There is something about an open flame that makes an outdoor space feel even more inviting as the sun sets. The warmth, the flicker, the way conversation seems to come more easily when there is a fire at the centre of it. But when it comes to choosing the right outdoor flame feature for your garden, the decision is worth thinking through.
A garden fire pit and a fire lantern both deliver this kind of ambience but do so in very different ways, and at different budgets. This guide breaks it down so you can make the right call for your space, your lifestyle, and your garden this season.
What Is the Difference Between a Garden Fire Pit and a Fire Lantern?
A garden fire pit is an open or semi-open flame feature, typically fuelled by gas or wood, designed to be the centrepiece of an outdoor seating area. Fire pits come in a range of sizes and styles — from compact gas models to larger statement pieces — and are generally intended to anchor a space and provide meaningful heat output across a wider area.
A fire lantern is a compact, fully enclosed flame unit, almost always fuelled by bio-ethanol or gas. The flame sits inside a lantern-style structure, making it portable, low-maintenance and suitable for smaller settings: a dining table, a courtyard corner, a balcony. The emphasis is on atmosphere over heat output, though many models do provide a noticeable warmth to the immediate area around them. Both are outdoor flame features. But the space they suit, the experience they create, and the practical considerations involved are quite different.
The Case for a Fire Pit
If your garden has the space for it, a fire pit earns its place in a way that few other pieces of outdoor kit can match. It draws people in. Seating arranged around a fire pit encourages a different kind of evening — slower, more sociable, less likely to wind down when the temperature drops.
Gas fire pits have become the go-to choice for UK gardens where ease and cleanliness matter. They light instantly, produce no smoke, and run off a standard LPG cylinder, so there is no need for a mains gas connection and no ash to clear the next morning.
The Cosibrixx Anthracite Fire Pit is a well-considered example of what a gas fire pit does well. The powder-coated metal construction gives it a clean, architectural profile that sits comfortably on a patio or decked area, while the smokeless flame means it works in gardens where wood burning is not practical — including in Smoke Control Areas, which cover a significant portion of UK towns and cities.
A garden fire pit tends to be the right choice when:
• Your outdoor space has a defined seating area you want to anchor
• You entertain regularly and want a genuine gathering point
• You have enough clearance to position it safely (at least 3 metres from fences, structures, and overhead coverage)
• You want sustained warmth across a larger area
Considerations for A Fire Pit
A fire pit requires a permanent or semi-permanent position and a correctly weighted base. Wood burning models demand dry storage for fuel and ash clearance after use. And in smaller or more sheltered gardens, a full-sized fire pit can feel disproportionate — or simply impractical to position safely.
What About a Fire Lantern?
For anyone working with a smaller outdoor space, a balcony, a courtyard, or a dining-focused garden, fire lanterns are worth far more than their modest footprint suggests.
The appeal starts with budget and practicality. A fire lantern sits on a table or a hard surface, requires no clearance from boundaries, and produces a wind-resistant, fully contained flame that can go pretty much anywhere.
The Cosiscoop Black Fire Lantern runs on Cosi Gas — a clean-burning fuel that produces a consistent, warm flame in a compact enclosed body. The lantern-style design makes it equally at home on a dining table as it does on a low surface beside a garden sofa. It is one of the more considered options for anyone who wants a flame feature without committing to the footprint, the installation considerations, or the maintenance that a fire pit involves.
A fire lantern suits you better when:
• Your outdoor space centres around a dining table or a compact seating arrangement
• You want flexibility — the ability to move the flame feature between different areas as the mood demands
• Safety around children or pets is a priority, given the fully enclosed flame
• You are in a flat or a rental property where open fire features may not be permitted
• You want the ambience of a real flame without breaking the bank
Considerations for a Fire Lantern
The heat radius of a fire lantern is limited to the immediate surroundings. If you are looking to warm a larger seating area or replace a patio heater in terms of coverage, a lantern (or even several) will probably not deliver that. It is more about the ambience that is created rather than the heat.
Key Deciding Factors
Garden Size and Layout
This is often the clearest guide. A fire pit needs space — not just footprint space, but safe clearance in every direction. If your outdoor space is generous, a fire pit works. If you have a terrace, a courtyard, or a compact urban garden, a fire lantern is the more sensible starting point.
Smoke Control Areas
If your property falls within a Smoke Control Area (common in London and many other UK cities and towns — you can check via your local council’s website), wood burning outdoors is legally restricted. A gas fire pit is compliant in these areas. A fire lantern running on bio-ethanol or gas is also fully compliant. A wood burning fire pit is not.
Entertaining Style
Think about how you actually use your garden. If evenings tend to involve a group gathered around a central point — drinks, conversation, staying out later than the weather strictly warrants — a fire pit is the more rewarding choice. If your outdoor entertaining is primarily table-based, a fire lantern brings exactly the right amount of warmth and ambience to that kind of evening without being in anyone’s way.
Portability and Flexibility
A fire lantern can go wherever you want it. On the table for dinner, on the ground beside a lounger, inside a covered outdoor space. A fire pit is a considered placement — one that typically stays put for the season. Neither is objectively better, but the distinction is worth factoring in if your outdoor use is varied.
Both Work Really Well Together
Many gardens benefit from both working together. A fire pit anchors the main seating area — the place people drift towards after dinner, where the evening properly begins. A fire lantern or two on the dining table brings warmth and atmosphere to the earlier part of the evening, when everyone is still seated.
The two complement each other rather than compete, and the combination covers every part of an outdoor evening from first drinks to the last conversation of the night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a fire lantern safe to use on a wooden table?
Yes, fire lanterns with enclosed gas or bio-ethanol flames are designed for tabletop use and are safe on most surfaces when used as directed. The flame is fully contained within the lantern body, so there is no risk of stray embers or sparks. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidance and ensure the lantern is on a stable, level surface.
Do I need planning permission for a garden fire pit in the UK?
No planning permission is required for a standard garden fire pit. However, if you live in a Smoke Control Area, you are restricted from burning solid fuels in the open air, which means a wood burning fire pit would not be compliant. Gas fire pits and bio-ethanol fire lanterns are not subject to Smoke Control Area restrictions.
How much does it cost to run a gas fire pit or fire lantern?
Running costs vary by model and usage, but both gas fire pits and bio-ethanol lanterns are relatively modest to run for a typical evening. A standard LPG cylinder for a gas fire pit will last several sessions depending on flame output. Bio-ethanol fuel for a fire lantern tends to be measured in hours per fuel load — typically two to four hours per fill for a compact lantern. Neither represents a significant ongoing cost for occasional to regular garden use.
Find Your Outdoor Flame Feature at Ruma
Whether you are drawn to the warmth and presence of a gas fire pit or the compact elegance of a Cosi fire lantern, take a look at the full outdoor heating range at Ruma and find the right fit for your garden and how you use it.