Living Fires

We Like Big Stoves and We Can Not Lie!

Let’s chat big stoves, heat machines, fires that demand attention!

Looking for the magnificent flames and impressive presence of a large format stove? You’re not alone. For many homeowners, the expansive flame visuals of a big log burner make for an excellent focal point, especially in places they might be competing with a TV.

When it comes to stoves, the general rule of thumb is that the bigger and more impressive the flames, the larger the fire and the higher the heat output. Big wood burning stoves automatically mean bigger flame visuals and more heat. But what if you want big flames and a moderate heat output better suited to well insulated room spaces? Don’t worry there’s a big stove for that too!

Here we take a look at some of the best BIG stoves on the market and discuss why they could be the stove for you.

The Sheraton 5 Wide

Right from the original conceptual designs, the brief was simple: Impressive flame visuals, but with the nominal 5kW heat output typical of standard stoves. The innovative design of these stylish wood burning and multi-fuel stoves translates into stunning flame visuals and high performance heating.

The Sheraton 5 Wide wood burning and multi-fuel stove offers an expansive flame view with a slimmer depth than a standard large stove – whilst still providing a heat output suitable for standard room sizes. This is a brilliant option for period properties with a large fireplace to fill but no need for excessive heating or well insulated properties looking for a large centerpiece.

Featuring a beveled door frame with matching cornicing to the cast iron top and bottom, the Stovax Sheraton 5 Wide is available in electric, wood burning and multi-fuel versions.

A traditional styled BIG stove that demands attention.

Studio 3 Freestanding Wood Burning Stove

The largest in Stovax’s Studio range is the striking Studio 3 Freestanding Ecodesign wood burning stove. This highly efficient and visually impressive wood burning stove has the same 11kW of heat output and stunning widescreen views of the flames as its inset fire equivalent but offers a very different look.

Designed to be sited on to the optional 180 Bench, or hearth mounted to achieve the distinctive stove look, the Studio 3 Freestanding creates maximum visual impact in rooms of larger proportions. It also has the ability to be fitted with an optional rear heat shield to reduce the distance to combustible materials behind the appliance and extend the styling possibilities further still.

Take our word, this is a BIG stove for big rooms that delivers heat and impact through stunning design.

Chesterfield 5 Wide Wood Burning Stoves & Multi-fuel Stoves

This large format, slimline wood burning and multi-fuel stove is perfect for settings where a shallower depth is required, without sacrificing flame visuals. Broader and taller than other models in the Chesterfield range, the Chesterfield 5 provides a 5kW heat output and can be selected in wood burning or multi-fuel models.

The Chesterfield range features Stovax’s Convector Heat Flow system, which channels warm air between the firebox and the outer walls of the stove back into the room for enhanced heating performance. This innovative design feature also removes heat from the rear of the appliance, reducing the stove’s distance to combustibles for more installation possibilities.

A versatile BIG stove harmonising traditional stove styling with modern features.

Stockton 11 Wood Burning Stoves

The Ecodesign Ready Stovax Stockton 11 wood burning stove is the largest in the Stockton range. With high-efficiency performance and an impressive 11kW heat output, the Stockton 11 is particularly suitable for sizeable living rooms, substantial inglenooks and open-plan barn conversions.

Being DEFRA Exempt as standard for use in Smoke Control Areas means this stove can also be used in urban areas too. Choose between single or two door models, the latter of which provides a more classic aesthetic for that traditional feel.

View 5 Wood Burning and Multi-fuel Stoves

The stove that went widescreen. Looking for a stove that will fill your room with ambiance and mesmerizing flame views? The look no further than the View 5 Wide wood burning and multi-fuel stove.

The View 5 Wide presents a whole new option for those looking for maximum impact with a moderate heat output and is suitable for most homes with standard sized living spaces.

The View 5 Wide is another great option for rooms where space is limited, as its shallow depth means it doesn’t protrude as far into the room as a typical stove. These sleek, contemporary stoves can be styled with a matching glass top plate as well as a range of benches for a designer focal-point.

But It’s not just about visuals…

The View 5 Wide’s combustion systems are designed to get the most out of every log, providing your home with a high efficiency heat source. And thanks to the advanced Cleanburn technology in both dedicated wood burning and multi-fuel versions, these stoves are Smoke Control Approved, making them suitable for urban areas.

Getting Your Fire Ready for the Season

With winter on the way, it’s time to get everything ready before the cold weather hits. It’s important to prepare your fireplace for winter after being out of use for a while. Fireplaces are a beautiful way to heat your home in the winter but before you light up a gas or wood-burning fireplace for the first time this season, there are a few maintenance tasks you should attend to.

