The ECHO was invited to spend an evening working a shift at the Water Street venue during peak summer hours
17:00, 29 Dec 2025Updated 08:55, 30 Dec 2025
ECHO reporter Paul McAuley working at Hooters with bartender Bee Machade(Image: Iain Watts)
In just a number of days, the world’s biggest Hooters found here in Liverpool will be no more. Homed at the ever-changing New Zealand House on Water Street, the controversial brand welcomed its first set of customers through its doors back in 2022.
Since then, the company has made the headlines for a number of reasons – many of them being for the wrong reasons, including staff complaining their tips and service charge were being kept by the company to pay bills.
This, alongside the likes of the lengthy battle with Liverpool city council regarding the venue’s sign and original Hooters boss Rachael Moss, who also goes by the name Rachael Tansey, appearance in court, meant it was time for a much-needed fresh start, according to current director Barry Morris.
In light of the news of Hooters officially closing its doors on Sunday, January 11, we’ve taken a look back at the time the ECHO was invited to pick up a shift for the afternoon.
The opinion-piece below was originally published in June 2025.
The Hooters sign being taken down on Water Street.(Pic Andrew Teebay).(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Hooters. It’s a brand we’re all familiar with and one that doesn’t require much explanation. However, after spending an evening working a shift at the world’s largest venue right here in Liverpool, I’d argue it might need reintroducing to many.
The casual dining restaurant has been a staple for decades but only made its debut in this city in 2022. Since then, it’s safe to say it has racked up many headlines, and more often than not, it hasn’t been for the right reasons.
The legendary – and controversial – American brand’s mantra, ‘Hooters makes you happy’, extends to a hearty food menu, plenty of drinks options, and attentive staff sporting arguably one of the most infamous uniforms in the entire hospitality industry.
Some might argue that the concept is entirely based on a male fantasy, and upon first entering the Water Street venue, I would have agreed – or at least that it was stereotypically designed for men.
After all, you are welcomed by more flat screens showing sports than you can count. While my right eye was captivated by Didier Drogba’s finest moments during his time at Chelsea, my left eye was absorbing all the highlights from the Tour de Suisse.
Add in the Stereophonics anthem Dakota blasting in the background and a boxing punch machine offering a free pint if you can beat ‘Bossman’ Mason’s score of 959, and you’ve got yourself a prime location for a stag do.
ECHO reporter Paul McAuley in Hooters with Maddie Ousalice, India Bradley and Bee Machade in Liverpool for the day(Image: Iain Watts)
Now, I’m not here to argue about the definitions of feminism, and I fully acknowledge my privilege as a man in relation to sexism and misogyny, so don’t just take my word for it.
But the waitresses here are far from naïve. They understand the allure and everything that comes with it, but they want people to realise that their job is more than just as they put it, “selling boobs and bum”.
For mum-of-one Bee Machade, it’s a family in a country where her biological relatives are just shy of 5,500 miles away. The 30-year-old, originally from São Paulo, is a familiar face for customers, having worked as a barmaid for well over a year now.
In between pouring questionable pints because of a keg issue and not a lack of skill, the Brazilian, who now calls Birkenhead home, told me she understands why “people have a bad idea of Hooters”.
Working on the front bar, waiting for the distinctive creamy head of a Guinness to form for a male customer, the mum explained: “Some look at us and assume we are b*tchy because we work here. They think we are too young and too blonde, but that’s just not the case. I have never felt so welcome in a place like this. We love each other here, sometimes way too much.
Hooters in Liverpool sells an extensive range of merchandise(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“It has grown my confidence so much. I always had this bad image of myself where I thought at times I was too fat and too skinny, just never feeling enough. But that changed working here. At the beginning, I felt out of place with all the gorgeous girls, but after a month, I knew I belonged here.
“I love it here. It’s so fun and people don’t get that. Once people eventually come in and experience it, they always change their mind. It’s really not that serious; it’s cheesy, and we know it’s cheesy.
“There are always questions when I tell others I work here, and that’s crazy to me. People just need to give the place a chance. The misconceptions about us aren’t true at all. After five minutes of being in the bar, customers realise the novelty wears off. We have beers, screens, music and food – just like the other venues.”
The preconceptions aren’t unique to me or customers. Even front-of-house staff member Georgia Jones was wary about getting a job in the Water Street venue initially.
However, those worries are long gone, with the 21-year-old proudly donning the iconic white low-cut tank top, small orange running shorts and mandatory thick tanned tights full-time now.
ECHO reporter Paul McAuley in Hooters with Maddie Ousalice, India Bradley and Bee Machade in Liverpool for the day
In the midst of taking orders from a family of three at table five and placing them into an iPhone that looks straight out of a time capsule, the lifeguard-turned waitress tells me: “I first I kept saying no, but I really needed a job. I didn’t think it was for me – just hospitality in general – but to do Hooters was being thrown in the deep end.
“I was so intimidated to begin with; I felt surrounded by perfection. But all the girls work as one now, inside and outside of work. Everyone is so beautiful in their own way.
“Sometimes you need to remind customers that we are still people away from all of our looks. This is a restaurant with a gimmick, and I’m wearing a costume.
“It’s an act, and I enjoy singing the songs to customers. I’m not going to lie, of course; I see people recording us, thinking it’s a humiliation ritual, but little do they know I’m having the time of my life dancing with my friends at work.”
Georgia said some instances have progressed worse than just customers recording. She recalls occasions where she has “snatched” phones out of men’s hands because they have been “sneakily” taking inappropriate photos of her.
ECHO reporter Paul McAuley in the kitchen with trainee assistant manager Callum Fisher
After making sure the lady sitting by the window wants her BBQ sauce on the side of her toasted sub, Georgia tells me: “You wouldn’t do it in Nando’s or TGI Friday’s, so why do people think it’s ok to do it here? It’s frustrating. I’m completely happy to take selfies with people, but I shouldn’t have to feel uncomfortable doing my job.”
Liverpool Hooters director Barry Morris reassured that when such incidents do happen, they are taking “extremely seriously”. He said when members of the team feel uncomfortable due to the actions of a customer, the brand reserve the right to ask the individual to leave the premises.
He added: “It’s important to note that we do not take a blanket approach; every situation is assessed individually and documented appropriately to ensure fairness and transparency.”
Georgia’s and Bee’s experience of working at Hooters is completely different from those running the kitchen – as tight as a military operation in incredible heat, may I add.
Hooters Director Barry Morris.
Away from “all the chaos”, 19-year-old Callum Fisher, from Walton, let me join him behind the scenes for some time as he cooked up everything from mouth-watering wings, appetising Caesar salads and boneless and breaded wings you would gladly cheat on your diet with.
The assistant trainee manager is preparing to be at the helm of a team of ten in the kitchen. Flipping thinly cut chicken pieces as they reached a lightly tanned hue, the former JD retail assistant explained: “We’re not outside with all the customers, so we don’t see it all happening.
“We have our eyes on serving; we easily make a few hundred in a day at least, especially when the football is on. It’s fast-paced on the weekend; I’ve never been in a job like this. We are all family; I’ve made best friends for life here. The people here are classy; there really is not another place like it for me.”
After serving the last dish of my short shift, a sandwich loaded with cooked onions, the consensus of what it means to work in Hooters was abundantly clear to me. And I’m sure after reading all of the above, it is to you too.