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Original poster

Marks and Spencer support new 'Hooters' in Bristol

1000 replies

JessinAvalon · 10/09/2010 20:23

Dear all
This is my first post on here so I hope I am doing this right!

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".

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:

BitOfFun · 11/09/2010 21:17

I will email them too- I hope you don't mind if I c&p a lot of yours, SSA.

What's the address for head office?

Original poster

JessinAvalon · 11/09/2010 21:21

Well, the options are that Marks and Spencer pull the lease, which they will do if there's enough negative publicity.

(Funnily enough though, the Bristol Evening Post don't want to report on the Marks and Spencer inappropriately helps Hooters to open in Bristol story but are busy trying to keep their future advertisers happy with a glut of positive stories about the place. And in response there have been some awful comments....people who object like me have been called:

Green eyed monsters, rabid crones, pathetic old crones, butch lesbians, hags, nags, someone even wished us six feet under!)

The other option is for the police to appeal the licensing decision, which we are hoping they will do.

The third option is, if it does open, for residents to record antisocial behaviour and report it to the police. Then the police can call for a review of the licence but obviously it'll be better for it not to open in the first place.

Also, the more that open up, the more 'acceptable' they'll become, like in the US where they're everywhere, and local councils won't be so inclined to turn them down if that happens.

@Eleison - well done! We got one turned down in Bristol as well. It was applying to open up next to one that is already open from 8am to 6am. Who the hell wants a lap dance at 8am anyway???

OP posts:

Original poster

JessinAvalon · 11/09/2010 21:22

Hi BitofFun
The e-mail address is:

[email protected]

Thank you!

Jess

OP posts:

sethstarkaddersmum · 11/09/2010 21:26

yes please feel free to c&p, BoF.

BitOfFun · 11/09/2010 21:32

Right, I sent it to [email protected].

TheCrackFox · 11/09/2010 21:34

Oh, great they are coming to Edinburgh.

BitOfFun · 11/09/2010 21:38

Really? Link?

JustAnotherManicMummy · 11/09/2010 21:43

Richmond! Bloody hell. You can't be putting a Hooters in an Upon-Thames. It's not right.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 11/09/2010 21:48

I've emailed Kerry McCarthy as she is my local MP. I feel disgusted about this

ZeroZeroOne · 11/09/2010 21:49

sometimes I feel a little fed up of MN then this sort of thing, and the galvanising of support which I genuinely feel will succeed here, makes me realise why I like it.

bluebump · 11/09/2010 21:53

Oh dear, they are coming to Exeter too. I'll start composing my email now...

bratnav · 11/09/2010 21:55

Jess-which lib dems are in favour? I know a few personally and would be happy to badger them.

SugarMousePink · 11/09/2010 21:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CommonSenseSuze · 11/09/2010 22:02

Minimum wages on offer. Nice company: hooters.co.uk/

My town is on the list. Ugh.

TessOfTheBurbs · 11/09/2010 22:06

Mine too. Yuck. I do not want to see this become a fixture in this country. Oh and then the copy-cat chains that will no doubt follow.

And, "wholesome"?? FFS Hooters, at least be honest about it, nobody is going to go to Hooters to take in the "wholesome" atmosphere!

CommonSenseSuze · 11/09/2010 22:29

Amazing that the US site has pictures of families. A) it's about boobs and B) the food looks awful.

What dad wouldn't feel incredibly embarrassed taking his children there? I mentioned it to DP and he said it's the LAST place he'd feel comfortable sitting with DD in.

JustAnotherManicMummy · 11/09/2010 22:45

How can we find out what the plans for individual towns are? I've googled but can't find what the plans for Richmond are.

I will also email this weekend but was wondering when the next AGM of shareholders is and if it's worth going along if you have m&s shares?

Also who are the majority m&s shareholders? They deserve a few emails too

TheSmallClanger · 11/09/2010 23:09

I've got a bit of experience of this sort of thing, and have learnt some useful information.
The best way to tackle this is at the planning/licensing stage. However, as the old gits in charge of licensing often do not care about feminist issues, you need to spin it carefully. Objections due to noise nuisance, probable rowdy behaviour and environmental health concerns are the way to go. Do a little research about the proposed sites, and you'll find something to pick up on.

You can also try the angle of "tacky chain restaurant not fitting in" if your local Hooters is set to be plonked in the middle of a nice historic street.

Original poster

JessinAvalon · 11/09/2010 23:27

@Bratnav - the councillor who was chairing the committee that day is Guy Poultney. He also voted in favour of a lap dancing club last December. He has specific views about this kind of place and doesn't seem to accept that they are a problem. He also sits on the North Bristol Domestic Abuse Forum.....doesn't really compute, does it! He was on the radio last week saying that he wanted to offer the people of Bristol a good nightlife and that he thought Hooters "offered something different"! I'm guessing he'll be one of the first through the door when/if it opens!

@Justanothermanicmummy - in order to find out if the company are planning to open up in your town, the best thing to do is to keep an eye on the planning/licensing applications. They do not call themselves 'Hooters' or refer to 'Hooters' in their applications. They will be in the name of Gallus Management or another company (need to check the name) and they say they are opening up an American sports cafe.

They don't have to declare 'Hooters' in the application but I don't think that it's a coincidence that there have been huge campaigns against them in Bristol in 2008 when they first tried to open, Sheffield, Southend on Sea and Cardiff that have made it into the national press and now they sneak through applications without mentioning it. That's what happened in Bristol. We only found out by chance after the deadline for objections had passed. I remember feeling really sorry for Cardiff and thinking, "at least we're not getting one here" and then finding out the next day that they'd applied to open!

The only way you can object is by stressing the impact on one of the 4 licensing objectives - crime & disorder, protection of children from harm, public nuisance and public safety.

Our's is in a cumulative impact zone so the onus is on the company to prove that there is no impact on the 4 objectives above. But of course, they'll only be doing children's parties and the girls might do a bit of cheerleading type dancing but that's all (according to the lawyer) so there'll be no problem!

OP posts:

bratnav · 11/09/2010 23:35

Don't know him but know someone on the council who does. Will email first thing tomorrow and let you know about the response.

Original poster

JessinAvalon · 11/09/2010 23:41

Thanks Bratnav - much appreciated.

This is the only Hooters in the UK so far, in Nottingham. Check out the gallery for the latest bikini contests.

Hooters Nottingham

A little cartoon about Hooters.

I wonder if the councillors would have voted this in!

OP posts:

Original poster

JessinAvalon · 11/09/2010 23:42

@TessoftheBurbs - I don't think that there will be copycat places. A company tried in the US but was taken to court by Hooters. They said that they were the only "breastaurant" around (words used by Hooters own lawyers!).

OP posts:

TheCrackFox · 11/09/2010 23:49

My heart just sank at the phrase "breastaurant". [sigh]

TessOfTheBurbs · 11/09/2010 23:57

"breastaurant"

I felt compelled to google, though, and it seems there's a new breastaurant in town . I'm torn between cheering it on for 'reclaiming' the word, and on the other hand... I mean, really... breastaurant.