Need a new oven...

[TrimTheKing]

...The giant industrial Themador monstrosity that was in the house when we moved in just can't control a regular temperature and apparently all UK maintainers have pulled out of supporting them due to the impossibility of getting hold of spares. I have googled and it seems to be a common problem with these models due to the control circuits having inadequate heat shielding and getting baked when you have it at high temps.

With that in mind, and the fact we have all the family for Christmas, we need a new range.

SWMBO has been looking at Fisher & Paykel and Brittania, anyone have any comments or experiences with either brand. It has to be well built, cost is a factor but can go up to about £3k if need be to get the right thing...

 

[woodbloke]

If you saw the programme on the 'beeb the other night, all you need is a well insulated box (at least 150mm) and a pair of 60w incandescent light bulbs to cook a chicken - Rob

 

[TrimTheKing]

If you saw the programme on the 'beeb the other night, all you need is a well insulated box (at least 150mm) and a pair of 60w incandescent light bulbs to cook a chicken - Rob

Nice idea Rob, give me your phone number and I'll let you try and convince my missus...

 

[studders]

She won't fit, I know, I saw the program.. has to be Chicken sizeish.

 

[woodbloke]

If you saw the programme on the 'beeb the other night, all you need is a well insulated box (at least 150mm) and a pair of 60w incandescent light bulbs to cook a chicken - Rob

Yeabut if you could convince her Mark, you'd have about £2995 to blow on workshop shinies :tool: - Rob

 

[cutting42]

SWMBO has been looking at Fisher & Paykel and Brittania, anyone have any comments or experiences with either brand. It has to be well built, cost is a factor but can go up to about £3k if need be to get the right thing...

Hi Mark

We inherited a big *** 1200mm Britannia with the house three years ago making it 5 years old now. I think it was nearer 5K than 3K but it is a double width unit, including an electric 900mm fan oven, a 300mm conventional oven with rotisserie, both have grills and storage tray underneath. The hobs are gas with 2 mega wok burners, 3 majorburners, 1 small burner and a long fish kettle/ griddle burner.

Absolutely love it, it was always my ambition to get a big range (bit of a cook me-self) and I could not live without it now. Makes a big meal a piece of cake, never run out of hob space and two ovens is a real luxury. I am glad we have one huge and one small vs two 600mm ovens as many seem to have. The big one fits anything and is ace for plate warming, can fit 6 easily on two shelves and heat plates in 2 mins after all the cooking is done



http://www.britannialiving.co.uk/range-cookers/classic/120t.php

Oh yes meant to say, very reliable and quite industrial in its build quality. Britannia recommend a yearly service but we have never done this but I might in a couple more years.

 

[TrimTheKing]

SWMBO has been looking at Fisher & Paykel and Brittania, anyone have any comments or experiences with either brand. It has to be well built, cost is a factor but can go up to about £3k if need be to get the right thing...

Hi Mark

We inherited a big *** 1200mm Britannia with the house three years ago making it 5 years old now. I think it was nearer 5K than 3K but it is a double width unit, including an electric 900mm fan oven, a 300mm conventional oven with rotisserie, both have grills and storage tray underneath. The hobs are gas with 2 mega wok burners, 3 majorburners, 1 small burner and a long fish kettle/ griddle burner.

Absolutely love it, it was always my ambition to get a big range (bit of a cook me-self) and I could not live without it now. Makes a big meal a piece of cake, never run out of hob space and two ovens is a real luxury. I am glad we have one huge and one small vs two 600mm ovens as many seem to have. The big one fits anything and is ace for plate warming, can fit 6 easily on two shelves and heat plates in 2 mins after all the cooking is done



http://www.britannialiving.co.uk/range-cookers/classic/120t.php

Oh yes meant to say, very reliable and quite industrial in its build quality. Britannia recommend a yearly service but we have never done this but I might in a couple more years.

Cheers Gareth (see Rob, that's the kind of answer I was looking for , although you make a good point about the toolage...).

We know a man who can get us the £5k Brit for about £4.5k, which is veeeeery expensive, but then if it's a well built as you say then that's what I want.

Will see what options he comes back with as we are looking for a 110 unit like you mention so we might just have to spend the dosh!

 

[paulm]

Hmmm, interesting. We had a similar large Brittania range and hood installed in our new kitchen about eight or so years ago I guess.

Never really taken to it. The oven's have never really been predictable/reliable in performance, the knobs keep loosening and falling off (now fixed with some threadlock), couple of elements have burnt out, thermostat needed replacing, clock and timer were switched off permanently as they made a surprising amount of noise, door hinges needed replacing, and the build quality has just seemed a bit lightweight and unconvincing generally, and the performance been a bit dissapointing and unpredictable.

Maybe we have just been unlucky, but we wouldn't buy again or recommend to be honest.

Cheers, Paul

 

[matt]

Got a Neff High Level built-in and a Neff induction hob. Both excellent. Used Fisher & Paykel when I was on holiday - all brand new kit. OK, but not as good as Neff IMO.

 

[Jake]

Fisher and Paykel have always seemed a bit fur coat and no knickers to me.

Brittania, don't know. If I had a £3k budget I wouldn't be thinking of them, but I haven't looked around for ages.

I bought a Mercury about 5 years ago, and I love it, but they've added a grand onto the price since, and it has (or mine has) a few annoying flaws.

 

[cambournepete]

We bought a Cannon a couple of years ago and it has been excellent.
6 gas rings, 2 electric ovens and an electric grill. The ovens hold their temperature perfectly. To be honest, it's a bit of a bargain.

I'd love a Lacanche, but cannot justify it at the moment and I need to convince SWMBO that their gas ovens are great - we had a Stoves that was awful.

This Westahlis a Lacanche and just in your budget. The website it's on shows a lot of other range cookers, and their shop is ace, just a shame it's so far from you.