I need a new fridge

[jasper]

Anyone got any recomendations?
Or brands to avoid?
The last one I bought was a Candy and it is pants.
Help me out ladies.
Thanks

Oh Jasper, no advice but I'm very envious - I'd love to go for an enormous one with ice making bits and everything a la Nigella.

What's your budget? I heartily recommend the big ice making ones. You can get them for under a £1000 now.

sofiaames I might be able to stretch to that if I keep shopping in Lidlalthough I hadn't really planned to spend that much.
I am a bit worried my three wee kids would play / mess about with anything fancy like that.
Do you use the icemaking facility much? Does it have to be plumbed in to a water supply?

jasper, i recently bought a samsung american style fridge with the ice making gizmos and it is BRILLIANT. It cost about £800 inc delivery from Comet (who are crap but that's another story). We had to pay a plumber £160 to put the necessary pipework in for it (may not be necessary if the fridge will be sited right next to a water supply but ours was the other side of the kitchen). The water dispenser and ice maker are in constant use - it makes about 100 cubes a day, plenty enough for even the most hardened G&T addict. The kids love it, and are much happier to drink water now because they can have it with ice, it's filtered and lovely and cold.

The fridge itself is massive and the freezer plenty big enough for our family of 4.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Jasper - I have always (well, three times in 20 years!) had Hotpoint fridges and never had any problems with them; we gave one away to SIL when we moved & it's still working and our second one is in the garage as the 'booze' fridge!

I am now thinking of getting one of the American type with ice making facility (do I have a fridge fetish?) so thanks for your comments spacemonkey.

I bought a whirlpool one, full fridge and medium sized ice box. It was 150 quid and it is still going strong 6 years later. My mum has a hotpoint one which she has had since we were kids it must be 15-20 years old.

have a big american side by side one (amana I think) with icemaker and water etc which I inherited with the house. never been very keen on the icemaker bit before having one but now am a total convert. needs to be plumbed in but then it is hassle free - and the children love it. both of them (5 and 2.5 yrs) get their own plastic cups out of the cupboard and fill them with water - means they have a drink whenever they want which is great and it doesn't really matter if they spill a bit as it is just water. also v useful having icecubes on tap. definitely worth the extra 200-300 quid or so to have a really big fridge and the icemaker etc I think....

can also get very good bargains from places like buyers and sellers if you look on the net

looked for a link for buyers & sellers (they are in london - ladbroke grove - but deliver anywhere) and I don't think they have a website but you can call them on (0845) 085 5585 for telephone orders and general enquiries or e-mail them at [email protected]. Helps if you know what you want (make and model) and have a few prices (eg from john lewis etc) as they will generally beat most other prices. v cheap for hobs, ovens, washing machines etc as well.

Very jealous Jasper, I would love a new fridge!

My only recommendation is don't get a Hoover, we bought one about five years ago and thankfully bought an extended warranty for it (don't usually) and I am on first name terms with the repair man. In the end they replaced the fridge-freezer and the new one is yet to break down, we have put another warranty on it so it looks like it will be another four years or so before I can shop for a new fridge. Plenty of time to save up some pennies I suppose!

I'm currently debating the purchase of one of those US ones. The one I've fallen in love with though is over £3000! It has to be stainless steel for me which hikes the price up.

Bosch are reliable. We bought 2 tall ones when we bought our house (a fridge and a freezer that is) the fridge was replaced - with a Hotpoint, very tinny, and its thermostat had to be replaced in the first year - after most of the door bits fell apart, 9-10 years hard use, and the freezer only went after 15 years when we got under-counter ones instead (still Bosch).

However - doesn't apply to fridges but I have been v disappointed with the drawers in the new freezer, the old one had sturdy plastic-coated wire, this one has relatively flimsy plastic ones and they keep cracking.

I would love a huge American one too. No space though.

Hi - looking myself and thought BEKO (sp??) were very reasonable priced and have big american style ones - look up their website, contact thm and they will tell you the nearest suppliers. HTH - in a hurry!

Soupy, stainless steel is so 2002

Ooooh - what's 2003 then? Retro cheap white plastic??

No idea, only kidding!

Damn. I was hoping I could tempt myself with something cheaper...

Soupy don't get stainless steel it is a b*h to clean. Some brands do a stainless steel finish which is actually a paint effect and it is easier. I have an Ariston one and the kids are always at it, so finger marks everywhere, a quick wip and it's clean. Stainless steel needs far more work. Bosch are great as a brand, also Seimens. I wouldn't do Beko as they look good, but I really think you get what you pay for!! Soupy there are some nice american style ones that aren't quite so expensive.

I work for a home interest mag and although you do pay a bit more for better brands it is worth it. Of the bog standard brands Hotpoint are good, they seem to be reliable, but I would choose Bosch/Seimens any day. OK I did go for Ariston, but it was the size I wanted and I truely couldn't afford the Bosch one!!

We have a cleaner whose job it is to worry about that

I think my dream £3k one was a Maytag. I did manage to lower my expectations to a £1700 GEC instead or a £1k Leibherr which wasn't an American one.

Does anyone know if you can get an ice making one that doesn't need to be plumbed in - I assume you would just fill the ice making section with water .......IYSWIM ....... I just cannot see how it could be plumbed in where I would put it in my kitchen without ripping up the floor (ceramic tiles).

Thanks in advance.

Get one with glass shelves not wire ones

Go to John Lewis - good advice

Hi all, I'm an American, so I have to first admit that I find this thread funny since you all keep talking about the "American" refrigerators, like they're gigantic things. Anyway, we just bought a new refrigerator by Jennair. Don't know if you can get them in England, but we are really pleased. The new thing is to have the icemaker AND filtered water on the outside. I believe that all the fridges will have these soon. It is fabulous. We drink a lot of water in my house, so it is great to have a constant supply of filtered water. Also, on stainless steel, imo it is a trend that will probably die soon like the mini-skirt. They look nice now, but I think they will look dated soon. Hope this helps! Enjoy your new fridge!

I agre with the stainless steel thing - rmember when all kitchen stuff had sheafs of wheat and mice on it?

just say no to the stainless steel soupy!
very 1997 kitchens bedrooms and bathrooms.
minimalist white is the way to go...

Tinyfeet - you need to look at what the UK considers an adequate fridge freezer and you'll understand

White would look yucky in my kitchen! It wold stand out too much against the blue wood panelling, cream walls, wooden units & dark floor. Not my choice of decor in the kitchen mind you.

well then go for the stainless, but make sure you buy it with a retro-chic theme in mind!