A Liverpool cooking school fears it may be forced to move after a dispute over noise with the new city centre Hooters venue.
Flour Will Fly, which is located in Oriel Chambers off Water Street, has hit out at noise coming from an extractor at the back of New Zealand House where the controversial US chain is opening its second UK branch later this month. Paola Paulucci, who set up the business with her late fiance Andy, said she fears she may have to relocate her business as a result.
The family-owned Italian cooking school took to Instagram this week to say it would not show any support for the neighbouring restaurant chain. They wrote: “Hooters switched on a piece of equipment (which we believe is an air extractor) and the noise from this is substantially interfering with the surrounding businesses and residential blocks in the area.
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“We have been informed by the manager on site that the equipment is permanent and they will not take any action to reduce the noise it produces. Sadly, if Hooters do not take accountability for the noise pollution it is producing, Flour Will Fly will be forced to move premises, as the noise is directly affecting our ability to offer our guests a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere.”
The social media post said Flour Will Fly felt “unheard” by Hooters, accusing them of “shrugging their shoulders” when it asked the brand for a response. It added: “We have cooperated with Hooters when they needed to place their scaffolding directly opposite our business to safely complete their renovation work, so we demand that the establishment re-considers their latest actions which have been seen as extremely unneighbourly and are jeopardising the small businesses in the area.”
Ms Paulucci told the ECHO that she had registered a complaint with Liverpool Council and it had been a “vile experience” dealing with the noise. She said Hooters had made “no effort to fit in with the community”.
"She said it would be “financially detrimental” for the business to have to relocate as well as an emotional wrench, given she had built the brand with her family and late fiance Andy Corkhill, who died last year of cancer. Despite the social media plea, Rachel Moss, Hooters’ managing director, said the business had done nothing wrong.
She told the ECHO: “The equipment is legally allowed to be there, we didn’t install it. It’s been there since 2015 and is a lawful, highly regulated piece of equipment.
"Because Oriel Chambers is a listed building, they have very thin windows. We have extremely high standards as a global brand and I had my architect go round to inspect during our initial processes.”
Hooters was given a licence to operate in the former Newz Bar building earlier this year by Liverpool Council but a planning application for display of two illuminated signs, a fixed banner and a new flag outside the restaurant was turned down last month.
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