Marks and Spencer support new Hooters in Bristol, #2

Do you not think that the relentless characterisation of women as the "sexual servers" in society is a bit of a problem. Bad enough that porn is all about men's "needs", but restaurants? FFS, they're supposed to be somewhere to eat.

It's not just about sex - if it were there would be equivalent places aimed at women. Why do you think there aren't?

I care that you are trying to prevent a legitimate business from opening. The market will decide whether the people of Bristol, or anywhere else for that matter, want to visit Hooters. Its not Hooters that I care about, it's your opposition to it.

x-post

Not going to answer my question David? We've all been pretty clear about why we care. Why do you care?

If you must know, I was was visiting Experian at their offices in NG2 Business Park. I stayed at Jurys Inn which is about 200yds from Hooters in Nottingham, so it was hardly out of my way. And before you ask, the hotel was booked for me.

I was on my own, ordered one drink, left within about 20 mins, and walked into town where I spent the rest of the afternoon in the Living Room bar in the city centre.

You seem to be convinced that I am some kind of corporate Sock Puppet so I'm happy to play along with that now and again.

I'll admit to being fascinated with the whole 'anti-hooters' campaign and I enjoy discussing it, or 'derailing' that discussion as you would no doubt characterise it. Life would be very boring if we all agreed. It just so happens that I've been off sick recently and I've had a little time on my hands. Trouble is, I think I'm hooked now - cant seem to wean myself off it.

And you conveniently miss the point. As you know, it's not the selling of beer and crap food that we are objecting to.

That wasn't the question! I get the feeling that you are trawling for information. Know thy enemy perhaps.

As it happens, I have been offered a job in Hooters. Looking forward to starting soon...

Well, I think there is a big difference between tolerating, or accepting something, and normalising or indeed condoning it.

I think that most people will, indeed, have better taste, but I also think that most people will be happy to tolerate those that do not. I don't think it's for me to tell people where they can and cannot drink beer and eat deep fried crap. If somebody wants to make some money selling it to them, then I don't have a problem with it. Unless, someone can convince me that such a transaction harms anyone who does not choose to be part of it.

Yes, I was wondering that too, Elephants. I am even wondering if DSH is the new franchise holder, Mr WM himself.

Why would a man who claims to have no interest join Mumsnet, post about it at 3 am and keep an eye on blog posts on a link even I didn't have the address for?

And why go out of your way to visit them if you are neutral towards them.

I know some people just like arguing but there are plenty of other topics on here that could be debated instead of this thread.

David - can I ask in all honesty what your agenda is in this discussion? You keep making lots of "hilarious" remarks about having this "in hand", but OTOH you don't seem to be changing the discussion very much. So are you just interested and passing the time or what?

I am worried about it too, I would imagine we all are or we wouldn't be bothering to think about it beyond "i wonder if the burgers are any good".

AFAIK there aren't yet restaurants where the USP is the presence of scantily glad girls who will laugh at crap jokes and wear low tops and put up with customer's shitty and harrassing remarks and all the while wear a serene smile and pretend none of it is happening to them. The image of girls existing to serve and amuse men with their bodies, regardless of the girls' own feelings, is quite prevalent enough IMO. It's sad and disheartening to see it going further, and even worse to see it touted as "family-friendly".

I'm a bit fed up with the way some people are talking about opponents to Hooters as if we're not and never have been young girls or waitresses or objects of letching. I know what I'm talking about.

Why did you make the effort to visit Hooters if your meeting was in the city and Hooters is outside the centre? Your curiosity in the brand is somewhat...curious! Especially as I am guessing that you joined Mumsnet to debate this very topic.

Why spend your time visiting somewhere that's tacky when you could have gone to any number of nicer places in the centre?

I am bemused by your interest in a company that you have said you have a neutral opinion on.

To be honest, David, yes. It's happened with strip club clubs. Stick them on the high street, make them acceptable and mainstream and people will b convinced that they're just a bit of a laugh.

And in Bristol, there have been girls insisting that the whole boobs and burgers combo is ironic.

Perhaps I will be wrong and the people of Bristol will have more taste.

I visited Nottingham hooters on a business trip to the city some years ago. My meeting for the day wound up early and upon checking into my nearby hotel, I decided to kill some time and satisfy my curiosity. Having visited the one on the boardwalk in Atlantic city, I thought I'd see how the 'concept' travelled across the pond.