At Living Fires, we want everyone to be able to enjoy using their fireplace so here are some steps we recommend you follow to make sure your fireplace is safe and ready to go.

1. SWEEP THE CHIMNEY

We would recommend you get your chimney swept at least once a year even if no repairs are needed, this is to remove any leftover soot and debris. It is important to make sure it has been professionally swept before the winter season as built-up soot, creosote, and other debris can put you at risk of a chimney fire once the fire is being used again. A chimney sweep can also alert you to any damage to the chimney.

2. NOTE ANYTHING ABNORMAL

Whilst getting your chimney swept your chimney sweep should be able to highlight any safety-related issues they notice however, without doing a full inspection some issues may be missed. This can be avoided by being vigilant and knowing what to look out for. An odd smell or a new draft where there hasn’t been before could be a sign that something inside the fireplace has changed, and is worth getting checked to be safe.

3. CHECK FOR DAMAGE

Homeowners should ideally check their chimney for damage every year or so. You are looking see if any damage has occurred both internally and externally to the structure of the fireplace and chimney. This is essential, cracks or lose joints can happen. The outside of the chimney can sustain damage from the weather including loose bricks, damaged mortar or detachment, it’s important to check that your chimney is securely attached to your house. These issues can interfere with chimney function, so if you notice them, be sure to get them fixed before winter.

4. INSPECT THE SEAL

Inspect your fireplace to make sure the seal (sometimes called a gasket, this typically looks like a piece of rope) on the door is in good condition. It’s important to maintain a good seal around the fire to help keep smoke and gas out of your home and excess oxygen out of the fire area. If your fireplace has a gasket, you should inspect it once a year to make sure it is intact. You may need to replace this if it looks damaged.

5. CHECK THE CHIMNEY CAP

Chimneys should be capped properly to ensure no animals, rain, snow, leaves or debris can enter through the opening of the chimney. If your chimney is not capped it is advised you get one. If your cap is damaged or missing then make sure you replace it before winter arrives. Capping your chimney also stops heavy rain or snow coming in through the chimney top and affecting your fire.

6. TRIM TREES NEARBY THE CHIMNEY

Many homeowners in Scotland have large trees in their gardens that may grow to hang over their chimneys. Unfortunately, tree limbs are a fire hazard. They can also damage the chimney cap if they fall in a windstorm. When you check your chimney, you should also trim any tree limbs hanging nearby.

7. CHECK ALARMS

Functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are essential in seasons when you are using your fireplace and other heating systems. To keep everyone in your home safe, you should replace the batteries and run tests to ensure the alarms will work when you need them.

8. PREP AND STORE YOUR FUEL (FOR WOOD-BURINING AND MULTIFUEL FIRES)

When buying your logs ensure the logs are ready to burn, most will already be cut down to a standard size (around 25cm in length) this is fine for most fireplaces but if your fireplace or stove is a smaller size then you may need to cut logs down to fit. Once you’ve got your wood at home (either collected or delivered), stack the wood in your storage so the split-side is facing down and off the ground if it’s being stored outside. Make sure to cover the wood so it stays dry from rain or snow. Wet wood cannot be burnt.

Briquettes come ready to burn. Storage again is totally up to preference. Anything being stored outside should be adequately covered to stop it from getting wet as this will affect the efficiency of the fuel.

9. DUST OF THE FIRE GUARDS

Fire Guards and Spark Guards come in handy when using a fireplace. A spark guard is an external metal mesh screen (usually seen around open fires) that helps to contain any shooting embers coming into contact with furniture or carpets.

A Fireguard can be used to create an exclusion space around the fire, these are particularly helpful in homes with small children and animals as it keeps a safe distance away from the fire. The external parts of the fireplace will get hot and aren’t advisable to touch so creating that space around it is key to avoiding burns. You can read more about safety around the fire here and top tips for keeping your pets safe near the fire here.

10. CLEAR THE AREA AROUND THE FIREPLACE

It happens: When you don’t use your fireplace for a long time between seasons, clutter naturally tends to fill up the surrounding area unless you are diligent about keeping tidy. But when winter returns, you will need to clear the clutter so you can avoid fire hazards and more easily enjoy the flames. Be sure to move any items that may be subject to damage from intense heat too. As pretty as ornaments look around the fireplace, it’s important to remember that the area around the fireplace will be hot too so damage can occur to anything too close to the fireplace.

Double check the area around your fireplace before you light your first fire this winter, especially for anything that might be flammable or emit unpleasant odors when warm. Make sure any furniture or rugs are a safe distance away.

Relax and safely enjoy your fireplace this cold season, we look forward to seeing you for all your fireplace needs!

