Should i get a gas fire fitted or keep open fire?

[girlafraid]

Our 1920's house has a working open fire place. A roraring fire is absolutely fantastic if we can be ar$ed to light one once the small people are in bed. I love the idea of just being able to switch a cosy fire on.

Should I get a gas fire fitted or would I miss the fireplace do you think? Also, am I right in thinking gas fires don't come cheap?

You'd miss it, you know you would. There is nothing like an open fire to curl up in front of. YOu can't roast chestnuts and make toast on a gas fire either.

you would regret it.....lots

We have an open fire. We don't use it lots but it is lovely to have a roaring fire sometimes.

I also like to have it as a zombie-plan, what-if-the-Russians-cut-off-the-gas, all-bases-covered reassurance (in addition to the CH of course!)

Forgot to add, if you have little DC then the Santa story is so much more believable if you have a real chimney.

gas fires are shitola and gas is only going to get more expensive.

yes, you're all right - and DH wasn't keen on the idea.
The fire can stay, I just need a chimmney sweep now

just to balance things out: I'm a big fan of gas fires. no need to buy wood or coal or firelighters or whatever, no struggle to get the thing to light, no bellows to keep the darn thing going, no worries about leaving it glowing overnight, no ash to sweep up, no chimney sweeping. you just turn the key and off you go.

It doesn't throw out as much heat but it does give some, and just means you can have the radiators on as well without being boiled alive.

(My DH mind you is a big fan of the "real fire". Fine, if he wants to deal with the mes...)