I spent a long time considering my options and for me the Aarrow (Arada Group) Sherborne was ideal:The size was perfect to replace the standard gas fire that was there previously.It's of modern
construction but has the look of an older style.Two doors!Well priced compared to others on the market.I've not had too much problem throwing logs in from standard suppliers but there is a handful from 2 tonnes that were to big.The handles & controls do get hot but a glove is supplied which cuts the problem out.Above all, it gets my lounge nice and toasty and sustains the temperature even when the door is open to the hallway.Everyone who has seen it in action comments on the look and how cosy it makes the room. I wouldn't hesitate on buying from Aarrow (Arada group) again.
Stove expert replied:
Please do not throw logs into a stove you will damage the liners if you do, place logs in the firebox and the liners will perform much better saving the expense of replacing them other than through wear and tear.
This is a super little stove. It produces reasonable amounts of heat and is very easy to use. The airwash is also outstanding during normal (ie non-slumbering) operation.We live in a "cold"
house; it's an old, listed, timber-framed country cottage, so the insulation is not great. We had two inglenook open fires in two adjacent rooms that, whilst pretty, were horrendously inefficient and also threw heat to the sky, making the rooms they were in very drafty.To remedy the situation we installed an Aarrow Sherbourne (medium) in the smaller of the two rooms and a Jotul F400 in the larger room. Consequently we can make an objective comparison of both stoves.The Aarrow is made in steel. Consequently it is functional and not unattractive but also slightly plain compared with better adorned counterparts or the cast-iron of the Jotul. That said, the Aarrow also half the price of the Jotul! Lighting the Aarrow is very easy; it draws beautifully and with coal or wood performs very well. It also goes through the night without problem on coal (when shut right down), but with wood can be a bit trickier.The reason for this latter point, which is also my chief criticism of this stove, is that the firebox is quite small. Big logs are not an option!Another niggle with this stove is that the handles and controls all become exceedingly hot, so you have to don a protective glove (helpfully supplied by Aarrow) before operating it. Also, the vent controls – the airwash control especially - are a bit stiff, which can make it slightly fiddly to operate. The airwash is, however, excellent; so long as the stove is not shut down too hard the glass remains crystal clear; in this regard the Aarrow Sherbourne outperforms the Jotul.In summary, this stove is easy to operate, looks nice, is compact, good value for money and readily heats a largish living room. The downsides are that it looks slightly plain, the controls get hot and are pretty stiff, and the firebox is slightly on the small side. Overall, however, we are very pleased.
