Wesfarmers managing director Richard Goyder says Bunnings' first pilot store in Britain "looks terrific" but is adamant the new format will not be rolled out until Bunnings is confident it appeals to British consumers.

The first Bunnings-branded store opens in St Albans, Hertfordshire this weekend for a soft launch – a year after Bunnings entered Britain and Ireland through the $700 million acquisition of the Home Retail Group's 265-store Homebase hardware chain.