Latest news with #JohnnyPalmer
Times
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Man who made Pablo Escobar's jet into Airbnb plans new venture
The entrepreneur behind the 'world's coolest Airbnb' — a grounded Boeing 727 once linked to Pablo Escobar — has sparked a planning row with proposals to convert a second aircraft into a co-working space. Johnny Palmer, 41, commandeered the cocaine kingpin's former jet and installed it in a Bristol industrial estate in 2021, inviting guests to 'feel like billionaires'. Now he has applied to bring a second Boeing on to the same site, this time to host what he calls 'the world's coolest office'. Palmer said: 'On industrial estates people don't really care what you do because visually they're not very nice as they are, so that gives a creative opportunity to do weird things like aeroplanes. 'Whereas if I tried to do this in agricultural or residential settings, you just wouldn't get planning permission.' However the plan has triggered a backlash among some locals. There have been complaints of noisy parties and disruptive music from the existing plane and the proposed addition has generated concerns it will become another 'eyesore'. • The world's wildest Airbnb? A private jet fit for a drug lord One objector wrote: 'What a complete waste of time. The one that is already in place has changed from this to this to this. The community doesn't use the first one, let alone another. 'Who in their right mind wants to go on a plane overlooking what will be a housing area on the back of a trading estate? It beggars belief.' Another resident added: 'It is not going to do anything for the area except attract more trouble. It's hard enough when they have parties in there. 'You can hear the music all around Brislington and Broomhill.' The current plane, built in 1968 for Japan Airlines and rumoured to have passed from Middle Eastern royalty to Escobar before his death in 1993, was decommissioned in 2012 after 40 years in service. It now sits perched on shipping containers, with its fuselage wrapped in a kaleidoscope of colourful ducks and roses. • What it's like to have a sleepover in a Cold War nuclear missile silo Though it lacks wings and engines, inside it is anything but grounded. Adorned with walnut panelling and a gold-plated shower, the Airbnb boasts two king suites, complete with en-suites, a hot tub and a light show to simulate take-off. The price ranges from £250 to £850 a night depending on the level of luxury. Palmer plans to elevate the second jet even higher than the first, to the equivalent of three storeys, and use it for a café, office and shared workspace. He argued it will provide 'high value opportunities' in 'marketing, PR and design, creating employment for young creatives'. 'This project represents a forward-thinking, innovative development, integrating economic, social and environmental benefits,' he said. • Tent Airbnb offers perfect holiday hangout — 3m above the ground An aviation fan, Palmer admits the appeal is rooted in a kind of 'role play' or 'cosplay' of spending the day feeling like a billionaire. 'People enjoy that experience and living that fantasy for a little while and then living their normal lives,' he said. 'Everyone wants a private jet, right?'
Daily Mail
04-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Owner of Pablo Escobar's old jumbo jet is embroiled in planning row over 'noisy' Airbnb parties in aircraft - as he applies to put ANOTHER Boeing next to it
A man who built an Airbnb from Pablo Escobar's plane has become embroiled in a planning row over noisy parties as he applies to put another Boeing next to it. Johnny Palmer, 41, created the unique accommodation in the abandoned Boeing 727 plane once owned by the drugs lord to makes guests 'feel like billionaires'. He has now submitted a fresh application for a second Boeing project - this time in a bid to create the 'world's coolest office.' Mr Palmer transported his initial Boeing 727 to Bristol in February 2021. But he is facing a battle over plans to site a second Boeing 727 fuselage at the site - this time to be used as an office and meeting space. As part of the fresh application, some neighbours complained of 'rowdy' parties in the 'Escobar' plane that was disturbing the local ambience. One objector wrote: 'It is too close to the houses and you can hear music and parties that they have already. 'When the new houses are built opposite they are not going to like the noise either.' Another added: 'What a complete waste of time, the one that is already in place has changed from this to this to this, the community doesn't use the first one let alone another. 'The plane has never been accepted by the community, it's hardly been used for any events. Who in their right minds want to go in the plane over looking what will be a housing area on the back of a trading estate. It beggars belief. It is just another eyesore.' Another objector added: 'It is not going to do anything for the area except attract more trouble. 'It's hard enough when they have parties in there and you can hear the music all around the Brislington area and Broomhill.' Mr Palmer's initial Boeing 727 installation rests atop a stack of shipping containers, and he now plans to elevate the second aircraft even higher, equivalent to three storeys. Several letters of support have also been received ahead of a decision made by Bristol City Council. In documents to support the application, he said the plan was for the supporting structure as a hub for co-working and office spaces and include a coffee shop and other facilities. He wrote: 'The project will create high-value opportunities in marketing, public relations and communications, providing employment for young creatives, designers and marketers. 'This project represents a forward-thinking, innovative development, integrating economic, social and environmental benefits.' Mr Palmer's original decommissioned aircraft has functioned as office space, a filming location, and is presently available for rental on AirBnB. The private jet resides on an industrial estate in Bristol and comes with a hot tub and sauna and can cost up to £850 per night. Originally built in 1968 and fitted out as a private jet in 1981, the aircraft was still flying up until 2012 - when it made its final journey to Filton Airfield. Mr Palmer said he now offers guests the chance to live like a billionaire at 32-feet. Speaking previously, he added: 'It was built in 1968 for Japan Airlines and in 1981 it got converted into a private jet. It had a series of owners. 