CHICAGO, June 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Playboy Enterprises,
Inc. (PEI) and London Clubs International (LCI) announced the
official opening of Playboy Club London on Saturday evening,
June 4 with a star-studded gala
event. The new gaming and entertainment venue is located in the
exclusive Mayfair area of London.
The private function, hosted by Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner, saw VIP guests hit the red carpet
before heading inside the exclusive private members' venue for the
first time. Once inside the Jestico + Whiles designed Club,
guests were greeted by the newly-recruited London Bunnies, who were
wearing iconic Playboy Bunny Costumes complete with ears, collar,
cuffs and fluffy white tail.
Guests were then treated to bespoke cocktails by renowned
mixologist Salvatore Calabrese and
canapes by Executive Head Chef Judy
Joo, before enjoying blackjack and roulette on the gaming
floor and entertainment by DJ Vice.
Mr. Hefner said upon arrival at the gala party: "I'm thrilled to
be here for this very special occasion that celebrates the return
of the Playboy Club and its iconic Bunnies to London. People still remember with great
fondness the sophistication and romance that the original London
Club offered when it opened in 1966. There is a retro-chic
quality about Playboy Club London and its Bunnies that will give
today's guests an experience they may have missed the first time
around."
Hefner attended the event with friends and family including
fiancee Crystal Harris, and his two
sons Marston and Cooper. LCI CEO Michael
Silberling, Playboy CEO Scott
Flanders and Hugh Hefner
raised their glasses in a toast to the success of the new Club.
The evening was spent greeting other VIP guests before
partying the night away in the Cottontail Lounge at the Playboy
Club London.
About Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
Playboy is one of the most recognized and popular consumer
brands in the world. Playboy Enterprises, Inc. is a media and
lifestyle company that markets the brand through a wide range of
media properties and licensing initiatives. The company publishes
Playboy magazine in the United
States and abroad and creates content for distribution via
television networks, websites, mobile platforms and radio. Through
licensing agreements, the Playboy brand appears on a wide range of
consumer products in more than 150 countries as well as retail
stores and entertainment venues.
About London Clubs International Limited
London Clubs International Limited is a British gambling company
that was purchased in 2006 by a subsidiary of Caesars
Entertainment, Inc.
About Playboy Club London
Creatively designed to incorporate influences from the original
Playboy Club London that opened in 1966, the new venue integrates
gaming with contemporary nightlife in a setting that combines the
sexy and sophisticated feel of Playboy with the international
allure of London. The 17,000
square foot property spread over two floors was designed by
acclaimed London-based architects
Jestico + Whiles.
The most attractive feature of Playboy Club London is
undoubtedly the return of the Playboy Bunnies to Europe. The
beautiful Playboy Bunny hostesses, croupiers and cocktail servers
have a world-wide and well-deserved reputation for their style and
graciousness.
The original Playboy Club London opened in 1966 at 45 Park Lane.
At that time, the Club attracted some of the most influential
clientele in London including
Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Joan
Collins, George Best,
Jack Nicholson, John Cleese, Roger
Moore and Muhammad Ali.
The new exclusive Club will again cater to some of the biggest
names in entertainment, sports and business.
Mr. Hefner opened the first Playboy Club in Chicago in 1960 and the venues quickly became
the embodiment of sexy sophistication and one of the world's most
successful night club chains. The Playboy Clubs, together
with the hotel, casino and resort facilities, eventually included
40 properties in 25 states and seven countries. As the company
continues to expand its global presence through multi-faceted
entertainment venues, Playboy Club London joins Playboy Club Las
Vegas at The Palms Casino Resort, Playboy Club Macao, and Playboy
Club Cancun.
SOURCE Playboy Enterprises, Inc.