Buyer’s guide to fire pits
Kay Maguire offers top tips on buying and using this summer’s hottest garden accessory
If you want to keep the party going after sunset or fancy cosying up to toast marshmallows on a crackling fire, then a fire pit is a great way to extend your enjoyment of the garden.
Offering all the ambience of a campfire without the mess, fire pits have become hugely popular over the last few years and although burning wood releases carbon into the atmosphere, they’re a much greener and more economical alternative to a patio heater, which will either burn fossil fuel and give off carbon dioxide or consume electricity. Source your wood and firelighters carefully too and this will also help to minimise the impact your fire pit has on the environment.
A fire pit can become a focal point in your patio or seating area, make a statement or add glamour, and there are hundreds of designs and styles available. From sleek minimalist fire bowls to versatile grill pits, simple braziers to sculptural centrepieces, there’s a fire pit to suit every budget and garden. In this buyer’s guide we’ve scoured the market to find our pick of the most popular fire pits and offer expert advice on how to light them, what to burn and how to stay safe while you’re relaxing around your fire.