Keeping Your Pets Safe by the Fire

Fireplaces are a wonderful way to warm up in the colder months. Even our pets love snuggling up in front of the hearth on a cold day. While it’s fine for our pets to enjoy the fireplace, you should take some precautions to make sure your pet is safe. Whether you have a natural gas fireplace or wood-burning stove, these 10 pet safety tips can help keep your pet from getting injured.

Train Your Pet to Stay Away

Like young children, pets may not know that fires and fireplaces can be harmful, especially when they’re very young. Their curiosity can get the best of them, and they may venture too close to the heat and get burned or singed. They can also get startled or hurt by hot embers, which can pop out of the fireplace unexpectedly.

To help keep your pet safe, train your furry friend to stay back from the area directly in front of the fireplace. It is important for all animals to learn that a fireplace is not for play, and that they should always keep a safe distance.

Supervise Your Pet By The Fire

One of the most important pet fire safety tips is always to supervise your pet when you have a fire going. Pets can be quick; they’re experts at stealing food off the tabling, unrolling toilet paper, and chewing your shoes to a pulp. So, whenever a fireplace is in use, make sure you are monitoring where your dog or cat is at all times. It takes just a few seconds of distraction for an animal to slide into the flames. If you need to step away for a few minutes, either take your pet with you or ask someone else to monitor him.

Even pets trained to stay away from the front of the fireplace can forget the rules and decide to get closer for a little extra warmth.

Use a Fireplace Screen or Glass Door

While a protective metal screen or glass door can’t keep your pet completely safe, you should still have one in place. An open fireplace can present a much bigger danger if your pet decides to check out the fire up close.

A covering can also keep some of those popping embers inside. Plus, wood in a fireplace can shift around as it burns. A safe covering can help ensure it doesn’t fall out onto the hearth where it can hurt your pet.

Better Safe Than Sorry: Go for a Gate

If your pet is very curious about your fire and doesn’t like to stay a safe distance away, consider using a baby or pet gate. You can set up the gate to block the doorway into the room while still letting the heat from the fireplace circulate. You can also purchase configurable pet gates and set them up as a boundary around the fireplace area.

Keep the Hearth Area Clear

You should never put anything flammable near the fireplace. An ember could snap out and set it on fire. If you leave a pet blanket or something cosy nearby, you could also encourage your pet to settle into a dangerous spot.

In fact, the entire front area of your fireplace should always remain clear. This means making sure your pet doesn’t drop any toys or knock something near the hearth. Things left close to the fireplace can start a fire in your home.

Have a Fire Extinguisher Handy

No matter how hard you try to keep your fireplace safe, there is always a risk of fire. For instance, wood can shift and knock down a covering or an ember can fly out unexpectedly. Always keep a working fire extinguisher on hand to help put out a fire quickly and safely.

Store Fire Tools and Accessories Safely

Fireplace tools, like pokers, tongs, spades, and fireplace brooms, can hurt your pet if they step on them or knock them over. Also, be careful if you use a stand to hold the fireplace tools. Make sure it’s sturdy and stable so it will be less likely to fall or get knocked over by a waggy tail.

Other fireplace accessories, such as matches, lighters, and starter chips, can also be harmful to your pet if chewed on or swallowed. Keep these stored safely away from the fireplace. If your pet does ingest something that might be poisonous, contact your vet right away!

Avoid Playing Near the Fire

It might sound obvious but play and recreation time with your pet near the fire can be as dangerous as fooling around with fire. You just never know what might happen. Wagging tails, long fur, and sensitive paws are just some exposed areas on an animal that might burn during a play session. Your pet could stumble into the fireplace covering and get burned, or either one of you could knock into it and cause a fire in your home. Confine play to a different area of the home.

No Dangling Mantle Decorations

Draping your mantle with branches, bunting, garlands or lights may look great, but it can create a hazard for your pet. Your pet might be tempted to play with decorations and pull the whole thing down into the fire.

If you have a cat, you should be careful about putting any kind of decorations or home accents on your mantle. Cats can jump up on the mantle (even when we think it’s too high for them!) knocking things over and creating a fire risk.

Inspect Your Fireplace

Have your fireplace inspected regularly to help keep it safe for you and your pet. Set up an appointment before the start of the winter season to make sure it’s clean, safe, and ready to go. You should have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Check to see that batteries are working, and the devices are operating properly.

Many of these fireplace pet safety tips also hold true for outside grills and fire pits. Always keep an eye on your pet near any kind of fire. If your pet does get burned or hurt, contact your vet for assistance immediately.

Types of Electric Fire

And How to Choose What Form is Best Suited to Your Home.

