Nottingham is no longer the only place in the UK with a Hooters. Yes, it was a strange claim to fame but one now shared with the city of Liverpool since the 'world’s ‘biggest’ Hooters' opened in November 2022.
Founded in the 80s, the 'controversial' American brand began its empire when six businessmen decided to launch the sports bar in Clearwater, Florida. The chain ventured across the pond in the late 90s and opened its first UK Hooters in Nottingham. Many years later Liverpool has followed and there's talk of a Manchester restaurant - this third venture is expected to open in Salford Quay to open by the middle to end of 2023.
Rachael Moss, the director and owner of Liverpool’s restaurant, described how she had become 'obsessed' with the concept when she visited Hooters Orlando. And it seems she wasn't on her own when it comes to wanting to work for the brand. ~It was reported that some 1,600 women applied to work at Hooters when it arrived in Liverpool .
So, while it is known for its beautiful bar staff, and has not been without its fair share of controversy and backlash over the years, one reporter decided to find out just what the venue had to offer. Emily Sleight, a writer with the ECHO, headed to Liverpool's latest restaurant on a weekday afternoon for lunch. Here's what she had to say about the sports bar and its menu.
Atmosphere
"You definitely can’t miss this building when you turn into Water Street. The classic Hooters logo is bold and bright, and it definitely piqued my interest," she said.
Once through the door it was the size of the bar that struck Emily. "The Hooters restaurant is absolutely massive, with a huge bar area and even a section for merchandise. In terms of the atmosphere, I’ll be honest, it was awkward. This was probably due to the fact that I visited at a quiet time, but a spot of music, or even the sound of football on the huge screens would’ve been nice instead of deathly silence.
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"On the plus side, it was relatively warm and we were placed right under a heater which was a nice touch - though I did feel sorry for the servers in their tiny shorts."
The Hooters service
"Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the room - the uniforms. Every single one of the Hooters servers were drop dead gorgeous, but in a really lovely and warm way. Not once was I made to feel inferior or awkward (although I had a bit of body envy) and the service was everything I expected and more.
"Our server, Chloe, was incredibly sweet and attentive and made me feel generally at ease for a visit I was a little nervous about. I’m not actually sure why I was nervous, but I think I was expecting the place to be heaving with boisterous men.
"I can only imagine how busy this place gets on a Saturday night, but if you’re in the mood for some proper classic American cuisine, I’d definitely recommend visiting here in the day if you want a quieter experience (although my experience was a little too quiet)."
The food
"The Hooters menu was extensive, filled with just about everything you can imagine. From Philly cheesesteaks oozing with cheese to juicy Hooters style wings. I decided to go for the ‘Hooters Original Chicken Strip Sandwich’, which consisted of chicken strips tossed in Hooters wing sauce, covered in Provolone (an Italian cheese) and Cheddar and served on 'Texas toast'. I was also a little ambitious and decided to order a side with my sandwich. I went for the classic American ‘Tater Tots’ which came with a thick, gooey cheesy sauce on the side.
"The portions were absolutely huge, which could explain the rather steep prices. My sandwich alone cost £12.95, and the Tater Tots were £5.95. Looking back, I definitely didn’t need to spend the extra money on the side, but I’m so glad I did, because I actually preferred them to the sandwich, Don’t get me wrong, the sandwich was okay, but I thought the addition of the ‘Daytona Beach’ chicken sauce would give it a bit of oomph, when in fact it still tasted quite bland.
"Aesthetically the sandwich was more impressive than the actual taste, but the Tater Tots were the real winner for me. They sort of tasted like squidgy mini hash browns and were crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. As moreish as the Tater Tots were, I sadly couldn’t finish them. But, I did get to have them boxed up and take them home with me, which was a nice touch from Hooters.
"But it didn’t stop there - there were more carbs to be had. My friend ordered a huge portion of waffle fries for £4.45 that were generously seasoned and lovely and crunchy."
The verdict
Now to the big question and would she return? Emily said that despite all the controversy, "I found my trip to Hooters relatively enjoyable, albeit slightly awkward. I’d definitely visit again for the array of different foods and wonderful service, but perhaps at a different time."
Talking about food overall, she said: "I wouldn’t say my sandwich was particularly ground-breaking in terms of flavour, consider it cost over £10. The Tater Tots were absolutely unreal though, so I’ll be sure to order those again when I next visit.
"It would've been a lot better if there was some music or a bit of background noise during my visit, because that would've made the atmosphere less awkward. Some might prefer it that way, but it was just a little too quiet for me."
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