The UK isn't renowned for its outdoor entertaining due to the short British summer. However you can now extend your living area into the garden for longer with an outdoor heater. There are many types of outdoor heater available including the traditional fire pit, an incinerator, a Chimenea or a brazier.

A traditional fire bowl has been used for centuries. It is a hole dug into the ground which is used to contain a fire. Although very practical for generating heat and disposing of garden waste, they aren't the safest or most attractive way of heating your garden. In recent years the traditional fire pit has been replaced with more convenient and attractive garden heaters. The more modern fire pits such as the Damascus Fire Bowl are primarily made of metal or Clay and are either log burning, some are now even gas burning. They generally have a fully contained base unit so contain the fire in a similar way to the traditional 'pit', but their main advantage over the traditional fire pit is that they are portable so can not only be used in different places around the garden but can also be taken to the beach or on a camping trip.

A brazier is a great way to create the ambiance of an open fire and as most have open slates, they give off more heat than a fire bowl. They are generally a container which sits on metal supports and has a tray to stop any ash or burning embers from falling to the ground and damaging your patio or lawn. A variety of fuel can be used in them including logs, heat beads, coal or briquettes making them very versatile. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, making them ideal for any garden. A number of accessories are also available to turn them into barbecues including various grill racks.

Copper fire bowls are similar to braziers but tend to be designed to be shorter. They are a circular bowl which sits on stout feet. As with the brazier, they stop ash or embers from falling to the ground but in addition, a fire bowl tends to have a spark screen round it to contain any stray embers. Due to their low design, they can sit on a table as well as on a patio or lawn making them very versatile. As with the brazier, various grills can be bought to turn the fire bowl into a barbeque.

Another popular garden heater on the market in the UK today is the Garden Clay chimenea. Originally, the chimenea was ceramic and designed to cook food outdoors by burning logs. Their style has changed very little over recent years and they are still squat, circular tubs resting on three small feet which burn logs. However they are now generally made of cast iron or other metals, making them more robust. Although some people still use them for outdoor cooking, their primary use today is for outdoor heating. They are available in a variety of sizes from small table-top designs to larger patio ornament styles, providing a focal point for the garden. The Range covers every size, shape and style. Different heights and usually on legs. It is key when buying for the first time that you follow the instructions with the Chimenea and acclimatise the Chimenea first.

With any type of garden heating or cooking device, safety is of the up most importance. Although patio fires, braziers, fire bowls and clay chimineas are designed to contain fires and stop them from spreading, you still need to take precautions to ensure the safety of your family and friends. You should ensure that the area surrounding your outdoor heating device is raked before the fire is lit and any dead leaves are removed to make sure they don't catch fire. This ought to be done even if your heating device has a spark screen or tray underneath. You should also remove any low lying branches or other debris from the area as a precaution. You must also ensure your fire pit or brazier is in a sheltered place so the wind can't enlarge the fire.

Buy outdoor heating and enjoy the outdoor entertaining in the warmth.