After months of anticipation, the UK’s premium flagship, La Casa del Habano at 26 Pall Mall, officially opened its doors in Central London on the 26 March 2026.
I’ve been sharing updates along the way in several articles:
London to welcome new flagship La Casa del Habano on Pall Mall
A sneak peek behind the scenes of new La Casa del Habano flagship on Pall Mall
Dominique London Opens Flagship La Casa del Habano on Pall Mall
And I was kindly invited to the launch of the Dominique London La Casa del Habano, which I felt incredibly lucky to attend. This crazy cigar journey has taken me on so many adventures, especially in the last few months — more than I could ever have imagined! It’s not something I take for granted 🙏🙏🙏.
The celebration was not limited to just one night; they truly went all out, with a full week of events, each tailored to different folk. It began with shareholders and business partners, followed by members of the Monte-Carlo Cigar Club, distributors and retailers from London’s cigar scene. The week culminated with a press gathering, highlighting the significant interest surrounding this establishment. It has clearly been the place to be these past few days!
Notable figures in the cigar world made appearances throughout the week, including the Sahakians, Jemma Freeman, Kirby Allison and Nick Hammond, along with other respected industry experts and true cigar connoisseurs.
Naturally, a lot of questions have been circulating online and in person. Is it true the project cost over £15 million? Will there be a £250 minimum spend to access the sampling lounge? And, more broadly, is this the right time to launch a cigar shop in the UK, especially with new tobacco and vape legislation set to become law? and ongoing supply challenges linked to the current situation in Cuba? There’s also curiosity about how the Dominique London brand will be received in the UK. They’ve had great success across Europe, particularly with the Monte Carlo Cigar Club.
One thing is certain: the shop is already making a bold statement. My social media feeds have been flooded with footage from the opening over the past week, including numerous snaps of THAT giant Bentley Blue Train parked outside the flagship store, with guests arriving continuously. It’s hard to miss!
Background
For those that don’t know, Dominique London is a European luxury cigar and lifestyle group formed in 2021 through the merger of C.Gars Ltd and La Casa del Tabaco. It operates a network of premium cigar boutiques, lounges, and online stores across the UK and Europe.
Led by Dominique Gyselinck and CEO Frédéric Dechamps, the group includes heritage brands like Turmeaus (est. 1873).
Its offerings focus on premium cigars, fine spirits, and luxury accessories, with locations in London, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, the Canary Islands, and Monte Carlo. It has also expanded into media through its acquisition of Cigar Inspector.
Dominique London is highly regarded in the cigar industry, recently winning the Best Cigar Merchant award for 2025. Furthermore, their Monte Carlo Cigar Club was named Best Cigar Club for 2025. Described as a family-owned group, the business emphasises craftsmanship, tradition, and “the art of fine living.”
I believe the new Pall Mall store is the first to feature the full Dominique London branding on its storefront.
My experience
I attended the gathering on Tuesday evening at the venue, just a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square, super close to St James’s Square. The nearest tube station for me was Charing Cross.
From the moment I arrived, the setting felt grand. Bollards lined the entrance, security personnel (peaky blinders style) were stationed outside, and a sweeping blue carpet — mirroring the Dominique London branding — stretched invitingly into the store.
The sense of luxury was there even before stepping inside. Parked prominently outside was that Bentley (as mentioned above), complete with a cigar humidor fitted in the back, which inevitably drew the attention of onlookers.
Upon entering, my coat was taken and I was warmly greeted by Dominique Gyselinck and Mitchell Orchant, before being offered a glass of champagne.
Despite what must have been a crazy week for them and their team, their energy remained high. I also met several of Dominique London’s staff including Andy Swain (UK Country Manager) and Neil Millington (Hospitality & Vintage Humidor Manager) who have done a marvellous job of creating something very special for us here in London.
I was then handed a Trinidad cigar to sample, I think it was the Coloniales.
The details:
Length: 5 1/4″
Ring Gauge: 44
Strength: Medium
Vitola: Coloniales
Familiar faces were everywhere too — I spotted James and Rosalie Barber, my cigar buddies Amy and Tuba from the UK Aficionadas, and several others from the London cigar scene.
Looking around on the first floor, lots of stuff stood out, to my right a bar area…
… and to my left premium cigar accessories.
From beautifully crafted cutters to exceptional lighters, there was a clear emphasis on quality and detail — it felt curated rather than simply stocked.
