It should work fine. IME, most hybrid rhododendrons tend to be quite a bit more sun tolerant than many think, especially in milder summer maritime climates - my Pacific Northwest climate is very similar to much of the UK and all manner of rhodies are planted in full sun here without issue. And we can get substantially hotter than you in summer as well! The only issue would be that it receives adequate water during the late summer months. This is the driest (as well as the hottest) period in my area and routine deep watering is advised to keep the plants fully hydrated and to encourage bud set.

Thanks Gardengal....that's good to know. If i buy one in a 7litre tub..would this take a while to grow?

That's about the equivalent of a standard US nursery 2G, which is not a very big plant :-) Sure, it will grow.......how fast depends on location, soil conditions, watering, etc.....but I wouldn't expect a lot from it for a couple of years!

jetgoddess, the plant should do fine for you, I noticed on a PBS TV show here about life at a castle in Scotland that many, many rhodies were growing in close to full sun.

If you are interested in rhodies I highly recommend the book by the Coxes "Encyclopedia of Rhododendron Hybrids" - they often give specific advice up how various cultivars do up there. Their nursery is in Scotland. Some PNW cultivars they rate as duds, but I don't believe 'Van Ness Sensation' is one of them.

OK, Cox says "Commercially available in W North America, New Zealand and Australia and quite highly rated in all these areas. Rarely seen in UK and Europe" - which is why I thought it was a PNW hybrid. But in fact CB van Nes & Sons was a European nursery. Anyhow, no specific comment about it not blooming well in Scotland or whatnot.