For some, the lifestyle of owning a wood burner looks more fun than the practicality of it. Perhaps you’re seeking something with a little more simplicity, but with the captivating beauty of a wood burning fire?

Homeowners looking to install an electric stove or fire into their homes have recently increased. The main reasons for this is due to its ease of installation, instant heat and realistic flame visuals. Featuring state-of-the-art flame-effect technology, there are many types of modern electric fires and stoves. These all provide a versatile and stunning focal point for any home – and all without the need for a chimney!

Whether you’re looking to create a cosy but minimalist space or go all out with truly impressive room renovation there is an electric fire to suit your needs. Here we take a look at the different types of electric fire available and how these suit different homes.

Inset Electric Fires

This type of electric fire is also known as a recessed fire as it sits in a chimney breast or fireplace, like a traditional fire. Inset electric fires are the biggest selling type of electric fire, mainly because of people choosing to replace a gas or coal fire with an electric one and wanting the traditional look of a fireplace. There are also some great modern designs to choose from.

Inset electric fires are also best suited to feature wall installations. Inset models fit flush into the wall, which works perfectly for media walls and TV installations – especially when the desired look is a completely seamless integration with the rest of the room.

2. Wall Mounted Electric Fires

This type of electric fire hangs directly on your wall and is a great choice if you are on a small budget, don’t have much space or don’t have a cavity to put a fire into. This type of fire can be thin – with a minimum size of just a few inches.

One of the best things about owning an electric fire is the ease of installation. A wall mounted electric fire makes installation ultra-simple: all you need to do is hang it to the wall in accordance with the instructions that came with your fire, switch on, then sit back and relax!

Available in a variety of styles and sizes, wall mounted electric fires will be at home in a wide array of interiors making for a powerful focal point.

3. Freestanding Electric Fires

This type of appliance is designed to look like a traditional fire with a surround but without needing a cavity to sit in, unlike the inset variety. This means that they sit flat against your wall but look just like a normal fire. These are a good choice if you want a fire in a room that doesn’t have a chimney.

There is a wide range of fire surrounds available to select from too, which are crafted from traditional materials such as wood, stone and cast iron. Whether you wish to recreate a period look or complement your contemporary tastes with clean, bold lines, there is a fire surround to suit your home.

4. Electric Stoves

These stoves are the perfect option if you like the look of a wood burning stove but don’t have a chimney, live in a smoke control area or don’t have the budget for a wood burner. Electric stoves look like wood burning stoves but you can turn them on with the flick of a switch – and they’re a lot cheaper to buy and install. Plus, you don’t have to buy wood to make them work!

There is a rise in the design integrity of electric stoves coming onto the market via manufacturers who’ve invested not only in the look of their products but the technology which underpins them. The result is a much better choice of pleasing appliances that you won’t feel obliged to apologise for, rather from which you will gain a useful heat source that blends into your home effortlessly.

Electric stoves can really make a room feel cosy too. Most stoves offer a range of temperature settings and emit up to 2kW which should be more than enough to provide warmth to a bedroom or the corner of a popular gathering point. The fact that all you need is an electricity socket and a quick switch of a button on the remote control to ‘fire’ an electric stove up is a great bonus. The beauty of electric is that once it is switched on, it begins to make a difference straight away. This ability to quickly provide localised heat means you will can make use of your electric stove to provide some extra warmth in the room you’re in as and when you require. The majority of stoves can also display the flame-effect without the heat, so you can enjoy the ambience of a glowing hearth all year round!

How to Make Rice Pudding in Your Pizza Oven

As the colder nights slowly creep in it’s time to seek for some soul warming recipes to stretch out the evenings and make the most of your pizza oven in the changing seasons.

Rice pudding is one of the ultimate comfort foods for those that love it and this scrumptious rice pudding recipe will even convert those who don’t! This old fashioned baked rice pudding is rib sticking and warming. It’s best eaten near the fire wrapped in a blanket, when the table is cleared and the dishwasher is doing its job.

It can even be made a day or two before (store chilled) and then reheated at pizza cooking temperatures to get a beautiful sugary skin on top.

Is your mouth watering yet? Ours certainly are!

Ingredients

150g Pudding Rice

400g Milk

400g Cream

50g Caster Sugar

25g Butter

½ a vanilla pod, seeds scraped

2 tbsp Roughly chopped Pistachio’s (optional)

Method

Firstly, you will need to get your wood fired pizza oven to it’s optimum temperature, then maintain at around 160°c.

Next, mix all the ingredients together in a heavy bottomed casserole dish, cover with baking parchment and a lid and pop in your wood fired pizza oven for 1 hour.

