A VIP opening marked the completion of work on Dorchester’s new Nissan showroom.

Dorchester Nissan, on Millers Close, has nearly doubled in size to become one of the largest in the manufacturer’s UK retail network.

Top executives from Nissan Motor GB joined the mayor of Dorchester, Cllr David Taylor, and more than 170 customers for the launch of the 400 square metre facility.

The opening was the culmination of two years of planning, with the work separated into two stages to minimise disruption.

The first stage saw the workshop relocated to another site in Millers Close, while the second phase – starting in September last year – saw the showroom extended into the redundant space.

The showroom can now comfortably accommodate 12 vehicles compared with the previous six, with more space around the cars.

There is a ‘Re-fuel’ lounge where customers can have a hot drink, and an interactive design lab for them to configure their new Nissan.

A new ‘canopy of light’ showcases the Nissan LEAF and is the first thing visitors see when they enter the showroom.

The work has created five jobs, including two showroom hosts to greet customers on their arrival and help with initial enquiries, as well as parts and service advisers and an extra technician.

Outside, there is a new commercial vehicle display area and enough room to show up to 40 used vehicles under the Nissan Intelligent Choice approved used car programme. The number of EV charge points has doubled to four in response to the growing number of customers driving the pure electric LEAF and the e-NV200 van.

Dealer principal Tony Jordan said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the showroom. You can look at plans and know what’s going in, but it’s not until you see it that you realise how impressive it is. We’ve represented Nissan in Dorchester since 1990 and moved to this site in 2004, and the refurbishment underlines our commitment to the brand and our local community.

“The dealership represents a huge investment by the Horizon Magna automotive group. We are proud to be a privately-owned company that was established in Dorset in 1971, serving the region’s drivers for over 48 years, and, with a team of over 250, we are one of the UK’s top 150 motor groups.

Reaction has been fantastic and our guests loved the new contemporary look, hi-tech features and the space. The launch was a great way to showcase our new facility and show our customers how we are striving to provide them with the very best experience.”