The Mayor of Liverpool blasted plans for a proposed Hooters venue in the city.
Joanne Anderson has described the American restaurant franchise as having “an infamous sexually objectifying and misogynistic environment.”
The Labour Mayor said Liverpool Council’s violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy is committed to rooting out such behaviour.
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As reported earlier this week, an application has been sent in that could see the American sports bar chain open up in New Zealand House in Water Street in the city centre.
The chain is well known Stateside for offering beer and bar food, often served by scantily-clad waitresses.
In a letter to city centre residents, Cllrs Nick Small and Maria Toolan said the application is for a restaurant/bar for the hours of operation until 1am from Sunday to Thursday and until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The councillors, who have met with the applicant and residents, said they have made a formal representation raising concerns about the application.
Now Mayor Anderson has added her objections to the proposals, taking to Twitter to express her anger.
She said: “I fully support @CllrMariaToolan and @CllrNickSmall in objecting to this licensing application.
“Hooters has an infamous sexually objectifying and misogynistic environment.
“Under our VAWG strategy we are committed to rooting out this behaviour no matter where we find it.”
Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell also expressed her opposition to the proposals, responding to Mayor Anderson on social media.
She said: "A Hooters bar only works to undermine our efforts to tackle misogyny & the objectification of women.
“This is 2022 not 1982. Ensuring women & girls are safe and supported is a priority within our VAWG work.
“We must do everything to create a city where they feel comfortable and secure.”
Cllr Toolan tweeted on Tuesday that as a Central ward councillor and Liverpool Labour Party womens’ officer she could not support the plans for Hooters, describing it as “demeaning and degrading.”
Rumours of a Hooters bar coming to Liverpool first emerged in 2015, when a website called hootersliverpool appeared - but no plans emerged at the time.
The US firm announced plans for 36 new UK locations in 2008 but only Cardiff and Bristol opened. Both have since closed, leaving a single UK branch in Nottingham.
Hooters have been approached for comment.
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