When ready to serve, put the rice pudding in the oven proof serving dishes, cover with foil and pop back into the hot oven for 5 minutes.

Finally, remove the foil, sprinkle with Demerara sugar, and return uncovered to the oven for 3 minutes, or until the skin has browned.

Serve with chopped pistachios – jam or syrup is also great!

More Flames, Less Heat!

A Look at the Stovax Range of Slimline

Wood-Burning Stoves.

If you have a smaller home, lounge, garden room or any other living area where space is at a premium and extra heat isn’t needed, there’s no need to pour water on your dreams of a wood-burning stove just yet. You want magnificent flames with expansive visuals and a stove that creates a focal point but without the extra heat?

Let us help narrow down your search and introduce you to Stovax’s splendid range of slimline stoves.

Stovax’s slimline wood-burning stoves give you all the presence of a big log burner, whilst providing a manageable heat output for standard-sized or well-insulated rooms.

Slimline food and drink may lack in body and flavour, however there’s no absence of style or function with these stoves! If you’re limited for recess space or need to install a stove in to an awkward area, these fabulous stoves are an ideal solution. Offered with a choice of single or double doors and as a dedicated woodburner or multi-fuel model, they are highly advanced and versatile stove options.

Well insulted homes don’t require the extra kW’s of heat from a larger appliance. Many living rooms are better suited to a 5kW stove so you’re not opening all the windows in a bid to cool off! Stovax’s specially designed collection of slimline word-burning stoves have been created to solve this problem.

Featuring the same frontal proportions and wide viewing window of large-format appliances, but with a shallow depth, these stunning slimline stoves give you vast flame visuals without the extra heat.

Stovax offers a full range of slimline stoves from the contemporary styled Vision and Vogue models to the more traditional Chesterfield, Sheraton and Stockton.

Choosing the right size wood burning stove for your home might seem like a daunting task, but it really isn’t! Our team are here to help answering your questions, showcasing options and we can also do a site survey to make sure your appliance provides the right amount of heat for your home.

Stovax Studio Air Fire Range

Offering the ultimate in fireside luxury, the Studio Air is a brand new, Ecodesign Ready, range of wood burning stoves and fires from Stovax. This contemporary collection includes both Cassette and Freestanding fires that offer a variety of styling options to suit your interior.

This impressive range redefines heating with unparalleled design and performance.

Thanks to its striking looks and high efficiency, the Studio Air range, earned a place on the esteemed 2020 Build It Awards shortlist for Best Heating Product, and has been confirmed a finalist for the Homebuilding & Renovating Awards!

As mentioned, this wood burning range is available in two formats. Cassette versions, otherwise known as inset wood burning fires, offer a built-in fire aesthetic, while Freestanding versions can standalone as an eye-catching centrepiece just like a wood burning stove.

All fires in the Studio Air range go above and beyond the stringent Ecodesign standards, with state-of-the-art precision airflow combustion systems which ensure each model burns with minimal emissions. Plus, with each model DEFRA Smoke Control Area Exempt as standard, you have peace of mind that you can install a Studio Air in even the most urban of homes.

One of the many appealing benefits of the Studio range is the ability to opt for an external air kit. This kit allows combustion air for the fire to be supplied directly from outside your home, eliminating internal draughts and enhancing overall heating efficiency.

The result of over 40 years of British fire design and engineering, the Studio Air range offers the very best of British fire design and craftmanship. Every minute detail has been engineered to provide you with indulgence and comfort. The expert craftsmanship ensures that these fires demand attention, from coloured trims and designer frames, to contemporary bench-mounted installations. Whichever size or model you choose, there is a decorative trim to suit your interior in Black, White or Storm Grey.

Giving you even further scope for installation possibilities, you can choose an optional handle kit which allows you to opt for left or right door opening. This is useful if your chimney is situated in an awkward location in the room and only allows for the door to open a particular way.

In addition, Studio Air Freestanding models also feature built-in heat shields for reduced distance to combustibles – again expanding your installation options.

If you are looking to elevate your stove, Stovax Studio Air Freestanding models are compatible with a range of stove benches. These stylish steel benches are great for adding presence to your Studio Air Freestanding whilst provide a handy space to store logs below the fire.

Like the Freestanding versions, Studio Air Cassette wood burning fires also offer different mounting options to suit your home. Their versatile design allows them to be mounted either at hearth level or further up the wall, with various three-sided and four-sided framing options available for both types of installation.

Regardless of which model you choose, you are guaranteed a high performance from any Studio Air model. All fires and stoves have been designed to burn with high efficiency, and the entire range proudly boasts an ‘A’ energy class rating.

