Planet Hollywood, a dining experience inspired by Hollywood movies was launched by some famous faces on October 22nd 1991.
Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Demi Moore all invested in this unique and now global brand and we took a visit to this iconic attraction a mere stones throw away from Leicester Square.
Opening in 1993 the London Piccadilly branch opened its doors and then relocated to Haymarket in 2009.
Much like the Hard Rock Cafe’ there is a variety of memorabilia on the walls. From movie props, costumes and autographs as far as the eye can see as Planet Hollywood is THE place to go for budding movie and TV show fans alike.
Planet Hollywood London Props
As you walk through the door you are greeted by a Power Ranger costume and a Terminator costume. That’s what I call a superstar entrance with winks and nods to films and projects that its famous owners have been a part of.
Whilst there is a range of props on display I do have a sneaky feeling that with many branches of Planet Hollywood they use production-used (not seen on screen) items and a few replicas here and there as some of the items looked a little questionable in terms of their lineage and this was always a speculation amongst movie prop collectors the world over.
There were many a forum that would get together and dissect the props on display at these attractions as they’d never quite label them correctly.
I’m sure some of the items are genuine screen-used items but the ones on display here are a little questionable to say the least.
There’s no way a real Han Solo in carbonite prop is going to be hanging on the wall. That has to 100% be a replica/reproduction.
Other props included such items as Charlie Sheen’s Two and a Half Men outfit, another questionable item, Freddy Krueger’s glove from Nightmare on Elm Street and some epic Die Hard and Terminator goodies where all located around the area in which we were seated.
It’s a great atmosphere for a film fan like me! Sadly, not a great atmosphere for a photographer as the glare off the acrylic displays with spotlights shining on them is blinding!
I wish some attractions would invest in some anti-glare displays, that would be great!
Planet Hollywood London Food
Serving a variety of ribs, steaks and burgers the food here is well, not good.
I ordered some fajitas and not only were my tortillas toasted to the point where they looked like brick tacos there was no flavour in the chicken or the rice.
Whilst the portion sizes were more than adequate for the rather expensive £17 paid, sadly the flavour was missing.
This is exactly the same as what you’d get from Hard Rock Cafe where the food is absolutely abysmal but the cocktails ain’t half bad!
The only thing stopping me from complaining was sitting next to this wonderful Die Hard 2 relic.
I was so distracted looking at this that there was no time to complain!
This could just be a case of the dish I ordered though.
My friend had a steak and said it was lovely. Much better than the absolute rubbish he was served at Bubba Gump Shrimp the last time we were in London. But that’s what you get when you order steak from a seafood restaurant. Rookie mistake.
Overall
Planet Hollywood London is certainly worth a visit if you love movies.
Not so much a place to visit if you love good food though.
I tend to find chain places that have the same bland-tasting food. But it’s the atmosphere here that you go for.
Next time I think I’ll just stick to the drinks.
Thanks for having us Planet Hollywood London!
Review by Sean Evans
