Buy British: Fires & Stoves

These are troubling times for Britain's manufacturing sector, once a relative bright spot in the country's lacklustre recovery, which contracted at its fastest pace in more than two years in October, as new orders plummeted.

But at a time when the weather is closing in and people are looking to replace their fire or stove, many will simply head down to their local DIY or home-improvement store and buy an off-the-shelf stove or fire. However there is quite a high likelihood that these stoves and fires were built overseas, while there may be nothing wrong with stoves and fires, they may serve and satisfy all your heating needs. 

However it is always nice to know exactly where your stove or fire has been built. In this article we have a look at some of the most popular British products on the market and have a look into where they are created.

The Portway 2 Multi fuel stove is a contemporary steel stove which features a large viewing window and is exceptionally easy to operate.

With a choice of 2 stove colours; charcoal or black, and 3 leg heights this is a highly versatile stove.

Features: 

• Exemption from the Clean Air Act 1993 and suitable for smokeless zones as recommended by DEFRA
• Top or rear 125mm (5”) flue connection
• Simple operating controls
• Airwash to keep the glass window clean and clear
• Easy access, easy carry ashpan
• Tough, 5mm thick steel stove body
• Cast iron door and grates 

You can also choose to customise your stove with our range of decorative window inserts or vitreous enamel doors in Ruby Red or Arctic Grey.

The Portway Range of stoves are built by BFM Europe, the company is based in Stoke-on-Trent with a 51,000 sq ft purpose built plant, housing the most up-to-date manufacturing, sales and training facilities in the industry, including the latest sheet metal technology, R&D department and purpose built laboratories.
The Portway range are showroom exclusive, meaning you CANNOT purchase them online, however you can view and purchase the stove from Fireplace Megastore

Paragon & Matchless are both part of Charlton & Jenrick, startedby two friends in 1986 and based in Telford they produce a wide range of gas and electric fires, ranging from the stunning Chorus hole in the wall gas fire to the Quartet balanced flue fire and a stunning range of electric fires. Twenty four years later the Charlton & Jenrick Group moved into new premises, although just a stones throw from the original premises, are very substantially larger at 42,000sqft. It will be home to the group's gas fire manufacturing and product development operations, which employs 43 people.
The group is now a major player in the fireplace market employing over 120 staff across 3 sites in the UK and sales in excess of £12m. With it's 4 main brands, Katell, Paragon, Fireline & Matchless they are involved in almost all product groups including gas and electric fires, timber, marble & stone fireplaces and suites plus wood burning stoves.  

This high efficiency balanced flue fire is the Verine Marcello balanced flue gas fire, perfect for modern homes without a chimney or flue and features a natural stone fuel bed. The Marcello can be wall hung or inset into most external walls with stainless steel trim.

This stunning gas fire is almost unique in that it can be hung on the wall or inset so not to protrude into the room. While boasting a massive 87% efficiency meaning you wont be wasting energy while heating your living room, boasting 4.2kW of heat output, enough for even some of the larger living spaces

Much like The Portway Range of stoves, The Verine Marcello is built by BFM Europe, the company is based in Stoke-on-Trent with a 51,000 sq ft purpose built plant, housing the most up-to-date manufacturing, sales and training facilities in the industry, including the latest sheet metal technology, R&D department and purpose built laboratories.

The cheapest we found it was at Fireworld HERE

And now for the Chorus!

Everyone wants to create the ideal warm, inviting atmosphere for their home; what better way to achieve this than with the glow of an elegant fire? The stunning Chorus CF fire from Paragon is just what is needed to add a homely feel to a modern interior. The gas fire allows you to create a designer look with none of the mess and cleaning that comes with an open fireplace!

The beautiful Chorus is a deep and large fire so it produces an impressively tall flame with an attractive glow; a real eye-catcher! The fire comprises a glass fascia and realistic log-bed giving it the feel of an authentic fire with a modern twist. Installation is designed to be straightforward - it is available as a hole-in-the-wall installation and can be fitted into any standard chimney breast with either Class I or Class II flues. There is also no need for the chimney to be lined; saving you time and money.

