
Geordies are welcoming the opening of controversial American chain Hooters in spite of years of complaints from feminist groups.
The ‘breastaurant’ chain, infamous for making their staff wear tight-fitting and revealing uniforms, unveiled plans to expand its empire into Britain by announcing its third UK-based restaurant in the heart of Newcastle.
The site chosen is on Newcastle’s Bigg Market, long established as one of Britain’s rowdiest nightlife hotspots, and locals are nonplussed that Hooters will be calling the city its home.
Sisters Linda and Brenda Smith, pausing for a cigarette in a doorway next to Hooters’ new venue, couldn’t have been less troubled by its arrival.
Linda, 77, told MailOnline: ‘We’ve seen it all in our time, a few young lasses serving food in shorts and vests isn’t going to shock anyone in Newcastle.
‘It’s not as if they’re stripping on the tables is it? Some of the girls who are out for the night on the Bigg Market will probably be wearing less.
‘I won’t be going myself but I have two sons and I have grandkids who might come and give it a try.’
Brenda, 80, said: ‘I can see why certain groups will be against it but I’m not of the same view. People can do as they like and I can see no harm in what they’ll be wearing.
The site chosen for the UK’s newest Hooters is on Newcastle’s Bigg Market (pictured)
The ‘breastaurant’ chain is infamous for making their staff wear tight-fitting and revealing uniforms (file photo)
Geordies are welcoming the opening of controversial American chain Hooters in spite of years of complaints from feminist groups
‘Geordies are broad minded people, it takes a bit to shock us and I’m sure the place will be popular among the young ones.’
But others in the city were less keen on the idea.
Sunderland Uni student Curtis McCulloch, 19, said: ‘It’s not the sort of place I would go to and I didn’t even know it was opening in Newcastle.
‘I doubt that it will cause a lot of shock, but at the same time I can see why people feel the uniforms aren’t appropriate. It’s open to the interpretation of whoever sees it.’
His pal and fellow student Corey Todd, 20, said: ‘I was surprised to hear a Hooters was opening up here, it’s a very American brand and it will appeal to a certain audience.
‘I’m not bothered by it at all but I can imagine there will be plenty who are, people in this area can be quite judgmental.
‘I can also see why women’s groups are questioning why women have to walk around in shorts and vest to serve food and drink.’
Student Kieran Walmsley, 20, added: ‘I think people in Newcastle will be more bothered about the food than the people serving it, whatever they are wearing.
Sunderland Uni student Curtis McCulloch (pictured) told MailOnline: ‘It’s not the sort of place I would go to’
Student Corey Todd (pictured) said: ‘I was surprised to hear a Hooters was opening up here, it’s a very American brand’
‘I can see that there are those who will think Hooters are taking advantage of their servers’ bodies but I think it is more a case of harmless fun.’
And sales manager Chris Parker, 33, said: ‘I’m a husband and a father so I’m probably not their demographic, it’s not a place where I’d be going with my wife, that’s for sure.
‘In a sense I’m surprised it’s come to Newcastle but if it was going to be placed anywhere then the Bigg Market is the place for it to be.
‘In recent years Newcastle has really established a reputation for good food and it’s become a destination because it has some really great restaurants.
‘So in that sense, Hooters arriving feels like a bit of a backward step.’
Others took a more lighthearted stance on the restaurant’s opening. Law firm workers Rachel McGuinness and Hayley Jennings joked that they’d considered applying for jobs.
‘I think we’re a bit old otherwise we might have become Hooters girls,’ laughed Hayley, 33.
‘Personally I have no objections to it opening here, the girls have applied for the jobs, they know what Hooters is and hopefully they’ll be getting a fair wage for their work.
‘I would imagine that it will be popular with both groups of men and girls, everyone can go there and feel comfortable.’
Hooters will be opening up its third UK restaurant in Newcastle (file photo)
Phoenix-Bleu Leech, 23, is a Hooters calendar girl and has previously represented England at the company’s international pageant
Rachel, 37, added: ‘As long as the servers aren’t being groped then I don’t have an issue.