Along with their high efficiency performance, Stovax Studio Air wood burning fires offer state-of-the-art design technology. The user experience is at the forefront of the design. That’s why this new deluxe wood burning stoves and fire range features a single and easy-to-use air control, which requires only a light touch for operation. In addition to this, Studio Air fires also feature a rapid start-up boost mode, making it easier than ever to light a fire, even if your appliance is cold.

Whichever Studio Air fire option you go for, ensure you get the best service by contacting us today. As an Approved Expert Retailer, we will be able to advise you on the most practical and aesthetically pleasing options for your particular requirements, alongside assisting with installation advice.

The BRAND NEW Stovax County Range

Looking for a new log burner? Then let us introduce you to the brand new, Ecodesign Ready Stovax County range of wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves.

Combining an advanced combustion system with a charming rustic exterior and timeless styling, these stoves bring both character and a practical heat source to your home. Suitable for modern and traditional homes alike, with an unmistakably utilitarian form, the County’s design blends original styling with clean lines and simple detailing. At home in any interior, these charming stoves look just as good in a country cottage as they do in a more contemporary setting.

The County range offers spectacular views of the flames and to ensure this stunning view is maintained, County multi-fuel and wood burning stoves feature powerful internal Airwash jets to prevent soot and ash from blackening the large viewing window.

As these stoves are DEFRA exempt as standard, meeting both current DEFRA smoke control requirements for towns and cities, as well as 2022 Ecodesign air quality targets, they are suitable for use anywhere in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Thanks to their innovative combustion systems, County stoves are also suitable for almost any home.

Primary and secondary air controls let you easily adjust the County’s heat output. Open all controls to ignite the fuel as quickly as possible, and once burning, switch back to normal running mode for optimum efficiency.

The County stove is available in two sizes, County 3 and 5, and both are available in multi-fuel stove options, which allow you to burn either wood or smokeless mineral fuels. Featuring an external riddling grate, County multi-fuel stoves let you effortlessly switch between logs or approved mineral fuels to suit your lifestyle. The larger stove option, the County 5, is also available as a dedicated wood-burner, should you wish to only burn logs.

Both the County 3 and 5 are designed for modern living, and can be installed with a discrete 12mm hearth. 12mm hearths differ from a thicker 25mm constructional hearth usually required for stove installations, giving you more versatility when deciding where to place your stove. Heaths this thin can also be made from various stylish materials such as tile or specially-designed glass for an added feature.

And as if that wasn’t enough, these stoves also incorporate a rear heat shield to reduce the space needed behind the appliance, giving you even greater freedom to choose where your stove is positioned in the room.

Contact us today to find out more about these wonderful new wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves. We can also help with any installation questions you might have and make sure you choose the right size stove for your home.

BBQ and Pizza Oven Dessert recipes

Get set to grill, roast, toast and dip at your next barbecue with these mouthwatering treats! With World Chocolate Day on the 7th July we couldn’t resist sharing these great recipes, featuring the world’s favourite treat, to help you celebrate.

Barbecues aren’t just brilliant for sausages and kebabs. After enjoying the main event, follow up with a seriously indulgent pud. Here we list 5 simple yet crowd pleasing recipes that can be made on your BBQ or in your pizza oven.

Chocolate Baked Bananas

A true retro childhood classic, these fruity treats taste fabulous and are great fun to make with the kids!

INGREDIENTS

Bananas (1 per person)
Chocolate buttons (the more the merrier!)
Vanilla ice cream to serve

METHOD

Heat pizza oven to 200C or around a 3 missippi.
Make a slit through the skin of the bananas along one side – making sure you don’t cut all the way through to the other side. Poke in the chocolate buttons along the cut. Put each banana onto a sheet of foil and crimp the edges together to seal into a parcel. Transfer to the pizza oven or BBQ embers and cook for 15 mins until the bananas skins have turned black.
Eat direct from the foil (on a plate) and serve with a scoop of ice cream and any melted chocolate that has escaped!
Tip: Try adding chunks of chocolate, marshmallows or nuts for some extra tasty alternatives.

Cherry S’more Campfire Cones

INGREDIENTS (Makes 6)

6 waffle cones
100g fresh cherries, pitted and chopped, plus 6 whole, to serve
250g pack chocolate chip cookies
4 tbsp black cherry conserve or jam
40g mini white marshmallows
1 tbsp white chocolate chips

METHOD

Heat the barbecue or pizza oven.
Stand the waffle cones in glasses and divide half the chopped cherries between them. Crush 3 of the cookies then divide the crumbs between the cones, along with half of the cherry conserve and mini marshmallows, pressing in gently.
Divide the remaining chopped cherries, cookies, conserve and marshmallows, plus the white chocolate chips, between the cones, gently pushing in the filling to stop it spilling out.
Wrap each cone in foil to enclose completely, then barbecue /place in the pizza oven for 5-10 mins, turning occasionally, until the marshmallows and chocolate have started to melt. Remove from the foil, decorate each with a whole cherry and serve immediately.

