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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Caroline Barry

Hooters workers share what it's really like working at controversial restaurant

Staff at Britain's only Hooters have revealed what it's really like to work at the restaurant and bar.

The Nottingham branch of the worldwide franchise is one of the city's busiest spots, especially on match days.

It screens multiple sports games, from football to NFL, and is a popular destination for hen and stag dos, reports NottinghamshireLive.

There are currently talks about adding restaurants to other UK cities, including Liverpool.

Manager Olivia Wright said: "It takes away the novelty slightly that it won't be the only one but even if another opens, then you all fall under the same umbrella.

The UK currently has only one Hooters branch (Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)

"We are all very connected so it's good to see it expanding as there is always room for a new restaurant with more people involved. It's exciting."

She was drawn to working in the restaurant after a friend told her how fun it was to work there. She has been with the company for 10 years after starting as a waitress and rising to be a manager.

"A friend was working here and said how much fun it was so I thought, why not? It's kind of my personality anyway as I'm very outgoing so I thought I would give it a go.

"It's clearly stuck as I've worked here a long time."

The restaurant screens live sports (Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)

Abbey Goodacre is from Hucknall and is a waitress at Hooters.

She has only been there a year but feels that there is a strong community between the women. She was drawn to working there after visiting the restaurant when she was younger.

She said: "When I was younger, I used to come here with my dad because Hooters has been here for a while. Then I started working here about a year ago. I started during the Euros so it was very busy."

The restaurant is of course famous for the women who work there, wearing the iconic Hooters uniform.

The clientele is surprisingly mixed, despite the assumption that it is predominately men.

There are plans for further branches (Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)

Olivia said: "Everyone is different and feels differently. I feel the uniform is amazing and body confident. It makes women feel amazing and empowered. I've never had anyone feel uncomfortable about wearing it and we wouldn't make anyone feel uncomfortable in that situation.

"It's iconic so you know what the uniform is going to be," Olivia explained.

She added: "People assume it's predominately men but it's definitely not the case as it's completely mixed. We have a lot of families coming in as we are a neighbourhood-friendly restaurant and children eat free on a Sunday.

"We do get a lot of men but women love sports too so it's mixed. We get a lot of hen dos and I love when they come in as we get to make them feel like they are part of the Hooter's brand."

Olivia said the prospect of more restaurants "exciting" (Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)

Olivia has had some amazing experiences with Hooters including being sent to Vegas to compete in Miss Hooters in 2017. She says there are not that many businesses that would do that for their staff.

"My favourite memory is the annual bikini competition we used to do. I won in 2017 and the company paid for me to go to Vegas for 10 nights to compete.

"The competition is huge and we currently have another one of our girls over in Lake Tahoe doing the same thing. There aren't many 23-year-olds who can say they have that experience."

Abby feels the best part of working in Hooters is the community that the girls build.

"The best part is making a lot of friends when you work here. There are a lot of girls here but everyone is so nice. We go out together for dinner and drinks. It's a little community."

Hooters was one of the busiest places during the recent Forest match at Wembley, as the Reds beat Huddersfield to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Olivia said the atmosphere was amazing for both clientele and the staff, who are all Forest fans.

"The atmosphere was electric here. We get a lot of Forest fans through the door, myself included and the staff too. We really do support Forest here so it was incredible to see the team excel - it was an amazing feeling."

She said: "In terms of the Nottingham branch, we want to keep doing what we are doing as it's going really well and people love the brand. As they say, Hooters makes you happy."

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