Hunter Stoves Review (2026) — UK Buyer’s Guide
UK-manufactured in Devon. Mid-market positioning with the strongest back-boiler integration options at the £1,000–£1,500 price point. The Herald 5 is one of the UK’s most-installed wood-burners.
Hunter at a glance
Hunter Stoves Group is UK-manufactured in Devon (Aspen House, Pynes Hill, Exeter). Founded in the early 1970s in Somerset / Wiltshire, the group also includes Allure (contemporary), Avalon, and the Pollen outdoor brand. Mid-market positioning at the £900–£1,500 sweet spot — direct competition with Stovax Stockton and Aarrow Ecoburn.
Standard warranty: 10 years on Hunter wood-burning stoves when purchased from an authorised dealer. UK-manufactured means short lead-times on spares.
Current Hunter range (2026)
| Model | kW | RRP | Boiler | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herald 4 Eco | 4.9 | RRP £1,489 / ~£1,040 street | Optional | Entry-level Herald. DEFRA, Ecodesign 2022. |
| Herald 5 Eco | 5.0 | £1,669 RRP / ~£1,165 street | Optional | Most-installed Hunter. UK mid-market workhorse. |
| Herald 5 Eco Slimline | 5.0 | £1,669 RRP / ~£1,165 street | Optional | Single or double door, slim depth for shallow chimney recesses. |
| Herald 8 Eco | 7.0 (5–10) | £1,929 RRP / ~£1,350 street | Optional | Variable output, suits larger rooms. |
| Herald 14 | 12–14 | £2,309 RRP / ~£1,615 street | Up to 45,000 BTU | Flagship; best UK back-boiler stove at this price. |
| Allure 5 | 5.0 | £1,419 RRP / ~£1,060 street | — | Contemporary styling, wood-only. |
| Halo Radial (2026) | 5.0 | ~£3,179 | — | New 2025/26 contemporary cylindrical. |
Calculate your Hunter install cost
Hunter models sit at the entry to mid tier. The Herald 5 (~£1,165 street, £1,669 RRP) at 5kW keeps your install in the £2,800–£3,800 mid-market range.
Open the calculatorThe Herald 5 — UK mid-market workhorse
The Hunter Herald 5 Eco (~£1,165, 5kW multifuel, DEFRA approved, Ecodesign 2022) is the UK’s most cross-shopped 5kW wood-burner alongside the Stovax Stockton 5 and Aarrow Ecoburn 5. Double-door variants, single-door slimline variants, and an optional back-boiler version cover most UK use cases.
Stoves are us / Direct Stoves consistently report the Herald 5 as their best-selling Hunter SKU. r/DIYUK consensus from 2024–25: “good solid mid-range product… on a par with Stovax for quality but without the price tag.”
Back-boiler — Hunter’s strongest niche
Hunter is particularly strong at back-boiler integration options. The Herald range offers back-boiler variants from the Herald 4 right up to the Herald 14 (up to 45,000 BTU water-side output). At this price point, Hunter is the most accessible UK route into a boiler stove.
For full back-boiler scope and plumbing requirements, see the dedicated back-boiler install guide →
Pricing vs UK alternatives
- Entry: Herald 4 at ~£1,040 vs Charnwood Country 4 at £1,049 vs Aarrow Hamlet 4 at £670 — Hunter sits between budget and mid.
- Mid: Herald 5 at ~£1,165 vs Stovax Stockton 5 at ~£1,210 vs Aarrow Ecoburn 5 at ~£1,220 (street prices, September 2026) — all three sit within £60 of each other.
- With back-boiler: Herald 14 at ~£1,615 (RRP £2,309) vs comparable Stratford Ecoboiler at similar price — Hunter has the broader range of back-boiler outputs.
Where to buy
- Direct Stoves — Cheadle premier dealer, full range online + showroom
- Stoves Are Us — online, broad range
- Castfireplaces — Heanor, Derbyshire — main Hunter showroom
- Also Rangemoors, Stove Supermarket, The Stove House, Bonfire
Should you buy a Hunter?
Yes, if: you want UK-made mid-market value with a 10-year warranty, particularly for a back-boiler integration where Hunter is genuinely the strongest UK option at this price point.
Consider Charnwood instead, if: you want the warranty + 3-year consumables package, broader clearSkies Level 5 certification, or contemporary designs (Aire / Skye).
Consider Aarrow / Arada instead, if: you want clearSkies Level 4 certification at this price (Ecoburn S3 range) or a lifetime-warranty body guarantee.
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Get quotesFrequently asked questions
Are Hunter stoves any good?
Consistently recommended on r/DIYUK as "great value for money" — quality on par with Stovax Stockton at much the same street price (~£1,165 vs ~£1,210 in September 2026). The Herald 5 is one of the most-installed UK 5kW wood-burners.
What’s the warranty on a Hunter stove?
10-year warranty on Hunter wood-burning stoves when purchased from an authorised dealer. UK-manufactured in Devon, so spare parts have a short pipeline.
Hunter Herald vs Stovax Stockton — which?
Both are go-to mid-market UK 5kW wood-burners. Street prices are level (~£1,165 vs ~£1,210) and back-boiler integration options. Stovax wins on dealer network breadth and slightly more cosmetic variants (Wide, Sheraton, Huntingdon). Both are excellent choices.
Does the Hunter Herald come in a back-boiler version?
Yes — back-boiler integration is available across most of the Herald range (Herald 5, 6, 8, 14). Hunter is particularly strong at this price point for boiler integration, which is otherwise more typically found in premium ranges.
Where can I buy a Hunter stove in the UK?
Major dealers: Direct Stoves (Cheadle, online), Stoves Are Us (online), Castfireplaces (Heanor, Derbyshire), Rangemoors (Devon). Also Stove Supermarket, The Stove House, and Bonfire.