UK to get another Hooters restaurant this year despite huge backlash

The UK is set to get another Hooters restaurant before the end of the year.

The popular US brand opened up a branch in Liverpool late last year, and now a second north west city is set to follow suit.

Julian Mills, who has run the Nottingham Hooters for more than two decades, is set to open up a new venue in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, before the end of this year.

According to a report in the Manchester Evening News, a licence was granted for the venue back in June despite 91 objections and opposition from organisations including Male Allies Challenging Sexism, the Women’s Equality Party and Yes Matters, as well as Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and MP Rebecca-Long Bailey.

However, despite being granted the licence more than half a year ago, Mills says he’s been trapped in ‘complex’ discussions with the landlord of the building he plans to open up in, which has caused delays.

​​WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Mills told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We thought getting the licence would be much more difficult than getting the deal done with the landlord, but it has been the other way round.

“It’s no-one’s fault that it’s taken so long, but we are hoping to get it done within the next three or four weeks. It’s a bit like buying a house, but multiplied by a factor of 50, in terms of the complexity of the negotiations.”

The new restaurant, which is a franchise similar to McDonald’s or Burger King, will create jobs for between 50 and 60 people, but recruitment is not yet live as it’s unclear when it will actually open for business.

Despite the opposition, the local council said it was legally required to process the application and that ‘personal choice’ and ‘opinion’ didn’t come into the decision making.

Ed Rooney / Alamy Stock Photo

Chairman of the licensing panel, Coin John Warmisham, said at the time: “The process is set out in legislation and government guidance. The decision to grant or refuse a premises licence application or the imposition of any conditions must be within the parameters of the licensing objectives. Opinion and personal choice are not relevant or legitimate reasons to refuse an application.”

Hooters opened in Liverpool on 21 November last year, with its owner saying it had been a long-time ambition of hers to bring it to the city.

Rachael Moss, director and owner of Hooters Liverpool told the Liverpool Echo she’s been blown away after visiting Hooters while in the US and wanted to open one up over this side of the pond.