The garden does not have to wait for a hot day. A morning coffee outside in April, a long dinner that runs into a cool September evening, a quiet hour in the garden in October when the light is still beautiful but the temperature has dropped: these are the moments that good outdoor heating makes possible.
In the UK, the gap between “too cold to sit outside” and “perfectly comfortable” is smaller than most people assume. The right outdoor heating solution closes it. Whether you are looking for a gas fire pit to anchor a main seating area, a compact fire lantern for the table, or something more architectural for a larger garden, this guide covers the options worth considering from Ruma’s Cosi range.
Using Your Garden All Year: Why Heating Makes It Possible
Most UK gardens are used for a fraction of the time they could be. The warmest weeks of summer tend to get all the attention, while perfectly good mornings, evenings, and shoulder-season days go untouched because the temperature is not quite right. A gas fire pit, a fire lantern on the table, or a Cosi heated pouffe tucked into the seating area changes that equation.
Outdoor heating does two things at once: it provides genuine physical warmth and it creates atmosphere. A flame, whether in a fire pit or a lantern, gives a focal point to an outdoor space in a way that electric alternatives rarely match. It changes how a garden feels after dark, and how long you want to stay in it.
Choosing the Right Outdoor Heating for Your Garden
The best starting point is thinking about how your garden is actually used, and how you want to use it more. A large seating area with multiple zones calls for something different from a compact courtyard or a single dining table. Scale, fuel type, and the kind of atmosphere you want all play into the decision.
Gas Fire Pits: Clean Warmth with Instant Atmosphere
Gas fire pits have become the most popular choice for UK gardens, and it is easy to understand why. They light immediately, produce no smoke, and run from a standard LPG propane cylinder with no mains connection required. For anyone who wants the warmth and visual appeal of a fire without the preparation or clean-up, they are the straightforward choice.
Ruma stocks several gas fire pit options from Cosi, a Dutch brand with a strong reputation for design-led outdoor heating.
The Cosibrixx Anthracite Fire Pit is the range's anchor piece. Its clean, architectural profile works on a patio or decked area, and the powder-coated steel build is well suited to outdoor conditions. It connects to a standard LPG cylinder and produces a consistent, smokeless flame. At £636, it sits at the considered end of the market without crossing into the premium tier.
For something with more presence, the Cosicube 70 Fire Pit offers a more sculptural finish. The grey wash fir wood body and stainless steel top give it a natural, tactile quality that reads well in a garden that leans towards organic materials and warm tones. It runs on a 5kg propane bottle and includes lava rocks and ceramic logs as standard, producing a flame that looks as good as it performs.
At the top of the range, the Cosivista Black Fire Pit is a genuinely architectural piece. At 120cm wide with a glass surround and black metal frame, it is designed to become the centrepiece of a larger outdoor space. The glass enclosure means the flame is fully visible from multiple angles, and the overall effect is more design feature than garden accessory.
Cosi Fire Lanterns: Atmosphere at the Table
Not every garden needs a full fire pit. For a dining table, a bistro corner, or any space where footprint matters, a Cosi fire lantern delivers warmth and atmosphere in a more contained, versatile format.
The Cosiscoop Black Fire Lantern is a portable, tabletop flame unit fuelled by a 190g CosiGas cartridge, which gives around six hours of burn time per cartridge. The enclosed flame is wind-resistant and enclosed within a black metal housing that is small enough to place on a dining table but striking enough to read as a considered design choice rather than an afterthought. To light it, you simply twist a gas cartridge underneath and press the ignition button.
Fire lanterns work particularly well in pairs or clusters. Two Cosiscoops at either end of a long dining table create an effect that is hard to achieve with any other kind of outdoor lighting. They are also genuinely portable, meaning they can move with you from the dining area to the seating area as the evening progresses.
Layering Warmth: Beyond the Fire Pit
The most comfortable outdoor spaces tend to layer warmth rather than relying on a single source. A gas fire pit handles the main seating area; fire lanterns add atmosphere to the table. Ruma's Cosi heated pouffe range adds a third layer, providing personal warmth at seat level that a standing flame source cannot reach.
The Cosi heated pouffes are designed to complement an outdoor seating set, functioning as both a footrest or additional seat and a source of gentle radiant warmth. They work indoors or outside, which makes them a genuinely flexible investment.
Gas vs Wood: Which Fire Pit is Right for Your Garden?
Gas fire pits are the practical choice for most UK gardens. They produce no smoke, require no fuel storage, and are the only compliant option in a Smoke Control Area (common across cities and many towns). For anyone in an urban or suburban setting, gas removes the guesswork.
Wood burning fire pits have real appeal in the right setting: the sound, the ritual, the smell. But they require seasoned wood, produce smoke, and need clearing after each use. If you have the space, the fuel supply, and the garden to accommodate them, they offer something a gas fire pit cannot quite replicate. For most people looking to extend their garden season with the least friction, gas is the cleaner answer.
Positioning Your Outdoor Heating: A Simple Guide
Before placing any fire pit, it is worth running through a few basic checks. Position any open flame at least three metres from fences, structures, and overhead coverage including pergolas and parasols. Avoid placing a fire pit directly on timber decking without a heat-proof mat, and check that your garden does not fall within a Smoke Control Area if you are considering a wood burning option.
Gas fire pits and fire lanterns are lower risk in most of these contexts. The Cosivista's glass surround contains the flame, and the Cosiscoop's enclosed design makes it safe for tabletop use. Even so, standard sensible precautions apply: keep anything flammable clear of the flame, never leave it unattended, and always check the gas connection before lighting.
Garden Heating Ideas: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most low-maintenance outdoor heating option?
A gas fire pit is the lowest-maintenance choice. There is no wood to source or dry, no ash to clear, and no extended warm-up time. The Cosibrixx, Cosicube and Cosivista all run from a standard propane cylinder available from most local suppliers. A fire lantern like the Cosiscoop is even simpler: one gas cartridge, one button, up to six hours of flame.
How much does a good garden fire pit cost in the UK?
Well-made gas fire pits from quality brands like Cosi cover a range of price points, from considered mid-range options like the Cosibrixx. Statement pieces like the Cosivista sit at the top of the range and are designed as long-term garden investments. For a compact flame option at the dining table, the Cosiscoop fire lantern is the most accessible entry point into the range.
Can I use a fire pit in a Smoke Control Area?
In a designated Smoke Control Area, burning solid fuels in the open air is restricted. Gas fire pits are fully compliant and the practical choice for anyone in a city or town where this applies. You can check your postcode on your local council's website. All Cosi fire pits run on LPG propane, which produces no smoke.
Get More from Your Garden, All Year Round
From the architectural presence of the Cosivista to the quiet intimacy of a Cosiscoop on the table, there is a Cosi heating option for every garden and every kind of evening. Take a look at the full outdoor fire pits and lanterns range at Ruma and find the right warmth for your outdoor space this season.