It emerged that the name of the operation under consideration is Hooters, which is part of an American-originated chain, which prides itself on serving high quality food served by "attractive, vivacious Hooters Girls".

Ask Developments, the driving force behind Leopold Square, said they were negotiating with Wings Over England, the company behind Hooters, but insisted the proposed Sheffield Hooters would fit in with the tone of the area.

Leon Guyett, Ask senior development executive, said: "Ask Developments is currently in discussions with a company for the letting of one of the remaining restaurant units within Leopold Square.

"However, Ask is very concerned that there are rumours of the establishment being of a distasteful nature and will include topless women. This is certainly not the case.

"Ask prides itself on having attracted high-quality, niche operators to the scheme – and this company would be opening a sports-themed, waitress service sit-down restaurant – one of the first of its kind in the UK.

"The establishment would offer dining facilities and not a stand-alone bar with the majority of its sales coming from food and not drink."

Based in the Victorian former education offices off Leopold Street and including the boutique Leopold Hotel, Leopold Square has been launched as an upmarket location for eating and drinking.

So far Zizzi, Platillo's, Strada and Aagrah are part of the mix, with a piano bar, Sylvester's, due to open at the end of March, Japanese noodle bar Wagamama on April 7 and Popolo, a high-quality cocktail bar with food, on May 22.

Hooters advertises itself as a beach-themed establishment featuring juke box music, sports on television and with scantily-dressed waitresses serving seafood, burgers, salads and "the almost world famous Hooters chicken wings".

A new building at the West Street end of the square is earmarked for the latest restaurant, although Ask emphasised this week that no deal had been wrapped up with Wings Over England.

Mr Guyett said: "The company is still in legals with Ask and has not yet signed up to join Leopold Square.

"Ask understands that the company is also in talks with a number of other sites in the UK but is hopeful that Sheffield will be its first venture.

"Should the company sign up to Leopold Square, it will be running the restaurant under a certain brand name but it will differentiate between other establishments in that it will be a sit-down restaurant rather than a drinks-led bar."

See our Restaurant Guide for all restaurants reviewed by the Sheffield Telegraph


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