We tend to overcomplicate life. But some things are just better when they’re plain and simple. Like a marshmallow on a stick. Like a sky full of stars and nowhere to be. Like a Plain Jane fire pit.
What Is a Plain Jane Fire Pit? 
The Plain Jane by Firepits UK is a round steel fire bowl on three legs featuring a unique, removable Swing Arm BBQ Rack. Hand-forged from British sheet steel, it’s the brand’s best-selling design, and its appeal lies in its dual functionality. It’s a fire pit and multi-tasking cooker in one.
When shopping for Plain Jane fire pits, you’ll find a small, focused range built around one simple design. The wide, shallow bowl and three sturdy legs may stay the same throughout, but you can customise it. Apart from the extra accessories you can add, you can also personalise your pit with an engraved plaque, decorative trim, or both.
What generally changes from model to model is the size and the number and type of racks included. Here’s a closer look at each one.
Plain Jane with Swing Arm BBQ Rack
This is the heart of the collection. It comes in five sizes, starting with a 50cm bowl for a cosy group of four and going all the way up to a 90cm bowl with room for twelve around it. Every size in this group comes with a single Swing Arm BBQ Rack.
What’s neat about this accessory is that it’s half grill, half solid plate, so you can tackle both BBQ and flatbreads. It’s designed to pivot on the lugs, allowing you to move food on and off the heat without touching it. You can also use the lugs to attach accessories like the Hanging Arm with Hook or the Up-Down Swing Arm BBQ Rack.
Plain Jane 90 with Three Swing Arm BBQ Racks
If you entertain on the regular or just enjoy preparing more elaborate meals, this model offers three times the cooking space. It comes with one solid plate, one full grill, and one half-and-half rack. You can sear steaks on one side, warm flatbreads or cook delicate foods on another, and keep veggie and meat dishes separate.
Plain Jane 120 with Four Swing Arm BBQ Racks
This is a generously sized showstopper with four removable racks, so everyone can grab tongs and get involved. You get a combination of two half-and-half racks, one solid plate, and one full grill for a setup that handles the whole menu at once. Need something bigger still? You can enquire about the 160 model with four racks, although it isn’t currently being manufactured.
What Plain Jane Fire Pits Bring to Your Outdoor Space
We still gather round a fire for a reason. It’s the way it slows things down, drawing everyone a little closer, sparking those long, easy conversations. The Plain Jane does this beautifully, and then some.
Soul-Soothing Ambience
Once it’s lit, the Plain Jane creates the kind of ambience that makes you want to stay outside a little longer. The flickering flames and glowing embers set a cosy, relaxed atmosphere that’s hard to achieve with outdoor lighting alone. Add the gentle crackling sound, the nostalgic smell of woodsmoke, and the soothing warmth, and it becomes an experience that engages all the senses.
When it’s not lit, it still serves as a characterful centrepiece. The steel develops a warm, rusty patina over time, which complements most landscape designs.
Outdoor Living Season That Lasts Longer
If you want to extend your outdoor enjoyment into the cooler months, these fire pits are an excellent choice as they provide radiant warmth. Plus, with no gas bottles to replace or cables to run, they’re a simple, hassle-free way to keep warm outdoors.
Cooking, Dining, and Entertaining Alfresco
When it’s time to eat, the Plain Jane goes from a centrepiece to a versatile cooker in seconds. With a range of compatible accessories available, such as hanging cooking pots, wok stands, rotisseries, and more, you can really get creative. And the best part is, cooking over embers gives food a gentle, smoky flavour that enhances everything from steaks to veg.
How is this different from a standard barbecue? Well, it’s that you’re not stuck behind it while the party carries on without you. Everyone naturally gathers around to chat, lend a hand, or sneak an early taste.
Once you’ve finished eating, just lift the rack off and build the fire back up to enjoy the warmth for the rest of the evening.
A Place to Gather
More than anything, a fire pit like this gives people a reason to spend time together. It can turn a quick drink with friends into a long evening, keep the kids happily busy with marshmallows, or make a quiet night in the garden for two feel a bit more special.
How to Use Your Plain Jane
Using a Plain Jane is straightforward, but there are a few things worth knowing.
Before Your First Fire
Your fire pit will arrive coated in manufacturing oil. There’s no need to clean it off, as it burns away during the first fire, so don’t worry if you notice a bit of smoke and smell.
The Swing Arm BBQ Rack is different; it requires seasoning. Before you cook on it, heat it to a medium temperature, wash it in warm, soapy water, dry it thoroughly, and then rub it over with a small amount of cooking oil.
Finding the Right Spot
Place your fire pit on level ground, away from fences, sheds, and overhanging branches. As the steel weathers, it can leave rust marks on stone paving. If you put it on the lawn, the heat will scorch the grass underneath. It’s best to stand it on gravel or raise it slightly with a set of Fire Pit Feet.
Building a Fire
It’s smart to light your fire 30 to 60 minutes before you plan to cook so there’s enough time for a good bed of embers to form. Use kindling and kiln-dried logs to keep the smoke down. Once the fire’s going, push the embers to one side for cooking and keep the logs burning on the other for warmth.
Using the Swing Arm
The rack isn’t designed to sit in intense flames for long periods, so make sure you swing it over the embers. This will also ensure the food cooks evenly over steady heat, without flare-ups or excessive charring that leaves a sooty taste.
Closing Thoughts
Now that you know a little more about what turns out to be not-so-plain Jane, you can explore the full collection and matching accessories, and find the right setup for your outdoor space.