Duke of London Set for 'Brentford Riviera' Opening
Classic car dealer launches new venue with the return of Plonkers
A model of the planned new showroom. Picture: Ballymore
May 5, 2026
Brentford Riviera welcomes new classic car showroom and waterside bar as Duke of London completes long-awaited move
Nearly three years after announcing its ambitious relocation, Duke of London will finally open the doors to its new home on ‘the Brentford Riviera’ this Saturday (9 May), marking the end of a long and often complicated.
Duke of London, founded by Merlin McCormack, had outgrown its previous premises at the former Brentford Dock estate, where a combination of redevelopment pressures, limited space and ageing industrial units made it increasingly difficult to operate. The business — part classic-car showroom, part community hub, part nightlife destination — needed a site that could accommodate its expanding workshop, events programme and the cult following of Plonkers, its much-loved bar. When regeneration plans in Brentford accelerated, the team began searching for a location that could offer permanence rather than another temporary base.
That opportunity came with the completion of a new stretch of revitalised waterfront across the High Street from the Lidl supermarket at Corson Yard, on the Grand Union Canal which has, half ironically, been dubbed the Brentford Riviera. The site offered room to build a purpose-designed showroom, space for a dedicated coffee shop and bar, and a waterside setting that fits the brand’s playful, slightly rebellious identity. But transforming the site has taken far longer than expected. “Almost three years, a lot of hard work, long days and a sh*t ton of dust,” the team wrote in their launch announcement.
Now, the wait is over. From 9am on Saturday 9 May, the new classic-car showrooms and waterside coffee shop will open to the public for the first time. To celebrate, the first 100 customers will receive a special giveaway, with further surprises promised throughout the weekend.
Corson Yard. Picture: Brentford TV
At 11am, the bar opens — and with it, the return of Plonkers, the cult favourite that helped cement Duke of London’s reputation as one of the area’s most idiosyncratic social spaces. Now housed in a purpose-built venue, Plonkers will serve breakfast cocktails before shifting into a full day-and-evening menu from its new drinks list. Customers can enjoy 20% off drinks across the launch weekend by showing the announcement email at the bar.
Vinyl DJs will play into the evening, setting the tone for what the team hopes will become a new Brentford institution: a place where car enthusiasts, locals, families and night-owls can all find something to enjoy.
“It’s been a long time coming,” the team said. “We can’t wait to have you in.”
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