I must also acknowledge the photographs on the wall, created by Celina Turrent of Tabacalera Turrent (the folks behind Casa Turrent cigars). They serve as a tribute to the individuals behind Mexico’s rich tobacco heritage, capturing the lives and work of those who have cultivated tobacco in the Valley of San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz, since 1880.
In particular, they honour the women who form the backbone of Tabacalera Turrent, representing more than 65% of the workforce.
There was even a traditional shoe shiner (follow him on Instagram) from London’s Burlington Arcade, adding a touch of old-world charm.
Next came the humidors, crafted by DeART, which are absolutely spectacular!
The upstairs humidor, in particular, is one of the finest I have seen in London.
Spacious, beautifully ventilated, and lined with cedarwood, it’s the kind of place where you could spend hours exploring.
There’s plenty of stock available as well! Hunters & Frankau, the UK distributor of Cuban cigars, have done an excellent job navigating challenging times.
The pricing was surprisingly competitive, matching what you’d find at CGars.
Heading downstairs, under the towering silhouette of Dominique Gyselinck…
…you’re met with a smaller humidor filled with rare and limited-edition cigars. This is where the real treasures lie. Those from the auctions – see Dominique’s latest video with Kirby Allison (it’s had over 1.4 million views on YouTube)! Both aged and vintage cigars can be found here. It’s the place for connoisseurs 🤩.
There’s a real sense of prestige about these humidors, much of which can be attributed to the craftsmanship of Massimo and his team at DeArt (who I recently visited in Italy) – who have created humidors in over 35 cigar establishments across London. He has created something genuinely special here. Having seen the early drawings of the project, it was surreal to now be standing inside the finished space.
To the left of the basement humidor is the cigar sampling lounge, its been referred to by some as the “Palm Lounge.” Although this isn’t the official name.
I have to say, the interior feels like one of the most luxurious living rooms in London — my photos really don’t do it justice.
St James’s Square lies just beyond the window, though it remains unseen from the lounge area. Yet the space offers a complete escape from the city — you’d never guess you were on Pall Mall while relaxing here. Designed by Dominique herself, it exudes a sense of calm, luxury, and irresistible warmth.
With around 14 seats, it’s an intimate spot, and I imagine it could feel crowded at peak times. However, once settled in, it’s exactly where you’d want to spend an afternoon or evening sampling a fine cigar. It feels like something straight out of a high-end interiors magazine.
The room was buzzing throughout the evening. It was great to connect with so many people at the event.
I had the chance to spend time with Mitchell Orchant (cGars), which was a highlight; hearing him and James Barber talk informally about their experiences in the cigar industry was fascinating.
There were even international guests — Aaron Sigmond (author of Cigars: A Biography) had flown in and then Rocky Patel made an appearance!
I also spent time with fellow creators like Irish Cigar King (who has a cool YouTube channel about cigars worth checking out).
My rating: 9 out of 10
This is undeniably a premium experience, reflecting the considerable investment Dominique London has put into creating it. The upstairs area is accessible to all, with prices comparable to CGars St James, while the downstairs cigar sampling lounge offers a more elevated experience with a higher price point and a high minimum spend (the rumours are true regarding the minimum spend above) — think of the Monte Carlo Cigar Club. Ideal for those who appreciate luxury, exclusivity, and world-class cigars, particularly international visitors seeking a memorable London experience.
Have they taken a risk? Absolutely. Dominque London are bold risk-takers, and in this case, it seems to have paid off – the show must and will go on, despite what’s happening down the road in Westminster.
Would I return? Without question. The staff were exceptional, the cigars are 🔥, the humidor (particularly upstairs) is world class and the sampling lounge is #chefskiss 👌 I suspect we will see some more awards being won later in the year for this new flagship boutique.
The only thing that might prevent me from coming back again and again and again is the minimum spend £250 for the sampling lounge – its quite far out of my day to day budget 🙈 – saying that the cigars in the main humidor are very reasonable – just wish I could sample those in the basement too.
Overall, it was an exceptional evening, surrounded by passionate, remarkable people in a space that truly feels extraordinary. Dominique London have raised the bar for any new cigar shops and sampling lounges across the city 👏 – bosh! 💥
Interested in visiting?
26 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5EW, United Kingdom
For more details visit: dominiquelondon.com
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