The best outdoor fire pits to gather around this summer

Who doesn't like the sound of wrapping up in a cosy blanket, gathering around an open fire and catching up with friends? With summer in full swing, now is the perfect time to invest in a fire pit.

There are plenty of designs to choose from for gardens of all sizes, as well as clever folding options that will fit neatly in the car for camping trips. Most are made from cast iron, which retains heat well without discolouring, but there are also copper and clay options as well as chimineas that cast smoke away from where you're sitting. Some also come with cooking grates so you can use them as a barbecue for toasting marshmallows.

Are fire pits legal in the UK?

In short, yes. It's legal to have a fire in your own back garden — but there are a few Government rules to follow to avoid bothering your neighbours:

• Don't burn anything that can pollute the environment or harm people’s health. Stick to dry timber and avoid anything green, along with plastics, paints and oils. If you need to dispose of household or garden waste, compost or recycle it instead.
• If your fire causes smoke to drift across a road, you can be fined as it may become a danger to traffic.

Fire pit safety tips

Before using your garden fire pit, ensure it's in a safe location and away from any combustible surfaces. Joss Thomas, Founder and Designer at Indigenous, has shared some tips on how to enjoy your fire pit safely.

• Make sure the location is safe and there’s nothing hanging nearby that could catch fire.
• Position your fire pit in the middle of your patio, so you have plenty of room to move around it safely and it's not too close to combustible surfaces, grass, trees, plants or shrubs.
• Make sure it isn’t too close to your property or sheds/summer houses.
• Don't light the fire pit under a gazebo or other covered area.
• Check the wind direction before lighting.
• Take fire safety precautions. For example, have a fire extinguisher, fire blanket or at least a bucket of water/sand nearby.
• Keep unsupervised children and animals away.
• When you've finished with your fire pit, ensure that the fire is completely extinguished. Cover the fire pit with a suitable lid to contain any hot embers and prevent ash from blowing around.
• If you've chosen a fire pit that doesn’t have legs, you may need to protect the surface underneath.

Do not use your fire pit on a balcony as it poses a serious risk of fire. This goes for whether you're intending to use it as a BBQ or simply for warmth. Many balconies are constructed with combustible materials, meaning flames can spread quickly if something catches alight. Wind can also carry smouldering ignition sources such as embers to lower or adjacent balconies.

The best fire pits for your garden or patio