I can say with some confidence that Atlantic City is probably the naffest, tackiest city in the world, so Hooters seemed right at home there.

Hooters in Nottingham is far from at home with its environment, and at 4PM on a Tuesday afternoon, it was dead too - more 'Hooters Girls' than patrons. I think the place has to court the stag do's and football fans because its simply not mainstream in UK culture - its in a niche market over here. I think the fact that it has managed to keep trading has more to do with perseverance than any creeping acceptance of what the brand offers.

The Birmingham one didn't last long - perhaps because it was competing with distinctly more 'Adult' entertainment in Britain's Lap Dancing capital.

The new franchise owner is clearly trying to do things a little differently by leasing better quality locations. The Nottingham branch is in something of a 'no mans land' just outside the city centre which I imagine has relatively low footfall - meaning that they have to market it as a something of a destination.

In the UK, I don't think it will ever really get past its own novelty value. As the chain expands, even that will diminish.

Are you really worried that the British public are stupid enough to be seduced into accepting this into mainstream culture?

Unfortunately the Hooters in Nottingham seems popular with football fans and stag parties. At least 15 companies have it listed as a venue for a stag party meal on their website.

And they get football fans in there most weekends which requires a strong police presence.

I'd like to be able to agree with you, David, but if the evidence of the Nottingham Hooters is anything to go by, it might last longer than 6 months.

And <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/771/048/21/nrfFRCCDX5TNPTp.jpg&imgrefurl=www.ioffer.com/i/Girls-Of-Hooters-Playboy-April-1994-77104821&usg=___ygIe0ng7JXEUJjvFcrlXdQ1t9s=&h=300&w=400&sz=23&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=KDCpaduhzJ6XZM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=149&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhooters%2Bplayboy%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1120%26bih%3D484%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=614&vpy=67&dur=2178&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=119&ty=144&ei=-32eTNyeCs2SswbXoeDmDg&oei=-32eTNyeCs2SswbXoeDmDg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Playboy special - The Girls of Hooters

TheCrackFox wrote - "I don't know who came up with Hooter's business plan for the Bristol breastauant but i can't see it lasting longer than 6 months."

At last, something we agree on.

I don't think the hooters business model will work in the UK. If for nothing else, us brits just don't like to tip. At least not for beer and fried food - regardless of the 'sex appeal' of the wait staff.

Something for the kids?

Hooty - obviously you are entitled to your opinion.

I really just don't want to go anywhere that has this:

Hooters magazine

Hooters Hall of Fame

Used copy of DVD (no thanks!!) of the Best of Hooters Swimsuit Contests

Hi All,

I'm actually American (hence my awful previous spelling of Edinburgh! Thank you Stewies mom for your correction).
I'm based over here for the military. If that answers your question for visiting Hooters in the States and here.

Well I guess we shall have to agree to disagree about this issue. I still think its a shame about your perception of the company as I really do think its a great place.

The decision record from the licensing committee meeting at which the licence was granted has still not been forwarded to interested parties. The meeting was held on 1st September. Meanwhile, the refit is progressing.

At the licensing committee meeting at which the application was discussed, around 15/20 objectors turned up to sit in on the meeting. The meeting was due to start at 12:30pm. They weren't called in until nearly 2:30pm by which time many of those who had made the effort to turn up had to leave.

Just some things to watch out for if Hooters decides to open in your town or city.

It does seem very strange that a lot of delays are involved with this application.

@TheCrackFox-here's hoping!

That is very interesting about their recruitment day:

"He was quick to stress the Bristol one would be more ?classy?."

Hooters, classy?

"He said the Bristol bar was keen to get away from the stag night and footy crowd reputation of the Nottingham one"

Really, who the hell do they think is going to go there? Only men out on the lash are going to go to Hooters.

"learned customers would be allowed two drinks each, and then hostesses would have to ask management approval to serve customers with more drinks."

That is going to go down like a lead balloon in Bristol. People go out on a Friday/Saturday night to get drunk.

I don't know who came up with Hooter's business plan for the Bristol breastauant but i can't see it lasting longer than 6 months.

I have my uses...

I was going to ask if you wrote the piece. I note that there are few, if any, comments on that blog. Any thoughts you want to share with us?

Was about to post the link but it appears that David has got in there first....

Btw, I am not the author of that piece but well done to the author for going down there.