Hooters : Why Does The Franchise Not Generate Expansion in the UK ?

[Naughty Vend]

I have to be honest and say that there are three things most guys like;

Chicken Wings
Beer
Pretty Girls

However let's not get drawn into a sexist commentary here or any political correctness, it is what it is and we must accept we are all human for essentially this business model is built around an ancient principle of desire and perhaps lust - be that for the wings, beers or the gals. What I'm talking about is the Hooters Franchise which in America is a large concern and yet as far as I can tell only Nottingham UK has. The franchise isn't overly onerous well no more than a McDonalds and I fail to comprehend why there are not more of them up and down the UK.

Subway, McD's, BK, KFC, Pizza Hut and so on have all worked over the pond. I know that if we had a local Hooters I'd be down there watching the football way before going to another bar.

 

[ChrisAITY]

Here in Cardiff, Hooters has recently opened =D

 

[dynamic08]

Im sure I have been into one in manchester also - whoops I didnt say that

 

[steve23]

Perhaps then it is not the case that men will flock to 'beer, chicken wings and girls" !

Getting people to part with money is rarely that simple - though it is interesting to wonder why such a franchise might struggle.

I don't know anything about Hooters, but I can guess at the concept.

I think the main thing for any bar or club is cheap beer (or reasonable price) and fast service.

Bar snacks are pretty much par for the course, and it would seem pretty girls are two a penny now a days, so you can leave that area to itself.

Just my initial thoughts anyway

All the best

Steve

 

[Liybpg]

I would add 'football' to the concept. Hooters is an excellent place. Not only because of girls in short shorts but because it is a pleasant place to be, service is actually very good. Food is not my favourite type, but it has its audience.

 

[thetime22]

hahaha good question, i was wondering when someone would ask this question.

 

[silvermusic]

I saw an undercover boss type programme some time back on TV about this company. I dont' think the concept will work on the same scale in the UK as it does in the US. Now I'm about as unPC as you can get, and even as a normal red-blooded male I wouldn't go into one, the whole concept is oh so tacky and cheap it would actually make me feel a bit uncomfortable.

 

[Consistency]

Nothing but a whore hole - and as for the "We must accept it as the norm now", if something is immoral but widely done and accepted by a lot as a business idea, does that suddenly mean it is OK? Not in my book.

I am baffled by how these sleazy threads start by saying "I don't want to get political or PC or get into a moral debate about this" and then go on to say "We must accept this as standard now". That is two bites at the cherry.

 

[Packaged Solutions]

Just had a look at their website, they say you will ned $800k - $1.5m to start! That might be why?

 

[Naughty Vend]

Just had a look at their website, they say you will ned $800k - $1.5m to start! That might be why?

Eeee-eee-p.

 

[Esk247]

Nothing but a whore hole - and as for the "We must accept it as the norm now", if something is immoral but widely done and accepted by a lot as a business idea, does that suddenly mean it is OK? Not in my book.

I am baffled by how these sleazy threads start by saying "I don't want to get political or PC or get into a moral debate about this" and then go on to say "We must accept this as standard now". That is two bites at the cherry.

You do have to be careful with your posts Consistency. You could argue that Hooters and other such businesses are legitimate, legal etc etc.

Personally, i'm non religious, very liberal, you do what you want and i'll do what i want, as long as everyone is happy and healthy we should all be ok. I don't think i would ever step foot in a Hooters, nor would i step foot in a strip club, not because of any political or religious views, purely because it's tack imo. Naff, common, boring actually. Yes a woman in a short skirt, well done, 5 stars, stop gawping.

 

[Naughty Vend]

It's an unfair comparison.

Many of the girls (ladies) you'll see in a UK bar are wearing less, are more revealing and far more tarty than any workers I have seen in Hooters where to be honest the novelty of 'the girls' wears off very quickly but it is great to be served by attentive friendly staff rather than some spotty lass whom couldn't care less, whilst having a beer and some wings watching the football. If it's not your thing then I doubt we'd see you in a bar either where the other females (and males) I refer to are on display, that is your choice but in a buyers market I... to get back on subject... fail to understand why there are not more venues like this. Well the million bucks is a fair place to start but...

There's several derogatory comments on this thread, one calling the girls whores and frankly that is bang out of line as these are people making a living serving food and beer in more clothes that your wee lass wears to gym class. The fact this is a developed woman and not a wee girl may have some bearing upon the statement but what's wrong with it? If all the 'angries' can say to me that they wear clothes which fully cover every bit of flesh every day, always have and have never used sexuality to get something they wanted then I'll eat Mary Whitehouse's biography standing on one leg naked at the traffic lights on Trafalgar Sq.

Lighten up, we're talking about the demand for a product not making a moral statement - as I said in the opening post.

 

[Esk247]

Are you american naughty vend?

whilst having a beer and some wings watching the football

i just can't imagine someone from Newcastle saying a sentence such as that.

wings? a burger and some chips maybe.

I'm not sure why the Hooters model doesn't flow over here. The nightclubs are pretty hardcore and a bit of a shocker if you prefer women to be covered up all day..but..still the Hooters model just isn't british is it?

