Richard Hammond will return to Salon Privé this September for its 21st edition, following the success of his appearance as a judge at last year’s five-day long luxury motoring event. The former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter has been confirmed as one of the headline attractions across Supercar Saturday and Supercar Sunday at Blenheim Palace, where he will spend the weekend of 5th and 6th September meeting visitors and judging the prestigious Concours de Vente competition.
Throughout the weekend, Richard will be on-site where visitors will be able to sample and purchase his full spirits range, including Ratio Gin, Iron Ridge Whisky and his brand-new Hammond’s Bearing Caribbean Spiced Rum, which will be available to the public for the first time. The rich and characterful Caribbean spiced rum, shaped by Richard’s love of travel, discovery, and the occasional well-earned pause, blends rums from Trinidad, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic, each aged for five years in oak barrels to develop depth, warmth, and complexity.
During the weekend Salon Privé guests will have the opportunity to meet Richard during multiple bottle signing sessions and meet and greets will be included as part of the event general admission. Richard will also take part in an exclusive question and answer session in the Boodles Club Lounge during the weekend, giving Club Members the chance to hear more about his television career, including his time on Top Gear, his lifelong passion for motoring and his latest business ventures.
On Sunday 6th September, Richard will once again join a panel of judges for the Salon Privé Concours de Vente, selecting a standout car from an exceptional collection of vehicles offered for sale by some of the UK’s leading dealers, restorers and specialists. Chosen with fellow judges, Top Gear’s long-standing editor-at-large, Jason Barlow, and British racing driver and broadcaster, Amanda Stretton, the winner will be presented with the coveted Prix d’Honneur trophy during the afternoon awards parade.
Richard Hammond said: “Salon Privé is one of my favourite events to attend. The cars are extraordinary, the setting at Blenheim Palace is hard to beat and it’s full of people who genuinely love motoring.
“I had a fantastic time last year, so I’m obviously delighted to be coming back for Salon Privé’s 21st year. What makes Salon Privé so special is that it’s not just about seeing incredible machinery; it’s about meeting the people who own and love them too. I’m looking forward to another great weekend, seeing some exceptional clubs and collections, and sending everyone home with a renewed buzz having spent the day among some of the world’s most incredible cars.”
Richard first joined Salon Privé in 2025, when he judged the inaugural Concours de Vente and Lifestyle Club Trophy, while introducing visitors to his premium spirits range, Hawkridge. His return comes as Salon Privé continues to evolve for 2026, with two new Concours classes celebrating modern supercars and hypercars, alongside a revised Best of Show format, which will recognise excellence across three distinct categories of collector cars.
David Bagley, co-founder of Salon Privé, said: “We’re thrilled to bits to welcome Richard Hammond back to Salon Privé after such a fantastic response from visitors last year. Of course he’s one of the world’s best-known motoring personalities, but more importantly he’s a genuine enthusiast, and that is palpable every time he talks about cars.
“Having Richard with us across the whole weekend gives visitors plenty of opportunity to interact with him, whether that’s watching him judge the Concours de Vente, attending his Q&A or visiting his chalet. He’ll be a huge part of what promises to be a fantastic weekend at Salon Privé Blenheim.”
For more information about this year’s event and to book tickets, visit here
