Fire Pits - A Buyer's Guide
Relaxing around a blazing fire pit as the summer sun sinks below the horizon, marshmallows toasting away on the end of a fork. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? A fire pit is the perfect focal point for your garden, around which to gather, and is a great way to extend those evenings outdoors, providing warmth long after the sun has disappeared below the horizon. But with so many to choose from, it's sometimes difficult to know where to start when it comes to buying your first fire pit! To help you out, we've put together this simple guide with everything you should consider before buying a fire pit, so that you can find the perfect one for you. So whether you're looking for a fire pit for your garden, or for taking on an adventure to the beach, you're sure to find the fire pit that is just right for you.
Already got a fire pit and want some advice about how to use it? Read our user guide here.
Where Can I Put a Fire Pit?
First up, you'll want to think about how much space you have, and where you can position a fire pit. For safety's sake, a fire pit should be placed on even ground, at least 3 metres away from any buildings or trees. After all - the aim is to heat up the garden - not set it on fire! You should also consider the prevailing wind direction.
One of the best surfaces to put a fire pit on is gravel. The natural aging process of a fire pit means that it can sometimes stain the surface it is standing on. With gravel, this is much less of an issue as all you need to do is rake the gravel where a fire pit leg has been- no cleaning required! If you are cooking on your fire pit, gravel will also help to soak up any fat spills that may occur.
A patio is another good place to have a fire pit, as it offers a good solid, flat surface. However, if you want to avoid staining onto the patio, remember to put something underneath the legs of the fire pit, such as a brick or concrete slab.
Whilst you can put a fire pits on grass, it's not ideal. As the body of your fire pit gets hot, it can actually scorch the grass directly underneath it. To avoid any unsightly patches on your nice green lawn, opt for a fire pit that is raised up, or consider building a brick surface, or laying down a slab on which the fire pit can stand.
If you're short on space in your garden, or even if you don't have a garden at all, doesn't mean you have to miss out on the fun! We have a range of small fire pits, as well as a really neat flat pack fire pit which you can take on all your adventures.
What Size Of Fire Pit Should I Buy?
"How many people can I fit around a fire pit?" It's a question we get asked a lot as summertime approaches. The simple answer is - it depends how big your fire pit is! As a general rule of thumb, you should allow about 10cm of the diameter for every person you have around the fire pit. So whether you're party people, or just prefer intimate gatherings with a few close friends, we have the perfect sized fire pit for you! To be more specific, simply follow the guide below to tailor the size of fire pit to the number of guests you have.
|
Firepit diameter |
Is ideal for… |
|
50cm |
Up to 4 people |
|
60cm |
Up to 6 people |
|
70cm |
Up to 8 people |
|
80cm |
Up to 10 people |
|
90cm |
Up to 12 people |
|
120cm |
Up to 20 people |
What Is The Best Material For Fire Pits?
The majority of fire pits are made from either cast iron or steel, although there are a number of other fire pit materials which can be used, such as clay fibre. Both cast iron and steel have their advantages and disadvantages.
The main advantage of cast iron fire pits, such as the Foscot Fire Pit is that they retain heat for a longer period, even after the fire has died down. However, cast iron is considerably heavier than steel, so you may
want to take this into account when you think about where you position the fire pit - the last thing you want to do is to be constantly lugging a big lump of cast iron around your garden!
From our own experience, we really love steel fire pits, and it is our personal favourite material. So you can't go wrong with one of these Firepits UK fire pits, made from 3mm thick steel, and built to withstand everything the British weather can throw at them. Hand-built in their Monmouthshire foundry from British steel, these sleek fire pits look fabulous in any garden. We also love the way that steel ages naturally, gradually becoming more beautiful and developing its own distinct character.
Types Of Fire Pits
It goes without saying that there is a real plethora of fire pits on the market. From small portable fire pits, to low level 'gazing' fire pits, and big fire pits with detachable swing arms for cooking, there's a lot to choose from! Here's our recommendations for the best wood-burning fire pits!
