There are places in London that announce themselves before you arrive. Then there is the Brentford Riviera.
Follow the canal through the industrial edges of West London and there is little to suggest what lies ahead. Then, suddenly, music drifts across the water. Classic and supercars catch the light. People gather around the bar. A Citroën SM grand tourer coupé sits among the crowd, its sculptural shape looking almost futuristic against the concrete architecture.
Welcome to the Brentford Riviera
At the heart of it is Duke of London, founded by Merlin McCormack in 2014. What began as a classic-car dealership has evolved into something much more unusual: a destination where cars, design, hospitality and music exist under one roof.
And then there is Plonkers.
The new Plonkers at Corson Yard is part cocktail bar, part wine bar, part social space and increasingly a destination for music. It has grown into something of a cult within Duke of London — and the new space takes the idea considerably further.
The building itself is a former multi-storey car park, transformed into a brutalist playground of concrete, steel, glass and carefully considered lighting. Cars occupy the showrooms like moving pieces of automotive history, while people drink, talk and listen to music around them.
Downstairs, the Plonkers Parlour is darker and more intimate. Deep colours, low light and plush seating create a room that feels almost hidden behind the showroom. Through the glass, classic cars sit quietly in the darkness.
Upstairs is the Listening Bar.
Some bars play music. This one is built around it.
The room overlooks the canal and is centred around an extraordinary bespoke sound system by Friendly Pressure, the London loudspeaker studio founded by Shivas Howard-Brown. Each system is hand-built and tuned to its surroundings. A Varia Instruments RDM40 rotary mixer completes the setup.
The result is less about volume than presence. Vinyl fills the room while selectors move between soul, ska, disco and funk. People come for a drink and stay for the music. As the evening develops, the distinction between bar and listening room gradually disappears.
There is sometimes a car in the room, too.
Nobody seems particularly surprised.
That is the appeal of Plonkers. The cars are not simply there to be admired or sold. They become part of the atmosphere — objects of design and desire sharing the same space as records, cocktails, conversation and people.
Outside, the Brentford Riviera continues the same unlikely combination. Coffee beside the canal, classic cars in the showroom, Classic & Cake gatherings bringing enthusiasts together, and evenings that move seamlessly from cocktails to vinyl.
It is distinctly London, but not the London of Mayfair or Soho.
This is West London with concrete, water, petrol, music and a little bit of glamour.
The Brentford Riviera is unique.
At least, we’re pretty sure it is.
NOTE: The Brentford Riviera is open now – you can find out more, and check out the various venues at the Duke’s of London website. https://www.dukeoflondon.co.uk/the-brentford-riviera