Marshmallow & Strawberry Skewers

Nobody can resist a toasted marshmallow! Toast these marshmallow & strawberry skewers for a fun, sweet and sticky dessert.

INGREDIENTS

Large marshmallows
Strawberries, hulled (allow for 4 per person)
½ x 397g can Carnation Caramel
toasted hazelnuts or crumbled biscuits, for sprinkling (optional)
chocolate dipping sauce and hot chocolate (for serving / optional)

METHOD

Thread 4 long metal skewers with 5 marshmallows and 4 hulled strawberries each.
Carefully hold over a BBQ or pizza oven front, turning slowly, until the marshmallows are toasted.
Stir a pinch of salt into caramel and drizzle over the top. Sprinkle with hazelnuts or biscuits, if you like.
The marshmallows will be very hot, so allow to cool for a min or so before eating.
Tip: Try adding a drizzle of chocolate sauce, crushed salted crackers or experiment with different fruits such as mango, for that little something extra.

Baked Caramelised Peaches With Salted Nuts

INGREDIENTS (serves 4)

4 tbsp maple syrup
4 ripe peaches, halved and stoned
25g unsalted butter
25g salted mixed nuts, roughly chopped
Dark chocolate chips
Rich chocolate icecream, to serve (optional)

METHOD

If using the pizza oven preheat it to 4 Mississippi, around 220ºC.
Take two large rectangles of kitchen foil and drizzle the middle of each with 1 tbsp of the maple syrup. Place 4 peach halves, cut-side-up, nestled tightly together, in the middle of each rectangle. Dot the peaches with the butter. Scatter over the nuts.
Drizzle the remaining syrup over both sets of peaches. Wrap up tightly, then wrap with another piece of foil to secure (carefully keeping the cut side of the peaches facing upwards).
Place in the hot ashes of a barbecue or campfire or on in the pizza oven and cook for 20-25 mins. Unwrap and arrange into bowls, drizzled with the cooking juices and sprinkled with the chocolate chips. Add a spoonful of ice cream, if using.

Barbecued Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwiches

For a crowd-pleasing summer dessert, look no further than this barbecued doughnut ice cream sandwiches recipe. The title alone is all you need to know! Pick up a packet of doughnuts and a tub of ice cream and transform them into a decadent dessert that’s ready in 15 minutes. Hot smoky doughnuts, a touch of chocolate spread and cool melting ice cream – the perfect way to end a barbecue

INGREDIENTS (serves 5)

5 ring doughnuts
400g vanilla or chocolate ice cream
200g chocolate spread

METHOD

Heat your barbecue to high, pizza ovens should be around 4 Mississippi / 220ºC.
Slice the doughnuts in half. Place on the barbecue, outsides down – cook towards the edges of the barbecue or oven, as this uses indirect heat so the doughnuts don’t burn.
cook for 2-3 mins until there are clear griddle lines on the outsides of the doughnuts or they begin to crisp. Use tongs to remove from the heat, place on a tray and leave to cool slightly.
While the doughnuts are cooking, take the ice cream out of the freezer to soften for 10 mins.
Add 2-3 small scoops of ice cream to the bottom half of each doughnut and evenly spread it around the ring. Spread each top half with a thin layer chocolate and press down lightly to squeeze the ice cream to the sides. Serve immediately.
Tip: Experiment with different flavours to build your ultimate ice cream sandwich. Swap the vanilla/ chocolate ice cream for strawberry or caramel, use caramel sauce or jam instead of the chocolate spread.

Electric Fires and Stoves

Why they’re so much better than you think.

When many of us think of electric fires, we think about the 3-bar type with a front grill that used to feature in our grandparents homes but, over the past decade, electric fires and stoves have quietly been undergoing a revival with some gorgeous modern designs to complement contemporary homes. With this in mind, we’ve put together a guide to showcase the new era of electric fires and stoves plus reasons why you might want to choose one.

There are many reasons to choose a modern electric fire for your home. However, the purpose of this guide isn’t to try and convince you that a modern electric fire is suited to everyone’s home and lifestyle. We’re here to offer you our help, and advise, on what we believe are the main benefits of buying and owning a modern electric fire or stove. This will hopefully help you to make better, more informed buying decisions.

So, Why Choose An Electric Fire?

