run approach.

The Smokehouse continued to grow, becoming one of Waterloo Region’s most recognized and beloved restaurants. The business has always been family‑driven, and that sense of family extends well beyond ownership. Over the years, parents and children, siblings, spouses, and close friends have worked side by side, helping shape the culture of the restaurant.

Today, The Smokehouse employs more than 80 people and remains committed to supporting local producers, suppliers, and the community that has supported it for more than a decade.

A new Southern Pride SP‑1400 rotisserie smoker sits outside Kendale Products Ltd., reflecting sunlight as it’s positioned for delivery or setup.
A Kansas City Barbeque Society certificate recognizing Chris Corrigan as a member in good standing in 2001, highlighting his long‑standing involvement in professional barbecue culture.
Briskets cooking inside a Southern Pride SP‑1400 rotisserie smoker, arranged on metal racks as they roast low and slow.

All of our barbecue is smoked in‑house using two Southern Pride SP‑1400 rotisserie smokers fueled with hickory wood. These pits run low and slow, rotating the meat through consistent heat for an even cook.

Learn more about the Kansas City Barbeque Society, one of the world’s largest competitive barbecue organizations and a major influence on North America’s barbecue culture.

The Lanc

The Lanc has been an important part of the Waterloo Region’s history and community for nearly 200 years. Built in the 1840s as the Lancaster Hotel, it originally served travellers along the rail line that passed through the former village of Bridgeport and into Berlin (now Kitchener). Historical references to the Lancaster Hotel appear in early township records and regional heritage listings such as the Waterloo Region Heritage Foundation.

A historic black‑and‑white photograph of the original Lancaster Hotel, showing a horse‑drawn carriage in front of the two‑story brick building in the early 1900s; this same print hangs inside The Lancaster Smokehouse as part of its heritage display.
A historic aerial photograph of Bridgeport showing the arched bridge spanning the river and surrounding neighbourhood; this print is also displayed at the Bridgeport Community Centre.
A historic black‑and‑white aerial photograph of the Lancaster Smokehouse property showing the early parking lot, surrounding homes, and mid‑century roads; this same print is also displayed at the Bridgeport Community Centre as part of its local history collection.

The hotel was first operated by Gottlieb Bitzer, a local vinegar manufacturer and innkeeper who settled in Bridgeport after emigrating from Württemberg, Germany. His family played a meaningful role in the region’s development. His son, Conrad Bitzer, later became Mayor of Preston, a detail noted in regional political archives such as the City of Cambridge historical records.

As Bridgeport grew, the Lancaster Hotel became a central gathering place for residents, workers, and travellers. It remained a fixture through major periods of Canadian history, including Prohibition. References to the hotel’s role during this era appear in local heritage publications and community history projects like the Waterloo Region Museum.

A framed City of Kitchener heritage certificate presented to Lancaster House in 2004, recognizing 150 years of contribution to the city’s industrial and social history; this original print hangs inside The Lancaster Smokehouse as part of its historical display.
A framed 1969–1970 Ontario Liquor Licence issued to Lancaster Public House, outlining the era’s gender‑restricted “Women only or Women escorted by Men” regulations; this historic licence was gifted to The Lancaster Smokehouse by the Kirby family and is preserved as part of the restaurant’s heritage collection.

Over the decades, the building passed through several owners who each left their mark on the property:

  • Habfried Hunderhager operated the hotel in the late 1800s.
  • John Grasser purchased it in 1896.
  • The Kirby family owned and operated the hotel during the early 1900s.
  • Fred Querin later took over the building.
  • Jim Walsh purchased it in 1950.
  • The Kelly family owned the building afterward.
A street‑side view of The LANC’s canoe‑shaped sign with “The SS Ocean Queen” mounted above it, photographed along Bridgeport Road in front of The Lancaster Smokehouse.
A historic black‑and‑white photograph of two uniformed men standing beside a motorcycle with a sidecar in front of the Lancaster Hotel, capturing early‑20th‑century local law enforcement; this original print hangs inside The Lancaster Smokehouse as part of its heritage display.
A historic black‑and‑white photograph of the Lancaster Hotel at a mid‑century Bridgeport intersection, showing the hotel’s signage, parked vehicles, and neighbouring gas station; this original print hangs inside The Lancaster Smokehouse as part of its heritage collection.

From 1956 to 1976, the building became the Ocean Queen Lounge, a nautical‑themed jazz venue known for live music and late‑night energy. Mentions of the Ocean Queen Lounge appear in regional entertainment archives and community oral histories documented by the Waterloo Region Connected historical forum. Today the space is used as The Lanc Loft.

The building later went through a particularly difficult period, experiencing four separate fires between 1992 and 1994. Coverage of these fires appeared in local newspapers such as The Waterloo Region Record, which reported on the damage and subsequent restoration efforts.

 

There have long been stories and speculation about the building being haunted. During the filming of her Tubi series, The Haunted Estate, Celina Myers (CelinaSpookyBoo) identified two friendly spirits: Catherine and Francis. Her visit to The Lanc is publicly documented in the episode description and promotional materials for the series.

Back of House Pizza

Back of House Pizza was created by Chef and co-owner Tim Borys in 2022 as part of the Lancaster Co. family, bringing his vision of quality-crafted New York-style pizza to Waterloo Region.

Built around handcrafted dough, quality ingredients, and a commitment to doing the classics right, the menu features everything from timeless New York favourites to rotating feature pizzas that give the kitchen the freedom to explore more creative combinations.

What began as a fresh concept has become one of Waterloo Region's favourite hidden gems, building a loyal following one slice at a time.

Guests can also enjoy Back of House Pizza Happy Hour in The Smokehouse dining room, Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 6.

Visit backofhousepizza.com for the full menu and more.

Chef Tim Borys standing in front of Back of House Pizza’s pickup door beneath the “Pizza Parkin’ Only” sign, holding an open box with a fresh feature pizza partly visible.
A Back of House Pizza box opened to reveal the Bolognese pizza, topped with rich sauce, melted cheese, and fresh basil, with a house dipping cup beside it and the Back of House Pizza logo visible on the lid.
The brand‑new PizzaMaster Model 942 double‑deck electric pizza oven during installation, showing its stainless‑steel body, dual glass‑front baking chambers, heavy insulated doors, digital control panels, and open side access revealing the internal wiring as technicians hook it up — the same oven now used to fire every Back of House pizza at The Lancaster Smokehouse.

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