Australian hardware giant Bunnings is throwing open the doors to its first-ever UK store this week.

The hardware chain opened in St Albans, an hour north of London, to 600 friends and family on Sunday and will open to the public on Thursday, reported The West Australian.

And the famous 'Bunnings sausage sizzle', a sausage wrapped in a slice of white bread with tomato sauce (and onion if you're lucky), is sure to be on the menu.

Customers in the UK have reacted to the store with a mix of amusement and confusion.

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Australian hardware giant Bunnings has opened its first-ever store in the UK in St Albans, Hertfordshire (pictured). It is taking the place of the Homebase store

One woman laughed and said: 'Bunnings to me is a bunny!'

Another man said: 'It doesn't mean anything to me because I've never heard of it before!'

The pilot UK store for the DIY chain, owned by Western Australian-based company Wesfarmers, will replace the former Homebase store in Griffiths Way, St Albans.

The new store, which is in Hertfordshire and just under an hour from London, is expected to focus largely on gardening products.

Nearby shoppers reacted with a mixture of confusion and amusement when asked what the word Bunnings meant to them. One woman (pictured) said it made her think of a bunny

Another man (pictured) said Bunnings meant absolutely nothing to him, as he'd never even heard the word before

Customers in the UK will now also have the chance to experience an Australian 'sausage sizzle'- a barbecued sausage wrapped in a piece of bread with tomato sauce (pictured)

Homebase Bunnings managing director Peter Davis told Retail Week last year the former Homebase store's mezzanine would be removed and a larger canopy added to accommodate the new Bunnings.

Mr Davis said the store would hold about 40 per cent more stock keeping units than a traditional Homebase store, and employ an additional 30 members of staff.

A cafe, a children’s playground and a training area for both staff and customers have also been planned.

According to a report from The Guardian, Bunnings bought the Homebase chain in a $700 million (£565 million) deal in 2016, and plans to convert all the stores.

The first UK store is expected to have a focus on gardening products. Pictured is the inside of a typical Bunnings Warehouse store in Australia

Bunnings bought the Homebase chain (pictured) in a $700 million (£565 million) deal in 2016, and plans to convert all the stores

Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder said the first few pilot stores, such as the one in St Albans, will determine the timing of the conversion of the other Homebase stores.

Bunnings' entry into the UK hardware market is sure to create some waves, with the country currently favouring B&Q and Wickes as their first choice for DIY products.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bunnings in Australia for a comment on the first UK store.