The americans are all loud, shouty, whoop whoop. The british are very quiet unless totally drunk off there heads. Perhaps thats why it doesn't work?

Brits are shy until drunk.

 

[360interactive]

Nothing but a whore hole - and as for the "We must accept it as the norm now", if something is immoral but widely done and accepted by a lot as a business idea, does that suddenly mean it is OK? Not in my book.

I am baffled by how these sleazy threads start by saying "I don't want to get political or PC or get into a moral debate about this" and then go on to say "We must accept this as standard now". That is two bites at the cherry.

I'm afraid that post shows more about you than it does about Hooters, have you actually visited one Consistency, or do you get your views from Radio 4 callers?

There are 3 or 4 of these now in the UK, the most recent ones opening up in Cardiff and Bristol.

My experience of Hooters has mostly been from the states, where the atmosphere in these places is great. People of all ages enjoying the food, men enjoying the sport (ok and the girls in short shorts) and the coldest beers I have had anywhere in the world. They really aren't 'strip' clubs or seedy places and the US has really embraced them for what they are.

BUT, I recently visited the Bristol Hooters and my experience was a lot different. Unfortunately, the majority of the UK has branded these places as adult only, seedy, gawp joints. As such, there were a fair few tables full of lads on stag nights treating the place as a strip club. The food was average & overpriced, and the service was average, as many of the girls felt it necessary to flirt with the above mentioned stag night tables (I saw a few numbers exchanged).

Saying that there were a lot of all female tables as well, who understood the concept and didn't have the attitude of people like Consistency, which was great to see.

The US has had years and years to grow to like hooters, I fear it may take even longer for it to be fully accepted in the UK.

 

[termsandconditions]

Looks like there's going to be one opening up in Brighton and until I've done my own extensive research, I shall remain silent.

 

[360interactive]

Are you american naughty vend?

whilst having a beer and some wings watching the football

i just can't imagine someone from Newcastle saying a sentence such as that.

wings? a burger and some chips maybe.

I'm not sure why the Hooters model doesn't flow over here. The nightclubs are pretty hardcore and a bit of a shocker if you prefer women to be covered up all day..but..still the Hooters model just isn't british is it?

The americans are all loud, shouty, whoop whoop. The british are very quiet unless totally drunk off there heads. Perhaps thats why it doesn't work?

Brits are shy until drunk.

Agreed, they advertise on their frontage, beer, wings and shrimp. All very american items (apart from the beer obviously).

There was once a Hooters airline. Now that would have been an interesting flight.

 

[Psl]

Nothing but a whore hole - and as for the "We must accept it as the norm now", if something is immoral but widely done and accepted by a lot as a business idea, does that suddenly mean it is OK? Not in my book.

I am baffled by how these sleazy threads start by saying "I don't want to get political or PC or get into a moral debate about this" and then go on to say "We must accept this as standard now". That is two bites at the cherry.

Why, when this clearly a business thread do you feel the need to give us your unwelcome moral view on a business that is LEGAL.?
It is a business thread and as you clearly have nothing to contribute to the thread about the business,so far, don't read it or comment. I for one am not interested in your moral views.There is nothing wrong with making money legally and Hooters is certainly not a sleazy business,nor is this a sleazy thread.

Hooters USA is an excellent business model, unfortunately it hasn't travelled well to the UK. the Manchester one closed because it was in a bad location.

 

[Parthelan]

. Hooters is certainly not a sleazy business.

The undercover boss program had a clip where one of the managers, to decide who was going home in a quiet period, got the girls to eat beans from a plate by dipping their mouths straight into the beans. The manager referred to them a hogs at the trough.
While I dont think that happens in every Hooters joint, I think it shows an underlying attitude to females which leaves a lot to be desired.
Course, using sex and females to sell is as old as the oldest profession. Just a pity we havent moved on much beyond that point.

Maybe Britain is a bit more advanced than our American cousins in that respect.

Edit: Found the clip on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIg4j43Lqaw

I sincerely hope if one of my daughters found themselves in a similar position, they'd have served up a swift kick in the balls.

 

[Esk247]

The undercover boss program had a clip where one of the managers, to decide who was going home in a quiet period, got the girls to eat beans from a plate by dipping their mouths straight into the beans. The manager referred to them a hogs at the trough.
While I dont think that happens in every Hooters joint, I think it shows an underlying attitude to females which leaves a lot to be desired.
Course, using sex and females to sell is as old as the oldest profession. Just a pity we havent moved on much beyond that point.

Maybe Britain is a bit more advanced than our American cousins in that respect.

Edit: Found the clip on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIg4j43Lqaw

I sincerely hope if one of my daughters found themselves in a similar position, they'd have served up a swift kick in the balls.

Probably just an ass of a Manager tbh and not much to do with the brand itself.

It's a funny old world. Not black and white. Sex sells? yeah, but is it taking advantage or not? some women love the attention, they actively seek to show off..Page 3..glamour shoots...Sunday Sport etc etc. You can't say a lot of them were forced in to it, they sometimes beg for a photo shoot..anything to get in the paper and be a 'celeb'.

