The Playboy Club returns to London in 2011


The Playboy Club plans a return to London in the first half of 2011 with an exclusive club set in the Mayfair area of London.
The new gaming and entertainment venue will feature a restaurant, lounge, members club, table games and high-limit salon prive gaming rooms.

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, and Muhammad Ali.

“When we first opened the Playboy Club in London it was one of my favorite times for the brand,” said Hugh Hefner, Playboy Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Chief Creative Officer. “With Playboy now more popular than ever, I look forward to our return to London and again sharing the notions that are celebrated in the magazine, the concept of good food and drink, pretty girls, and exciting entertainment.”

Creatively designed to incorporate influences from the original Playboy Club London that opened in 1966, the new venue will integrate gaming with contemporary nightlife in a property 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 is being designed by London-based architects Jestico + Whiles.

“When Hugh Hefner opened the original London Playboy Club it redefined class and luxury, setting a new nightlife standard around the world,” said Michael Silberling, Managing Director, London Clubs International. “LCI is honored to partner with Playboy to return the brand to London and create a club and casino experience for a new generation of Playboy Club members.”

There were more than 30 Playboy Clubs at the height of its success, and today Playboy London will join Playboy Club Las Vegas at the Palms Casino Resort, as well as future Playboy venues planned in Cancun, Macao and South Beach, Miami.

[Image via Playboy historical file]

John Cleese takes $5,100 cab ride to bypass Icelandic ash cloud

While some people may just give in and spend a couple of nights at the airport, funny man John Cleese is far too important to sit around and do nothing. So, instead of spending the rest of the week in Oslo, Cleese and his assistant got in a cab and asked the driver to head to Brussels. Thankfully, the cabbie was smart enough to make the 932 mile trek with a second driver.

Once in Brussels, Cleese will board a Eurostar train and continue his journey to London. Despite the hassles of his journey, he was still able to tell reporters a joke:

How do you get God to laugh? Tell him your plans.

According to some Oslo cabbies, the trip to Brussels wasn’t even their longest drive – one passenger took a cab from Oslo to Paris – adding another 200 miles to the trip. To be honest, I’d probably pay good money to spend a day stuck in a cab with John Cleese – as far as I’m concerned, he’s one of the funniest men around. Then again, I could also just sit back at the airport and enjoy hours of Fawlty Towers over and over again.%Gallery-67351%

Monty Python’s Kilimanjaro Expedition

In this classic Monty Python sketch from 1969, John Cleese is just what you don’t want in a tour guide. I have had a few experiences where a trip has felt a bit similar to what Eric Idle expresses before he leaves the office deciding to forgo the Mt. Kilimanjaro Expedition. This sketch was first used in Monty Python’s Flying Circus and was then part of the movie “And Now for Something Completely Different.”

I found this video looking for one on the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal after reading Kraig’s post about sites to see before they change forever. There was this Monty Python video about climbing Mt. Everest, but I liked this one better.