Hearth and Home has been established on the Penrith high street for over 60 years. As new local owners take on the business they have a burning desire to continue that long-standing role offering trusted expertise.
Sitting on Brunswick Road nextt to the famous Penrith Toffee Shop, Hearth and Home has been serving customers for more than over half a century.
The company supplies and fits multi-fuel, wood burning, gas and electric fires and stoves as well as fireplace surrounds, flue systems and an array of fireside accessories and spares.
New owner 41-year-old Stuart Hilland, of Culgaith, has for the past 10 years worked alongside former owner Fraser Hogg, of Penrith, and recently Stuart took over the shop, turning it into a family business with wife Hannah.
The move helps to cement the working partnership between Stuart and Fraser —who is continuing to work as the Hearth and Home showroom manager.
Between the pair they hope to continue supporting customers with their expert knowledge — Stuart being a well-respected and time-served heating engineer and installer, while Fraser has 35 years in the heating industry, running both Hearth and Home and as a time-served plumbing and heating engineer.
Stuart said: “We’re really excited to have taken on Hearth and Home and thrilled that Fraser has continued as manager as well as showroom assistant Helen Ingham and a brilliant team of local contractors. They bring an absolute wealth of knowledge to the business and we have a great local team making us a real one-stop shop for everything stove fire related!
“My wife Hannah has joined the business and it’s exciting times for us as a family with our three children keen to help as mini shop assistants in the showroom at weekends.
“Having worked with Hearth and Home for so many years I know it is well-regarded in the area and has a strong reputation for high quality. I’m really keen to continue this.”
The couple have already taken steps to update the showroom with a new electric fire media wall being installed imminently along with brand new electric, gas and multi-fuel fires on display.
They aim to offer customers across the market an array of styles — suiting those wanting modern interiors along with those opting for more country inspired or traditional looks.
Hannah added: “As the country moves out of COVID regulations but into hard financial times we’re keen to keep our place as part of the high street, supporting Penrith as a community.
“We hope in turn customers will continue to value the benefits of the face-to-face knowledge and service that can’t be found through a computer screen alone.
“A new fireplace can have a real impact on the look and feel of a home and we hope customers will see that as an investment it is well worth coming into the showroom to see products first hand.
“Everyone says what a Tardis the showroom is with our little shop front actually having a showroom that extends back over 100ft. We have such a variety of options in the shop and can help customers create exactly what they are looking for, from design to supply and installation,” she said.
With householders throughout the country being faced with gas price hikes, Hearth and Home has become an exclusive Cumbria stockist for new innovative Ecco stoves which can heat a whole home with two timed burns and offers an off-grid heating alternative.
Since qualifying as an installer, Stuart has always been registered with HETAS — the official industry body recognised by the government to approve solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and service. This gives customers a higher level of service than non-approved installers and customers peace of mind that all safety regulations are in place.
Keen to continue this Hearth and Home has now become a HETAS approved showroom.
In keeping with their aims to offer high customer service, Stuart and Hannah have taken on additional fitters for Hearth and Home and are continuing to work with local time-served tradesmen accredited by industry approved bodies for all work they undertake.
