Playboy to Reopen London Club

London is set to get back its famous Playboy club next year, Playboy Enterprises and London Clubs International announced.

The new venue, to be situated in the exclusive Mayfair area, will include a members club, lounge, restaurant and casino area including table games and high-limit private gaming rooms.

It is scheduled to open in the first half of 2011. Playboy's founder, Hugh Hefner, plans to open the similar establishments in China, Mexico and Florida.

"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," Hefner said.

London's original Playboy Club opened at Park Lane in 1966 and hosted such big names as Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicholson and George Best.

Aiming to capitalize on the reputation of its famous predecessor, the new club will operate over a two-level, 17,000 square foot property. It will be operated by London Clubs International.

Founded by Hefner in 1953, the Playboy brand continues to grow. The company is planning two more clubs - in Cancun, Mexico, and South Beach, Florida - to join the two existing clubs in Las Vegas and now London.

The brand appears in more than 150 countries around the world through retail stores, entertainment venues and of course its famous flagship magazine.