Where was the first ever Hard Rock Cafe? Times Square under the neon signs? LA boulevard in full view of the Whiskey a Go Go? Or how about central London. By an underpass across from the no38 bus route.
It doesn’t sound that glamorous until you learn the address: 150 Old Park Lane.
This is the site of the original Hard Rock Cafe, opened in 1971 where legends like Eric Clapton came for a drink and a bite to eat after a tough day in the studio.
When Clapton decided to gift his guitar to put across the bar, a legend was born with now over 300 venues. All have authentic, one-of-a-kind memorabilia from decades of rock history all fired by Hard Rock’s very first – that iconic red guitar.
Now across the street in ‘the vault’ there is much more as Ash gives you a guided tour in his own inimitable way, telling the stories of the pieces and the musicians behind them.
(Image: Phil Harris)
Madonna’s famous corset from the Blonde Ambition tour is there, as well as Brian May’s guitar complete with an indecipherable message.
There’s also on an old church pew where Ringo Starr gave a less than enthusiastic peace sign as Ash encourages us to all do the same for pictures.
Jimi Hendrik’s famous left-handed star guitar from the Isle of Wight festival should be pride of place, but it’s doing an anniversary tour of Hard Rocks. It may be gone a while as there are 300 of them.
Over in the actual cafe you can still see Clapton’s first gift and despite all these years of burgers and bourbon they’re still trying to innovate.
(Image: Phil Harris)
Until June 13 you can taste the ‘Burger of the World’ as Hard Rock chef’s battle it out to see who can concoct the best creation.
In London, battling it out are the British banger burger which is taking on the goat’s cheese and onion burger (see panel). Both have the chance to make it to stardom with a permanent place on the global Hard Rock Cafe burger menu.
Burger vs burger at Hard Rock Cafe
As part of the renowned World Burger Tour the Hard Rock Cafe is going head to head… with itself.
Two of the iconic venue’s London locations have created two distinctive burgers – and you have to decide which one gets on the menu.
Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus have created the Goat Cheese & Onion Burger – two smashed and stacked burgers with goat cheese and caramelised onions, rocket salad and mayo.
And in the Hard Rock Cafe London Old Park Lane corner there’s British Banger Burger which is two smashed and stacked beef burgers with emmental cheese, smoky chimichuri, sweet and sour red onions, banger bacon, shredded lettuce, beef tomato, cilantro lime creme and frizzled onions.
Which will win? You decide from April 12 until May 22 with the winner available until June 13.
There’s nothing like a bit of competition so we decided to help with the decision and have a bite to eat.
Starting with One Night in Bangkok spicy shrimp we followed up with the British banger burger. We sampled the slow-cooked baby back ribs, barbecue chicken AND hand-pulled smoked pork served with house-made barbecue sauce, served with seasoned fries, coleslaw and ranch-style beans.
It was a lot to take in.
But there was still room to share a dessert with warm chocolate brownie topped with vanilla bean ice cream, hot fudge, chocolate sprinkles, fresh whipped cream and a cherry.
We washed it all down with a few American beers and with a few hurricane cocktails (Bacardi rum, orange, mango, pineapple juice and grenadine, finished with a float of Captain Morgan rum and Amaretto).
Clapton would no doubt approve.
But whether he’d be joining you in taking that no38 bus home is another story.