Marks and Spencer support new 'Hooters' in Bristol

[JessinAvalon]

Dear all
(I've posted this under the feminism list but it's been suggested that I post it here as well.)

I live in Bristol and, last week, 'Hooters' was granted a licence to open in the city centre. The site is virtually opposite 3 apartment blocks, the lower floors of which are social housing and children are living in them.

What's most disappointing is that Marks and Spencer are leasing the site to 'Hooters'. They have been e-mailed by many concerned people to ask if they will reconsider leasing the building but they have just replied saying it is a "commercial decision" (as if that makes it ok!). In Sheffield, a 'Hooters' didn't even make it to application stage because the developer (Ask Pizza) realised that it would be better not to be associated with a company like 'Hooters'.

Marks and Spencer don't seem that concerned, however. Although they have signed up to the "Let Girls Be Girls" Mumsnet campaign they are not concerned about a company which sells merchandise including babygros which say "Future Hooters Girl" and "Does my butt look big in this?"

I have written to Marks and Spencer telling them that I won't be shopping in their stores again. If you feel strongly about this, please e-mail:

[email protected].

'Hooters' tries to sell itself as a family friendly restaurant but it is anything but. The Hooters in Nottingham attracts mainly stag parties and football fans. Hooters Girls take part in bikini contests and iced wet t-shirt competitions (the t-shirts are put in the freezers before the girls wear them). 'Hooters' has links to Playboy magazine....I could go on.....

I think Marks and Spencer should be shamed for facilitating this company's expansion into Bristol. They are selling women and girls down the river by leasing to this company and all just to make a "quick buck". As one former customer said to them, being a hitman is a "commercial decision" but it doesn't make it right!

Thanks everyone.

We have a petition here which we set up and a blog here which is recording articles etc and news on the Bristol Hooters.

"Would you respect my opinion more if I had visited and then said I absolutely hated it?"

Yes. Its essential experience if you dont want to appear foolish in your role as chief HooterHater

Its harmless because people can take families there in the day (but why would they with so many other restaurants around?), and at night it is clearly advertised as a cool bar venue and nightclub. It is not the titty bar/strip bar you seem to think it is.

Its not called 'Tits' Cat, its called Hooters. You know - owls.

TBH I wouldnt take kids there either. The food is flash fried junk. But I'd like to have the OPTION to take them there, and not have the decision made for me by a handful of hardcore MNers via a pressure campaign against M&S.

ccpp it is a place that markets itself as a restaurant whose waitresses have big tits for their customers to stare at. It makes no secret of that, it shouts it from the rooftop. That is what is hated. Exactly what claims about Hooters do you think are being made that would be falsified by visiting the place?

ccpccp - would you suggest the OP visits a brothel before objecting to one opening next door to her.

You're quite entitled to be happy with Hooters and similar establishments just as others are entitled to protest about them.

ccpccp.....Have you been there in the daytime? Can you please tell us about the photos and uniform and staff during these times? I'm guessing it's all different from the evening...you know being harmless...my firend was served by a woman in a bikini when she was having lunch, are you going to completely ignore this fact?

I have been there in the daytime. Uniform was top and shorts not a bikini.

Ccpccp: 'Hooters' means 'tits', as well as owls. Didn't you realise?

ccpccp-'its not called 'Tits' Cat, its called Hooters. You know - owls.'
ah
so that means they choose the waitresses on the basis of their resemblance to owls? their fondness for owls? do the waitresses show off their owls? do they have wet owl contests? mmm?

M...An open shirt or low cut tee?

and 'Tits' are birds as well, so Cat is making perfect sense.

Holding a Youth Football tournament dressed in tiny shorts and low cut t-shirts is uncalled for imo. At least be honest in what you're selling. If they really had distinct styles, would they not have worn tracksuits when working with children? Or normal t-shirts? pics

Dear Ms PosieParker
Thank you for emailing Sir Stuart about the sub-letting of our former Simply Food store at Bristol Harbourside. As a member of Sir Stuart?s personal team, I am replying on his behalf.
I am sorry you feel let down by our decision to sub-let this site to Gallus Restaurants. This is a commercial decision and Gallus has received A3 business use permission from Bristol City Council for the property.
It has been reported that Gallus plan to open a branch of ?Hooters? in the property. I have noted your comments about Hooters; however, we do not feel it is appropriate for us to comment on the Hooters brand.
Thank you for taking the time to share your views with us.
Kind regards
George Mason
Executive Office
Your M&S Customer Service

Dear Chair,

Could you please enlighten me what prompted your leasing any of your buildings to an establishment that promotes the objectification of women? How can I justify shopping with you?

Many Thanks

posieparker
Bristol Resident.

Here's what I don't understand. M & S seem to take the moral high ground when it suits them -- i.e. the ethically traded/fair trade brands, sustainable fish, charging for plastic bags etc. I approve of all these things, but when it boils down to it, they turn a blind eye when it comes to a misogynistic company.

Oh, and I live in Bristol too and am going to try and find out how on earth it got licence approval

A standard crew t-shirt Posie

who the hell calls owls hooters anyway? who?
(am even sounding like an bloody owl now)

Could anyone who has visited tell me what's ok about Hooters?

As regarding Hooters meaning 'owls', I think that Hooters refer to 'owls' in the same way that that 'Dongers' clip referred to elephants. It's an incidental logo designed to deflect discussions. They could have picked a car horn instead!

Hooters is a slang word for breasts, hence why they only employ female waitresses and they wear a top that is designed to show off their breasts. The company itself admits this and this is why they try and sue companies who try to copy their USP.

If it was about owls, or eating food, or the great range of beers on offer, it would employ waiters and waitresses in a normal uniform. It's name would reflect something other than the breasts of the female staff. I can't think of another restaurant in Bristol that produces a calendar every year of its serving staff or which holds bikini contests.

At the council meeting in Bristol at which the petition was presented, someone did a speech about a fictional restaurant called 'The Nutsack' and about a waiter who didn't get a job there because his balls weren't big enough. He was asked to keep it decent and there was uproar and calls of 'hypocrite' from the public gallery. That's not deemed acceptable on the high street yet a place that is derogatory towards women is absolutely fine and sadly women are queuing up to defend the place.

I have spent some time trawling through anything I can find about Hooters on the web and nothing I can see online makes me think it's harmless or makes me want this company in my city or in the UK.

Jess...I'll be there if you let me know where and when, we could also pop along to the harbourside meeting 6th October.

Perhaps we should go dressed in fake breasts? or large penises hanging out?