Chimnea, Firepit or Fire Basket?

[ImADonkeyOnTheEdge]

Would like one for chilly Northern summer nights in my garden.
What do you have? Any recommendations? Pros and Cons?
I can't decide and don't know anyone who has one.

[funnyperson]

depends on the age of your children and design of said pit/basket.

[Cavort]

We currently have a fire pit and find smoke is a problem until the initial fire settles down. This takes 30+ minutes so it's quite a wait after lighting unless we want smoke in our eyes. We are looking to replace it with a chimnea this year so the smoke is directed away above our heads meaning we can hopefully sit next to it straight away.

[ImADonkeyOnTheEdge]

Thanks for the replies.

My DD is 3 and it would be lit only after she had gone to bed in the evening.

Have heard about smoke from fire pits. Definitely leaning towards a chimnea.

[JessBear123]

I wish I bought a fire pit in the end. With our chimnea you still get smoke until the fire is lit completely and also when it gets going everyone is huddling around the front as its the hottest. I would think its a lot easier to do marshmallows as well

[Takver]

Maybe not quite what you want (not so classy!) but an old washing machine drum makes an excellent fire holder and directs the smoke up reasonably well (obv the best answer re. smoke is good dry wood), plus of cousre you can put a griddle across, have a kettle on it etc.

[ImADonkeyOnTheEdge]

Hmmm. Still can't make my mind up.

I thought that about chimineas Jess so have been looking at the ones that are like an open fretwork metal and give heat all around rather than the ones with the hole in the front.

I've seen the washing machine drum idea too Takver but guess you need to find a spare drum first abd then there must be some modifications required....

Going to have a shop around today.