We're always up for a bit of good news, and this one's well worth sharing. Canterbury Fireplaces has been featured in the latest issue of Live Ribble Valley magazine on page 25, and we're really chuffed to be in there.

The feature is titled A Decade of Transformation, which just about sums things up. This year marks ten years since Lucas took over the business from his parents Steve and Jackie, who first opened Canterbury back in 1988. A lot has changed in that time, from the showroom to the product range and the team, but the way we work with customers hasn't shifted one bit. That part has stayed exactly the same, and long may it continue.

The piece looks back at how the business has developed over the past decade, and there's quite a lot to cover. The showroom itself has gone through a £150,000 transformation and now spans more than 4,000 square feet across two floors, with over 150 displays to browse. When you walk in today, it's a very different experience to what it once was, and that's something the whole team has worked incredibly hard to achieve. We stock some of the finest brands from across Scandinavia and Europe, and we're constantly reviewing and refreshing what we have on show to make sure customers are seeing the very best of what's available.

The feature also gets into media walls in some detail, which felt fitting given how much they've come to define what we do. A few years ago, people would come in asking about a fireplace for a chimney breast. Now, more often than not, they're thinking about the whole wall: the cabinetry, the television, the lighting, the fire itself, and how it all works together as one cohesive design. The technology has moved on so quickly, particularly with hologram electric fires, which are now so realistic that it genuinely takes a second look to tell them apart from the real thing. It's an exciting space to be working in.

Alongside that, the article touches on the bespoke side of what we do, working with architects, interior designers, and homeowners on installations that go well beyond an off-the-shelf solution. Every project is different, and that variety is one of the things that keeps the work interesting.

There are also two Ribble Valley installations featured, which we're particularly pleased about. Both are quite different from one another; one built around a beautiful Iberian limestone surround with a Riva 500 Slimline stove, the other a more contemporary multi-fuel set-up in a 57 inch Aegean limestone surround. But they both show what's possible when a fireplace is designed properly for the room it's going into, rather than simply dropped in as an afterthought.

We're also pleased that the feature mentions our charity work this year. As a business, we've always tried to give something back to the local community, and this year we've chosen East Lancashire Hospice as our dedicated charity. It means a great deal to the team, and we're looking forward to the fundraising events we have planned throughout the year.

It's a good read, and a nice record of where we are right now. If you've got five minutes, we'd love for you to have a look. The full feature is available online via the link below.

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