Hove BN3 — ECOSY+ Hampton XL Installation with Black Brazilian Riven Slate Hearth

The Brief

Nick’s Hove home had a classic Victorian tiled fireplace — the kind you find throughout BN3’s beautiful period properties. Original, characterful and full of history. But behind those tiles sat an old, inefficient open fire that wasn’t doing the room justice.
Nick wanted to keep the soul of the fireplace — the sense of warmth and character — but bring it right up to date. The vision was a high efficiency wood burning stove, a sleek black slate hearth and a cast beam above to frame the whole thing beautifully.

The result needed to work as a functional heat source and as the centrepiece of what was clearly a carefully considered living room.

The Work

Step 1 — Removal of the Victorian Style Surround 
The original Victorian tiled surround was carefully removed. While the tiles replicated a beautiful piece of history, the open fire behind them was inefficient and the setup wasn’t working very well.

Step 2 — Fireplace Opening Preparation
With the surround removed, we prepared the fireplace opening to the correct dimensions for the ECOSY+ Hampton XL stove. The exposed brickwork in the reveal was cleaned up and made good with non-combustible boards to the sides, ready for the next stages. We then plastered the exposed areas ready for Nick to add the final touches.

Step 3 — Chimney Lining
A new flexible flue liner was installed, correctly sized for the ECOSY+ Hampton XL and fully compliant with Building Regulations. This is a critical step in every installation — the liner ensures safe, efficient operation and is required for HETAS certification.

Step 4 — Black Brazilian Riven Slate Hearth
A stunning Black Brazilian Riven Slate hearth was installed — a bold, elegant choice that anchors the installation and provides a striking contrast against the fresh white plaster of the chimney breast. The natural texture of the riven slate adds depth and character.

Step 5 — Cast Beam Installation
A cast beam from Stoveworld UK was fitted above the fireplace opening — the perfect finishing touch. It adds warmth and a sense of solidity to the installation, and works beautifully as a mantel shelf. The natural wood effect of the cast beam sits perfectly against the white plaster and black slate.

Step 6 — ECOSY+ Hampton XL Installation
The ECOSY+ Hampton XL wood burning stove was installed, connected to the new liner and commissioned. This is a generously sized, high efficiency stove with a large glass door that gives a breathtaking view of the fire — and it looks absolutely stunning in this setting.

Step 7 — HETAS Sign-Off
As HETAS registered installers, we issued a full Certificate of Compliance on completion — giving Nick complete peace of mind and keeping his home insurance valid.

The Result

The finished installation is breathtaking. What was once a dated Victorian styled open fire is now a roaring, high efficiency wood burning stove that fills the room with warmth and light.
The combination of the ECOSY+ Hampton XL, Black Brazilian Riven Slate hearth and Stoveworld UK cast beam has created a fireplace that feels both timeless and contemporary — perfectly at home in Nick’s beautifully styled Hove living room.
When the fire is lit and the room comes to life around it, it’s easy to see why this is one of our favourite installs of the season.

About the Stove — ECOSY+ Hampton XL 5KW

The ECOSY+ Hampton XL is a large, high efficiency wood burning stove with a commanding presence and a beautiful large glass door.

Key features include:

• 5KW+ heat output — ideal for larger living rooms and open plan spaces
• Ecodesign Ready — exceeds current clean air standards
• High efficiency — up to 80% efficiency rating
• Large glass door — outstanding fire viewing experience
• Classic styling — suits both traditional and contemporary interiors

Thinking of Replacing Your Open Fire with a Wood Burning Stove in Hove?

Many homes in Hove have original Victorian and Edwardian fireplaces that are currently housing inefficient gas fires. A wood burning stove installation could transform both the look of your room and the efficiency of your heating.
We serve Hove, Brighton, Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea and across coastal East and West Sussex. We offer free, no-obligation surveys and can advise on the perfect stove and finishing touches for your home.

📞 Call us: 07526 228785
💬 WhatsApp us directly
📧 Email: hello@sasstoves.com
🌐 Or fill in our contact form at surreyandsussexstoves.com

Surrey and Sussex Stoves — HETAS registered stove installers serving Surrey and West Sussex. Ignite Warmth, Install Quality.