Controversial restaurant and sports bar Hooters, famous for having only female staff, has been given the go-ahead to open in Liverpool.
Members of Liverpool City Council’s licensing authority sub-committee met today and discussed whether to approve the licensing application for Hooters to open on Water Street.
The venue was granted permission to operate from 11am to 01:00 GMT Sunday to Thursday and until 2am at weekends.
Councillor Maria Toolan started a petition a week ago to try and halt the opening.
She wrote on her petition: “Hooters is an archaic and chauvinistic brand, and this type of venue is no longer reflective of today’s society.”
The company has a specific requirement for what they want female employees to wear and the standard uniform is tight orange shorts paired with a revealing low cut t-shirt or vest.
This will be the second Hooters to open in the whole of the UK with the other being in Nottingham.
Cllr Toolan has already gained 294 signatures. Support has come from the Police Commissioner, MPs and Mayor Joanne Anderson who’s been promoting the petition.
Liverpool City Council: Say no to Hooters Liverpool – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/xrfXic4r3D via @UKChange
— Joanne Anderson (@MayorLpool) February 8, 2022
Outside Liverpool Town Hall, a banner was unveiled by Cllr Maria Toolan and Cllr Nick Small, which states ‘#NoToHootersLiverpool’.
Supporting residents to object to the Hooters application. Conditions have been put in place, but they won't prevent this from causing public nuisance and driving out better investment in our city's night-time economy. pic.twitter.com/vJsycMAsUo
— Councillor Nick Small (@CllrNickSmall) February 15, 2022
Some residents have also been publishing tweets expressing their outrage at the restaurant’s opening in the city.
One Twitter user wrote: “The concept of Hooters perpetuates misogyny and would not be welcome in Liverpool.”
Another person wrote: “No, to Hooters Liverpool!”
As a city we've allowed the likes of the Kazimir, Mello Mello and Constellations to be closed and knocked down. But we've just granted Hooters a licence to open a bar in Liverpool. Utterly shameful.
— Jamie Bowman (@JamieBowman77) February 15, 2022
However, some people seemed pleased about the approved application.
One Twitter user wrote: “For me, having the 2nd hooters in the UK coming to Liverpool is a great idea it might bring more tourists to the city.”
Featured image: Cllr Nick Small/Twitter