Personally i think it's trashy and a bit sad but there is clearly a demand for it. Just as there is a demand for ann summers and la senza stuff.

Like i say, the British are odd. We're quite a shy nation, it all goes on behind closed doors, twitching net curtains and such.

 

[mike.davis]

I'm suprised Consistency didn't get to this thread sooner

You really do live in victorian times don't you.

 

[Psl]

The undercover boss program had a clip where one of the managers, to decide who was going home in a quiet period, got the girls to eat beans from a plate by dipping their mouths straight into the beans. The manager referred to them a hogs at the trough.
While I dont think that happens in every Hooters joint, I think it shows an underlying attitude to females which leaves a lot to be desired.
Course, using sex and females to sell is as old as the oldest profession. Just a pity we havent moved on much beyond that point.

Maybe Britain is a bit more advanced than our American cousins in that respect.

Edit: Found the clip on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIg4j43Lqaw

I sincerely hope if one of my daughters found themselves in a similar position, they'd have served up a swift kick in the balls.

How does that make it a sleazy business?

Worse happens in other businesses.

 

[Parthelan]

You really do live in victorian times don't you.

Can you blame him:

http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.87989519.jpg

Phoowwrrrrrrrrrr........

 

[Parthelan]

How does that make it a sleazy business?

Worse happens in other businesses.

It's the underlying attitude.

 

[Cobby]

if something is immoral but widely done and accepted by a lot as a business idea, does that suddenly mean it is OK?

Replace 'business idea' with 'the church' and you get every stupid religious doctrine responsible for holding back progress since the beginning of time.

 

[Psl]

It's the underlying attitude.

Ah! I see.

 

[directmarketingadvice]

Just had a look at their website, they say you will ned $800k - $1.5m to start! That might be why?

Especially for a franchise that has no track record in the UK.

You may well have hit the nail on the head - it's just not an attractive proposition.

Steve

 

[Milney]

I would also add the weather. You see these bars in the USA but only in the Florida/LA locations.

With British society I don't think we have the mindset to have Girls walking around in next to nothing when its 4oc outside; either do you see these places much in the more northerly, colder places in the USA.

Personally I would love a place like this, maybe there is a chance for a competing similar chain, which wont cost $800,000 to open. I'm sure word will get around just as quick and the brand of hooters isn't as necessary.

 

[Consistency]

Hooters is an alternative name for tits.

Full of tits
Run by tits
For tits.

 

[Psl]

Hooters is an alternative name for tits.

Full of tits
Run by tits
For tits.

That's as may be but the franchisor is probably a very rich tit.

 

[Cobby]

Hooters is an alternative name for tits.

Full of tits
Run by tits
For tits.

Do you still have your placards from protesting against the Carry-On films?

 

[Psl]

Do you still have your placards from protesting against the Carry-On films?

ding dong

 

[paultnl]

Hooters is an alternative name for tits.

Full of tits
Run by tits
For tits.

For the Hooters business, the birds in question are owls.

 

[wevet]

Maybe there are insufficient potential franchisees - they are woriied it might all go tits up?

 

[saxondale]

Maybe there are insufficient potential franchisees - they are woriied it might all go tits up?

your homepage triggers a phissing warning on my computer?

 

[Minuteman Press]

I have to reluctantly agree with 'Consistency' on this one.

An absolute disgrace and no place for it in modern Britain. I have observed it on Channel 4 news and the misery it causes. Surely we're better than that.

I can't believe people are writing in support.

Oh wait. I read it as Looters not Hooters.

Ace. Where do we get free tickets? Phwoooaarr. etc.

 

[Drpepper]

Oh wait. I read it as Looters not Hooters.

A Looters franchise, I believe this is already sold to a lot of Eastern Europeans who come over here, usually first class - on the underbelly of Eurostar.

 

[oldeagleeye]

Not exactly the best in terms of Branding for a UK operation especially up North.

I mean for I don't give a 'hoot' read I don't give a shite

A hooter is also associated with a huge red bulbaceous nose dripping with snot. Jimmy Durrant style. Not exactly glam.

This is the trouble with the Yanks they don't know their Arsssse from a Fanny (Adams of course.)

Hoot - hoot. hoot.

Out of the way now DWP will be on his bike rushing to the bank to sign up. Tacky girls - chocolate coated chicken wings and a cool $1 miilion dollars up front. I am wondering why he didn't come up with this idea himself.

 

[Esk247]

DWPs mum would never let him set up a Hooters in his bedroom.

Like i say, the Hooters franchise is too brash for British tastes. The Brits are an incredibly odd bunch, they have a bad reputation for drinking and drugs but there seems to still be a hint of 'cant do that, me mum would kill me' etc etc

 

[oldeagleeye]

I understand that Westminster has turned down an application for a posh MP and Bankers club that was to be called the 'Fat Cats & 'Flying Pigs'. I wonder why.

 

[Naughty Vend]

That's a great name for a club with such a members base, hmmm did I say members when I spoke of bankers and politicians now there is a word with a double meaning and it's not even an Americanisim...