Coyote Ugly nightclub fined 70k after two barmaids slipped off bar while dancing The Sun
A COYOTE Ugly nightclub was ordered to pay £70,000 after two barmaids fell off while dancing on a bar.
The club chain — famed for barmaids and punters dancing to music on the bar top just like the 2000 Coyote Ugly movie — were hit by health and safety laws after the bar-top tumbles.
Brittany Askew, 23, and Karina Sparks, 25, were seriously injured when they slipped on the wet bar during their shifts.
And a court heard the women were employed as "Coyotes" whose jobs were to serve drinks and dance on the bar in skimpy outfits and cowboy boots.
But Miss Askew fractured her spine and Miss Sparks needed treatment to cuts across her body after landing on a wine glass when they fell in separate accidents.
Prosecutor Clive Pursey said Miss Askew was forced to wear a spinal brace for 12 weeks and was off work for four months after her tumble.
She told investigators staff were allowed to drink alcohol while working and would take turns dancing on the bar.
Mr Pursey said staff would spray each other with water while dancing "having little regard to the risk of slips and falls”.
The Coyote Ugly Saloon in Cardiff was investigated over its health and safety record after the accidents which happened in 2017 were discovered.
Cardiff Magistrates Court heard a health and safety officer carried out a surprise inspection and found the risk assessment over the dancers was not "suitable and sufficient".
Bar manager Christopher Young told investigators women workers were supposed to wear rubber-soled cowboy boots but the rule wasn't officially documented.
The court heard there was an "informal rule" of no more than 12 people on the bar at once and that customers were not allowed on the bar if they were drunk or wearing stiletto heels.
The company, Swansea Audio Limited, admitted three charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and failing to make proper risk assessment.
Oliver Powell, defending, said the company had now brought in health and safety consultants.
He said: "There should have been a specific risk assessment that was much more robust.”
District Judge Shomon Khan said the bar's "unique selling point" was that revellers and workers could dance on the bar.
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He said: "I do not wish to sound like the fun police but health and safety has to be at the forefront of the mind of any business."
District Judge Khan fined the company £66,000 and ordered them to pay £3,315 within three month.
The brand has bars based across the world from Las Vegas to Tokyo including venues in Cardiff, Swansea, Birmingham and Manchester.
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