Best Fire Pit For Travel - Flat Pack Fire Pit
If you're heading out on an adventure, there's no reason you can't take a small fire pit with you! In fact, we'd argue that any adventure is incomplete without one! Whether you're setting up camp in the woods, or are heading out to the beach for the day, there's nothing better than relaxing around an open fire pit after a long day making memories.
You can do just that with this Flat Pack Fire Pit! Coming in five pieces that slot together easily, and weighing only 12kg, you can take this compact fire pit anywhere! And with its grill top, you can also enjoy cooking over live flames - perfect for after a day's surfing or hiking!
Looking for other portable BBQs? You may also like these.
Best Fire Pit For Cooking - Plain Jane Fire Pit
All that talk of cooking's made us hungry! And whilst the Flat Pack Fire Pit is a great portable option, if we're back in our garden with a bunch of friends, we're going to need something a bit bigger to feed all those hungry mouths!
For fire pit cooking, nothing beats the Plain Jane Fire Pit. Whilst you can get BBQ racks for other fire pits such as the Celeste and Classic Fire Pits, the Plain Jane is built higher, for easier cooking. And with its handy swing arm, you can move food on and off the heat in an instant. No need to faff around transferring food from a grill plate to a serving platter here!
What's great about the Plain Jane is that it's really two fire pits in one. With the swing arm, it's perfect for cooking, but if you want to hang up your chef's hat for the day and just relax, you can simply remove the swing arm and sit and enjoy the fire around this large fire pit!
Love outdoor cooking? Check out our range of outdoor cooking appliances!
Best Fire Pit For Entertaining & Gazing - Celeste Fire Pit
Want to just sit and gaze into the flames of your fire pit as they dance away into the night? We could literally sit for hours watching a good fire, listening to the crackle and pop of the logs as the flames sends sparks up into space.
If that sounds like your idea of bliss, then the Celeste Fire Pit is right down your street. Sitting closer to the ground than a Plain Jane or Classic Fire Pit, the Celeste is a round fire pit that is perfectly suited for those who want to sit around the fire with some friends and enjoy the warmth of the flames and each other's company.
A beautifully classic design, the Celeste is available in various sizes, so depending on the size of your gathering, can enjoy the firelight together. Plus, if you want to cook on it, simply add a BBQ rack or hot plate.
Alternatives To Fire Pits
If you want outdoor heating, but are still not quite sure whether a fire pit is for you, an outdoor stove is a great alternative. And at the very cutting edge of outdoor stoves, RB73 are the best there is. Fully enclosed, an RB73 outdoor stove offers fantastic outdoor heat and beautiful views of the fire, all without needing to worry about naked flames. The great thing about an RB73 is that, because the flue carries any smoke away, you don't have to worry about the wind suddenly changing and blowing smoke into your face, as can sometimes happen with fire pits. Nor do you have to worry about any ash or embers being blown out, as they are enclosed within the stove. Handmade in Holland from CorTen Steel, RB73s are designed to stay outside all year long, year after year, without losing their integrity.
With a stylish, rusted look, RB73 stoves have fantastic character and really complete an outdoor space. With windows on up to four sides of the stove, everyone gathered around the stove is guaranteed a wonderful view of the fire as you while away the hours enjoying its warmth. And if you want to position the stove closer to a wall, just opt for a model with a heat shield- simple!
Embrace Outdoor Heating This Summer...
If you love spending time in your garden, then a fire pit really is a no-brainer. Not only is it a beautiful feature that adds some character to your garden, but it also allows you to extend your time spent outside, providing warmth and a friendly glow, long after the heat and light of the sun has disappeared. So whether you're enjoying a drink with old friends on a long summer's night, or toasting some marshmallows with the kids on an autumn evening, a good quality fire pit is a must have. After reading our Buyer's Guide, you should now be better informed and have a better idea of what fire pit would be most suitable for you. Want to see fire pits in person? Then visit our showroom - a warm welcome awaits!
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