How much to remove an ugly fireplace?

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

When we bought our 1930s house, which needed everything done (kitchen, bathroom, wiring, windows, heating, the works) we knew it would take a long while to afford to do everything we wanted to, so focused on the stuff we really needed to (boiler, kitchens and bathroom, wiring) and put off the aesthetic stuff.

At long long last, though, we can start to do stuff that we hate the look of - and first on the list is an ugly 1980s gas fire and fireplace. I've been looking for a 1930s replacement for ages, and briefly considered a wood burner, but recently we have had a change of plan and think as we will never actually use the fireplace for heating, we might as well remove the hearth and gas fire and board the whole thing up, giving another wall space for furniture or storage.

Has anyone done this and can advise on likely cost and pitfalls? Is it just a question of a gas fitter removing the appliance and capping off the pipes and a builder doing to the rest?

Is it just a question of a gas fitter removing the appliance and capping off the pipes and a builder doing to the rest? - Yes, possibly a plasterer too if you want a tidy job.
We did this earlier this year, cost £1600 but we had a new fireplace put in.

It’ll be a couple of hundred, less if you get a lumphsmmer sad some protective glasses and do it yourselves. I think it cost us £60 to get the gas capped and they took the fire away for s bit extra.

Make sure whoever boars up the chimney puts in a ventilation grill.

“Make sure whoever boars up the chimney puts in a ventilation grill.“

This is a good point. One of our chimneys has been completely blocked up (not by us) and the wall has signs of damp at the bottom. We plan to remove the whole chimney as part of future work.

Thanks all. @CatUnderTheStairs thanks for the tip about a ventilation grill - would never have thought of that.