Would you buy a fire pit or a chimnea?

[johnbarrowmanlovesme]

We love sitting out in the summer & currently have a brazier which is great but makes such a mess when all the ash falls out of the sides! So I have been looking at the fire bowl / pits and also chimneas just don't know which to go for.

Does anyone have either of these & would you recommend buying one??

A friend has two square firepits in their very large contemporary garden, they look fab, give off great heat. LIKE THIS - bottom left picture They are quite deep with a pyramid shaped mesh-like lid so they don't blow ash everywhere.

Maybe an older/more traditional styled garden would suit a chimnea better though in terms of aesthetics? I don't have experience of the heat they give off though or how tidy they are?

They are selling both in Home Bargins/Quality Save for £29.00

What a fab website, thanks for the link. Our garden is an older styled garden so thinking about it, maybe a chimnea would look better aesthetically.

We don't have a Home Bargains or quality Save near us unfortunately but am going to Google to see how far I would have to go to find one as £29.00 sounds like a bargain.

Thanks for your replies

I just saw that Argos have the square fire pits for only £29.99!! Think I might have to get one!!

I've never heard of these- they look great. What do you use for fuel?

You use charcoal, just the same as you would a bbq. Or you could use small logs/bits of wood lying around the garden.

HERE is the one in Argos, it's a fab bargain!

That looks fab! I had a Briquette maker for Mother's day, you make the briquettes out of newspaper & any paper that's not shiny & also cardboard. We have been in production since last Sunday & now have a couple that are dry enough to burn Thay are meant to burn for about 2 hours & leave minimal ash. How green is that! Can't wait to try them out.

Out of stock at all our local Argos

I know johnbarrowmanlovesme. My DH had to drive 40 miles to another Argos to get it. Worth it though as its a good bargain and he likes a long drive.

I'm really interested in this briquette maker you mention, I am away to look it up and see what it's all about

Did you find them Holy? I got mine off Ebay. We were hoping to burn my first one tonight in my brazier but it's too cold to sit outside, even round the fire

Hiya, yes I found them, they look fab! If you're anything like me, when you get new stuff like that, you just want to use it NOW, haha Hopefully it'll be a bit warmer soon and you'll get the chance.

Seems like a good way to use all our junk mail etc. Now I just need to talk DH into how much of a great idea it is to have one

Just reviving this thread as we're having a party next week and were looking into patio heaters. We'd much prefer to get a chimnea for environmental reasons - they also look infinitely nicer - but how much heat do they give out in comparison??

(I think probably not a fire pit as there will be a few kids around.)

We have just got a firepit from Homebase - this one. Chose it as the outside doesn't get too hot, so safe with children around (relatively). Chimineas can be v v hot and not look it, so not good with children.

Ours gave off enough heat to be very comfortable in the late evening