Quote:Hooters, the American “breastaurant”, known for its chicken wings and female waiting staff in skimpy nylon shorts and tight vests, is launching in the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. The experiment in the north-east of England may well prove to be the decisive test of the brand’s reach in Britain.

“For over 40 years, Hooters has built a reputation across the globe for making people happy, and we are excited to bring our one-of-a-kind guest experience to Newcastle in the iconic Bigg Market within the city centre, with an official opening expected this month,” the company said in a statement to the Guardian.

“It’s horrible,” responded Jen Bagelman, 41, a professor of geography at Newcastle University who lives close by in the city centre. “We can do better than this.”