City Bars lures Planet Hollywood chief for London launch

Planet Hollywood’s marketing director Tamlyn Thompson has quit and has moved to City Bars & Restaurants where he will take on the same role.

Thompson will oversee the launch of CBR’s latest venture, 10 Covent Garden Kitchen & Lounge Bars, which opens on January 11 2001, as well as all marketing for the company’s existing London venues – the 10 Room and 10 Tokyo Joes.

He will head a team of 16 people and report directly to CBR chief executive Terry Pullen.

The company plans to roll out the “10” concept in the UK and abroad next year with venues planned for Knightsbridge, New York, Paris and Milan.

Pullen says: “It is very rare that you get a young person with the maturity, ability and enthusiasm to take part in a groundbreaking project all wrapped up in one individual.”

Before joining Planet Hollywood Thompson was marketing director for Terence Conran’s Great Eastern Hotel.

He also spent three years as head of marketing for the leisure-to-property group Network Corporate Holdings, where he was responsible for overseeing the launch of Café de Paris in London’s West End.

Planet Hollywood has been struggling financially in recent years and last year filed for bankruptcy protection.