Rita Gilligan
Hard Rock Cafe | Historical Figure
Rita Gilligan MBE is an original Hard Rock Cafe waitress and longtime ambassador for the Hard Rock brand, who retired in 2021 after 50 years of service. Nicknamed "Lovely Rita" after the Beatles song, she is a global icon within the Hard Rock community and to many people is the face of the brand. She has appeared on a variety of Hard Rock pins over the years.
Born in Galway, Ireland, in 1941, Gilligan moved to England in 1960 and was hired as a waitress at the first Hard Rock Cafe when it opened in London in 1971. With her trademark red hair, white uniform and outgoing personality, she became a favorite with the cafe's growing customer base. In 1988, she began serving as a goodwill ambassador for Hard Rock, traveling the world to train staff at new locations.
Subject ID: 88367
MoreRita Gilligan MBE is an original Hard Rock Cafe waitress and longtime ambassador for the Hard Rock brand, who retired in 2021 after 50 years of service. Nicknamed "Lovely Rita" after the Beatles song, she is a global icon within the Hard Rock community and to many people is the face of the brand. She has appeared on a variety of Hard Rock pins over the years.
Born in Galway, Ireland, in 1941, Gilligan moved to England in 1960 and was hired as a waitress at the first Hard Rock Cafe when it opened in London in 1971. With her trademark red hair, white uniform and outgoing personality, she became a favorite with the cafe's growing customer base. In 1988, she began serving as a goodwill ambassador for Hard Rock, traveling the world to train staff at new locations.
Gilligan was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), in recognition for her contributions to tourism in the United Kingdom. In 2016, she published her autobiography, "The Rock 'n' Roll Waitress at the Hard Rock Cafe: My Life."
Subject ID: 88367
Subject ID: 88367