'Eventually it could not fly anymore and in 2012 it was decommissioned. 'There is a bit of a roll play cosplay thing going on there - people enjoy that experience and living that fantasy for a little while and then living their normal lives. 'The contrast - billionaire and real life - is actually really healthy to people.' There have been many rumours about who the previous owners of the jet were - including an Arab prince and the Mafia. 'Someone said that Pablo Escobar might have owned it for a while,' he said. 'As to where it came before that who knows - that doesn't change the fact that we are doing so many positive stuff with it now.' The unusual Airbnb boasts two double bedrooms with ensuite toilets and showers, as well as seats which can convert into beds. It comes complete with walnut panelling, leather seats, gold plated shower and toilet - as well as the original fully-fitted cockpit. While the aircraft does not have wings or engines, all other features work including the airstairs, lighting, three toilets, shower, kitchen, fridge and many of the cockpit lights. Johnny said: 'I always wanted to have a private jet and this was an opportunity to get one - the thing that I wanted was never a plane that flew it was just having a private jet so this was perfect. 'I just think they are cool - I just like airplanes. Everyone wants a private jet, right? 'On industrial estates people don't really care what you do because visually they are not very nice as they are so that gives a creative opportunity to do weird things like airplanes. 'Whereas if I tried to do this in agricultural or residential setting you just wouldn't get planning permission for it.' The cheapest nights in the aircraft are £250 and the peak nights are £850 for the night. Peak times are in August and it's nearly fully book the whole year. He previously said of the second plane: 'This one will be bigger and much more impressive. And much higher and a bigger structure.'
The Sun
03-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
My neighbour built an Airbnb from ‘Pablo Escobar's plane' – we can't stand the noise & now he wants ANOTHER Boeing 727
A MAN who turned "Pablo Escobar's plane" into the "world's coolest Airbnb" is now locked in a bitter planning row with neighbours. Johnny Palmer, 41, converted an abandoned Boeing 727 into a rental and now plans to build the "world's coolest office" from another jet. 7 7 7 Johnny transported the plane back to Bristol in February 2021 and built the innovative Airbnb with the aim of making guests "feel like billionaires". The eccentric British-Australian entrepreneur has submitted a new application to convert a second Boeing 727 into an office and meeting space. But his plans to place the fuselage at the Brislington industrial estate - where the original jet sits - have been put on hold. One objector wrote: "It is too close to the houses and you can hear music and parties that they have already. "When the new houses are built opposite they are not going to like the noise either." Another added: "What a complete waste of time, the one that is already in place has changed from this to this to this, the community doesn't use the first one let alone another. "The plane has never been accepted by the community, it's hardly been used for any events. "Who in their right minds want to go in the plane over looking what will be a housing area on the back of a trading estate. "It beggars belief. It is just another eyesore." A third objector wrote: "It is not going to do anything for the area except attract more trouble. Inside Pablo Escobar's haunting $10m abandoned mansion with toxic swimming pool & double-thick walls for hiding cocaine "It's hard enough when they have parties in there and you can hear the music all around the Brislington area and Broomhill." Johnny's Airbnb, nearly fully booked year-round, sits atop a stack of shipping containers. The businessman previously said the industrial estate location gave him "a creative opportunity to do weird things like airplanes". This, he said, was because people do not have strong opinions about the look of the area - a claim that has since turned out to be off the mark. 7 Johnny plans to make the second aircraft taller than the first - about the height of three storeys. The entrepreneur previously said: "This one will be bigger and much more impressive. And much higher and a bigger structure." In supporting documents received by Bristol City Council, Johnny said the structure would serve as a hub for co-working, office space, a coffee shop and other facilities. He wrote: "The project will create high-value opportunities in marketing, public relations and communications, providing employment for young creatives, designers and marketers. "This project represents a forward-thinking, innovative development, integrating economic, social and environmental benefits." Johnny's "Escobar" Airbnb has proven to be practical, functioning not only as a rental but as office space and even a filming set. 7 7 During peak periods - often in August - the nightly rate can reach £850, while the lowest prices drop to around £250 per night. The fully kitted-out 727 has a sauna, a hot tub, space for four guests and a full kitchen. It also boasts luxurious touches, including walnut panelling, leather seats, a gold-plated shower and toilet, plus the original fully fitted cockpit. Though the aircraft lacks wings and engines, it still features working air-stairs, lighting, three toilets, a shower, kitchen, fridge and cockpit lights. The aircraft was originally built in 1968 before being converted into a private jet in 1981. It was still flying up until 2012 when it made its final journey to Filton Airfield. Johnny previously said: "It was built in 1968 for Japan Airlines and in 1981 it got converted into a private jet. It had a series of owners. "Eventually it could not fly anymore and in 2012 it was decommissioned. "There is a bit of a roll play cosplay thing going on there - people enjoy that experience and living that fantasy for a little while and then living their normal lives. "The contrast - billionaire and real life - is actually really healthy to people." Rumours swirl about the jet's past owners - with stories ranging from an Arab prince to the Mafia. "Someone said that Pablo Escobar might have owned it for a while," Johnny said. "As to where it came before that who knows - that doesn't change the fact that we are doing so many positive stuff with it now."
