Robert Earl: from Surrey to Planet Hollywood and beyond

Dame Penelope Keith, delivering his citation, described Earl as “a global pioneer in the entertainment industry whose glittering CV includes founding the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain and launching a trailblazing platform in the virtual dining space.” She added, “Robert began his entrepreneurial journey early, launching his own company just four years after graduation. He went on to lead President Entertainment, become CEO of Hard Rock Café, and later create Planet Hollywood - a unique blend of dining and celebrity culture.”

Born in North London and introduced to show business by his father, a 1950s pop singer, Earl’s fascination with performance and hospitality started early. But it was Surrey, he says, that gave him his foundation. “It was a truly wonderful environment - a great formative time,” he recalled during a fireside chat with physicist and broadcaster Professor Jim Al-Khalili. “We had such camaraderie. You’d sleep on a floor with people from all walks of life and different countries. Some of those people are still my friends today. That’s what Forever Surrey really means.”

Finding his path

One of Surrey’s Pioneer generation, Earl joined the University in 1969 as part of the first group to complete the full four-year Hotel and Catering Management degree, which included an industrial placement - something he still champions today. “I had a great time,” he said. “I worked at Grosvenor House for a year, and many of us who did that stayed friends for life.” That blend of theory and practice gave him a launchpad for what would become a career defined by innovation, risk-taking, and reinvention.

After graduating, Earl was offered several prominent roles in hospitality but chose to work for a smaller firm led by businessman Joe Lewis - a decision that proved pivotal. “I picked the smallest company because it took me much closer to the decision-making” he said. “I learned very quickly, and it helped fuel my ambition.”

A Hollywood-sized vision

In the 1980s, Earl became part-owner of Hard Rock Café, but it was his next venture that made his name a global one. In 1991, he launched Planet Hollywood, merging dining with the allure of the silver screen. He persuaded A-list stars including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg to

become partners and ambassadors - a bold marketing move that changed the restaurant industry forever.

“These movie stars transcended international barriers - you could recognise them within a second,” he said. “We could be in Paris or Jakarta, and thousands of people would follow us within minutes.” At its peak, Planet Hollywood openings drew enormous crowds - over 150,000 people packed London’s Leicester Square for its launch - and in 1997, Time magazine named Earl one of America’s 25 Most Influential People.

Innovation and reinvention

Earl’s career has never stood still. From a franchise with the Earl of Sandwich to cutting-edge ventures in virtual dining - where restaurants use spare kitchen capacity to prepare licensed menus for delivery - he continues to redefine hospitality for the digital age. “COVID changed the restaurant industry forever,” he observed. “Delivery, tech integration, outdoor dining - the whole mix has changed. You’ve got to keep moving.”

His curiosity also extends to television, with his Food Network show Robert Earl’s Be My Guest giving him a front-row seat to culinary creativity across America. “I loved it - it was a chance to spy on everyone and learn what’s new,” he laughed.

Giving back and staying connected

While Earl has spent decades in the United States, his ties to the UK and to Surrey remain strong. As his citation noted, his philanthropic contributions have helped Surrey provide scholarships for students to gain an international hospitality experience. “His generosity gives young people a chance to follow in his footsteps, exploring the industry across the globe,” Keith said. Earl has also hosted alumni events, including at Planet Hollywood in London and at his new restaurant in New York recently, which drew Surrey’s biggest New York alumni crowd yet.