HOOTERS - the controversial American 'beer, boobs and burgers' chain - are currently eyeing-up sites in Manchester, London and Newcastle, nearly twenty years after they launched their first UK outlet in Nottingham.
The Nottingham site remains one of the brand's top fifteen most profitable outlets in the world.
Chanticleer Holdings, the North Carolina-based franchisee owner of Hooters, have 'identified Manchester for a future Hooters site', according to CEO Mike Pruitt.
He told Confidential: "Given the long time success in Nottingham, in part because of the local management team, we look forward to providing the capital to expand the brand under their leadership throughout the UK."
Chanticleer are currently waiting on council approval in Newcastle, and are planning to open a flagship Hooters in London.
The Hooters brand - which labels itself 'delightfully tacky, yet unrefined' - has been offering punters a simple yet lucrative combination of fried food, big-screen sports, big beers and even bigger chests since the first outlet launched in 1983 in Florida.
Hooters
Hooters is estimated to be worth around $1 billion, operating in over 430 locations in 29 countries, including restaurants as far-reaching as Australia, China and Russia, as well as Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic in Europe - there's even a Hooters casino in Las Vegas.
The brand had previously announced an aggressive UK expansion back in 2008, with plans for 36 new sites, however, of that 36 only Cardiff and Bristol opened. Both have since closed.
Still, the Nottingham site remains one of the brand's top 15 most profitable outlets in the world.
Hooters Casino - Las Vegas
Controversy has followed the brand from the outset, with detractors saying the scantily-clad waitresses - wearing the now famous low-cut white tshirts and tight orange hotpants - objectify women. In a 2010 article, Mail on Sunday columnist Liz Jones called Hooters 'more offensive than a lapdancing club'.
Lawsuits too have plagued Hooters, with several cases contending the brands strict 'female-only' employment policy for waiting staff. In 2010 a lawsuit was filed against Hooters Michigan after an employee was threatened with dismissal unless she 'improved her shirt and short size'.
Still, Hooters bosses argue that only 70% of its workforce are female, and that up to a third of its U.S. customer base are women, with some overseas markets closer to 50/50.
Hooters has also raised over $2 million for Breast Cancer research.