As well as its striking good looks, the Chorus CF has much to offer in terms of efficiency. Fuelled by natural gas, and with an input of 5.5KW and output of 4.2KW of both radiated and convected heat, the fire achieves an unbelievably high efficiency of 84%; providing this stylish look at an affordable price. This modern fire is controlled by an infra-red remote control which lights the pilot light as well as the fire, not only saving energy and carbon emissions but making your life easier as well!

The curved glass fascia is almost completely unique amoung gas fires and looks stunning, bringing the fire into the room while also not sacrificing any important floorspace. The elegant curve of the fascia gives reference to smaller electric fires such as the Bemodern Orlando while also offering a more realistic fuel effect with real gas flames and a heat output that will happily heat even some of the more spacious living spaces.

The Paragon Chorus conventional flue gas fire is now on display for your viewing pleasure at the Fireplace Megastore at a price (which we're not allowed to disclose) that I'm sure exceptional value for money.

Manufacturer Insight: Charlton & Jenrick

Back in 1986 two friends (Bill Jenrick & Barry Charlton) going through a mid life career crisis decided to start their own business in the fireplace industry. Both experienced in running multinational companies and extensive experience in the gas industry they set about the daunting task of starting a new business.

With the help of Telford & Wrekin council (then the Telford Development Corporation) they got their first premises, a 150sqft room in the Telford Business Development center on Stafford Park and Charlton & Jenrick Ltd was born.

Twenty four years later the Charlton & Jenrick Group returns to Stafford Park, once again with the assistance of Telford & Wrekin council. The new premises, although just a stones throw from the original premises, are very substantially larger at 42,000sqft. It will be home to the group's gas fire manufacturing and product development operations, which employs 43 people.

The group is now a major player in the fireplace market employing over 120 staff across 3 sites in the UK and sales in excess of £12m. With it's 4 main brands, Katell, Paragon, Fireline & Matchless they are involved in almost all product groups including gas and electric fires, timber, marble & stone fireplaces and suites plus wood burning stoves.

Their customer base includes around 500 independent retail shops, local authorities, major national house builders and contractors.

The new premises on Stafford Park 2 offer increased efficiencies and the room for planned growth.

The full range or Paragon, Matchless and Katell are available to order from the Showroom at Fireplace Megastore with a number of items on display, combined with a number of brochures available giving access to see the full ranges.

Paragon

Paragon offer a wide range of quality products with innovative technology and design ideas, Paragon also aim to allow the customer to choose how they want their fire to look and how they want it to run. Paragon have created several different types of fire such as open fronted gas fires, electric fires, hole in the wall gas fires and also high efficiency fires.

Some of Paragon’s open fronted gas fires such as the Paragon One and the 2000 Plus come with a range of different trims so that you can customise the fire to suit the surroundings, along with the trim you can also choose the fret from a lot of different styles and finishes. Both the Paragon Oneand the 2000 Plus have a high maximum heat output of 4.2kW and an efficiency of 60% making them one of the most powerful Paragon fires available. The 2000 Plus is also available with the ‘Turbo’ option that is a powerflue for the Paragon range, the powerflue fire is designed for anyone who doesn’t have a chimney or flue as the fumes are removed horizontally through the external wall.

The Paragon Symphony and the Paragon Quartet are two of the best examples of high efficiency fire that Paragon has available. They have both been contemporary styled and are hole in the wall gas fires so they will look good in any surrounding. These glass fronted high efficiency fires produce a maximum heat output of 4.2kW (Symphony) and an efficiency of 84%!!

Paragon have created a range of electric fires that have some of the innovative flame effects on the market, combined with contemporary designs and a range of options make them some of the best electric fires available. The Paragon Medi andAmara are the two best electric fires that Paragon currently have available because of their simple contemporary style with unique backlight function. These fires produce a maximum heat output of 1.5kW and would look good in any home and surrounding.

Paragon fires are only available as showroom exclusives and would not be able to be purchased online; a recommended showroom would be the Fireplace Megastore who have a number of Paragon fires on display.