COSTS

The main advantage is cost. Electric fires are generally cheaper to buy, run and maintain than other types of fire.

They rarely need parts replaced (even bulbs)! Most modern electric fire flame effects are produced with LED lighting meaning over the course of an electric fire’s lifespan (around ten years) you shouldn’t have to change any light bulbs. Also, the heat from a modern electric fire is generated from a simple element and fan system that very rarely breaks down.

So, as you can see a modern electric fire or stove has virtually zero maintenance cost. Gas fires need yearly serviced and generally will require replacement parts over their lifespan such as gas valves, oxi-pilots and fuel-beds. Multi-fuel and wood burning appliances require regular chimney sweeping and need replacement parts such as fire bricks and door rope. These tend to need replaced every couple of years. Electric fires don’t require a service and as mentioned above, rarely need replacement parts.

Generally, these appliances also have vastly cheaper installations than gas or a wood burning stoves too. A modern electric fire is very easy to install, they mostly just need plugged in and are set to go. Therefore, often there is no requirement for professional installation at all.

HOUSE SUITABILITY

Electric fires can be a great option if your house doesn’t have a chimney (you’d be surprised how many houses don’t!). If you have a chimney and an electric fire, you won’t’ lose any heat up it either, making them a more efficient way of heating your room than a gas or solid fuel stove.

Because there is no actual fire, an electric fire is a great option if you live in an urban smoke control area. They also don’t produce gasses such as carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, or carbon monoxide, a dangerous gas to have in your home.

Electric fires also come in a huge range of designs giving you more choice for your home.

CHOICES

When choosing an electric fire, there are a lot of options to select from: Inset electric fires, wall mounted electric fires, freestanding electric fires and electric stoves.

Gas and multi-fuel fires and stoves have various regulations around what you can and can’t do in your home. For instance, if you’re fitting a gas fire, you’ll need a hearth that is bedded in on top of cement, it can’t sit on top of your existing flooring. There’s also your distance to combustibles to think about so you’ll need to be careful where the fire is situated and what type of material your fireplace surround is made from.

Electric fires don’t have these regulations as they don’t produce a real flame and therefore, hold no more fire risk than any electrical appliance. This means there is a huge variety of designs and materials to choose from.

A modern electric fire or stove can also be placed anywhere there’s power. With gas you either need a chimney or an outside wall so you can flue through to the outside. Wood burners either need to go through the roof or up and through a wall, extending up the side of the building to beyond the pitch in the roof. Electric fires don’t have these restrictions and can be situated in most places, offering up many more design possibilities.

SAFETY

Electric fires and stoves are a safer for children, the elderly and infirm as they don’t have a direct flame that can be touched. Furthermore, when the fire is on ‘flame effect only’ mode then there is no heat off the appliance at all. When the heater is turned on, the element and fan are fully enclosed behind a metal grill, making it much less likely that someone could be burnt.

The introduction of new regulations requiring electric fires (with heaters) to come with a built-in thermostat means that the heater will turn itself off once a certain room temperature has been met. This is a great reassurance for those who worry about elderly or less able family members.

ENVIRONMENT AND EFFICIENCY

No fossil fuels are being burned. Therefore, there is zero pollution produced from an electric fireplace.

Electric fires and stoves are 100% efficient. This simply means they output the same amount in heat as they take in as electricity. The most modern gas fires are typically around 75% to 85% efficient, meaning some heat loss is expected. Wood burning stoves are typically around the same.

Note: Whilst electric fires are more efficient, electricity is a more expensive fuel than gas and most likely more expensive than burning wood also. So, the heater part of an electric fire should be used sparingly in combination with your central heating. Most people buy electric fires and stoves as a feature, not as primary heating appliances.

MAXIMUM USAGE

Unlike gas or multi-fuel stoves, electric fires give out heat you can feel within a couple of seconds. Great for when you need a quick blast of heat to take the edge off the room temperature.

As previously mentioned, most people buy modern electric fires and stoves as a focal point or feature in their home. They don’t buy them simply as heating appliances. The reason for this is that the flame effect of the electric fire is separate to the heating element. This means you can have the ‘glow’ without the heat unlike gas or stoves where it only looks pretty when the appliance is on. With most electric fire flame effects now being LED based it is a cheap of way of adding ambient lighting and cosiness to your home.

THE CONCLUSION IS CLEAR

If you want the benefits of a real fire but with minimal fuss, an electric fire or stove is a simple way to add warmth to your home at the flick of a switch. They’re also a good alternative if you don’t have a gas supply to your home or if you want a cleaner and more environmentally friendly option than a wood-burning stove.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a fire or stove, why not give us a call and get some expert advice?