‘I hope it’s well run and managed and that the girls working there are kept safe while they work.
‘Newcastle is well known for girls going out in all weather wearing not very much – there’s always been a “no coats” rule here.’
Legal worker Danielle, 28 said: ‘The staff are going into the job knowing what’s required and what the uniform is, it’s well known. As long as they go into it willingly and get a fair wage I can’t see a problem.
‘There are other bars in Newcastle where the servers aren’t wearing very much, so I don’t see why Hooters is a problem.’
But women’s groups feel otherwise and have voiced their anger at the expansion of the brand.
Kruti Walsh, Head of Policy with feminist charity FiliA, said: ‘Male violence against women and girls is an epidemic, so we firmly oppose plans to expand a chain that treats women as objects to be served up alongside chicken wings and fries.
‘National and local governments publicly commit to protect women and girls, yet licencing venues like this sends a message that exploiting and objectifying them is OK.
‘In fact, we are calling on local authorities to end the licencing of all sexual entertainment venues and other venues that use objectification of women as a selling point.
‘If they are serious about ending MVAWG then they must act to dismantle industries that profit from the exploitation of women.’
Hooters has already opened a branch in Liverpool. Pictured are some of the waitresses during a campaign drive to hire new staff at the city outlet (file photo)
The controversial US ‘breastaurant’ famed for its scantily clad waitresses and chicken wings (file photo)
Women’s Street Watch Newcastle called Hooters ‘creepy and outdated’.
The group’s Charlie May told the Newcastle Chronicle: ‘The entire concept is creepy and outdated, and encourages a culture where women are seen as sexual objects.
‘This is what we have fought against in Bigg Market, we want women to be able to have a night out, freely and safely, and the sort of men who will be attracted are the exact sort we do not want out on our streets.
‘In a time when women’s safety is in a crisis, opening a venue that profits from our objectification is a step backward. Hooters sells more than wings, it sells a culture that normalizes sexism. Street harassment, gender-based violence, and workplace exploitation don’t need more fuel. Hooters adds to the fire.
‘We are incredibly disappointed that this has been approved by the council and the police without any consultation with women’s organisations in the area.
‘Hooters actively promotes the objectification of women, harmful gender stereotypes, and attracts a type of clientele we do not welcome on Bigg Market. Our followers are equally horrified. We have one message for Hooters: your business is not welcome here.’
When it opens in the coming weeks, the Newcastle franchise will be Britain’s third, following Liverpool and Nottingham.
It will be run by Canadian Johnny Goard, who said: ‘I’ve been up to Newcastle many times, and first came here when I was younger, in my 20s and had a blast. It’s a fun place and we’ve been looking up here for years and years.
Pictured are some of the Hooters workers at the Hooters bar waves flags as the annual Pride march passes by in Liverpool in July 2024
The first Hooters restaurant was opened on October 4th 1983 in Clearwater, Florida and the chain now has over 400 restaurants worldwide
‘When people say we are discriminating against women, that’s their opinion and everyone’s entitled to their opinion. People ask me “don’t you think that they dress too provocatively?”
‘My response is we’re in Newcastle, look outside any night of the week. Nobody wears any clothes here at night – I don’t know how, I have five layers on and I’m freezing and people, male and female, are wearing next to nothing.’
Goard also claimed to be giving students ‘a great opportunity to have their first job in a very professional, well-trained environment’, adding that ‘applications and interest from the community has been huge’.
He claimed the restaurant was ‘very family oriented, adding: ‘We have the best chicken wings in the world and our big slogan is “Hooters makes you happy”.
‘All we try to do is get people in here, and then they understand. We don’t have a bad reputation, it’s the very few who have the biggest voices. ‘
The first Hooters restaurant was opened on October 4th 1983 in Clearwater, Florida and the chain now has over 400 restaurants worldwide.