If you own a bell tent, a wood burning stove is the single upgrade that changes how you use it. Bell Tent Sussex the UK's leading family-run bell tent specialist based in Newhaven has been helping campers, glamping site operators, and outdoor enthusiasts get the most from their canvas tents for over a decade. Part of that expertise is knowing exactly which stove works best for which tent, and how to use it safely and effectively.
This guide covers everything you need from choosing the right stove for your bell tent size to safety, installation, accessories, and care. Whether you are a first time buyer wondering whether a stove is worth it, or a glamping operator looking to complete a commercial setup, this is the guide written specifically for Bell Tent Sussex customers.
Why a Wood Burning Stove Transforms a Bell Tent
Bell Tent Sussex tents are built from 285gsm to 360gsm breathable cotton canvas, a natural material that insulates in a way that synthetic tents simply cannot replicate. Once you raise the temperature inside the tent with a wood burning stove, the canvas holds that warmth. The result is a tent that stays genuinely comfortable long after you have stopped adding wood to the fire.
Every bell tent in the Bell Tent Sussex range from the compact 3m bell tent right through to the large 7m fireproof bell tent comes with a purpose-built stove hole flap as standard. This reinforced aperture in the canvas roof allows the stovepipe to exit the tent safely, with a heat-resistant collar protecting the canvas from any contact with the pipe. It is a feature that sets Bell Tent Sussex tents apart from cheaper alternatives that require buyers to cut their own hole, a shortcut that damages the canvas and creates a genuine fire risk.
With the stove hole flap already built in, every bell tent from Bell Tent Sussex is genuinely ready to use with a wood burning stove from day one. No modification, no improvisation, no risk.
The Bell Tent Sussex Stove Range
Bell Tent Sussex stocks a carefully chosen range of wood burning stoves selected specifically for use with their canvas bell tent range. Every stove in the collection has been chosen for output, build quality, and practical suitability for UK camping and glamping conditions.
Alongside the stoves themselves, Bell Tent Sussex stocks a full stove accessories collection everything needed for a safe and complete installation including fire mats, angled flashing kits for different roof pitches, stovepipe extensions, and carrying solutions.
The BBQ range is also available at belltentsussex.co.uk/collections/bbqs for outdoor cooking setups alongside your tent though it is essential to note that BBQs must always be used outdoors and never inside or at the entrance of a closed canvas tent.
Choosing the Right Stove for Your Bell Tent Size
The most important practical decision when buying a camping stove for a bell tent is matching the stove output to your tent size. Too small a stove in a large tent means running it constantly without reaching warmth. Too large a stove in a small tent overheats the space within minutes.
Here is a straightforward guide by Bell Tent Sussex tent size:
3m Bell Tent :
The 3m is the most compact tent in the Bell Tent Sussex range, lightweight, quick to pitch, and ideal for couples. It requires a small-output stove with a compact firebox. The interior volume is modest, so even a modest stove will bring it to temperature quickly and maintain warmth easily. Overspec the stove here and you will be camping with the door open.
The 4m is Bell Tent Sussex's festival favourite and one of the most popular sizes for weekend campers. A medium output stove suits this size perfectly enough power to heat the interior efficiently on a cold autumn evening without overwhelming the space. This is a great tent and stove combination for first-time canvas campers.
The 5m is Bell Tent Sussex's best selling size and the one most recommended for year-round use. It sleeps five to six adults comfortably and has enough floor space for a wood burning stove, real furniture, rugs, and bedding all safely positioned with good clearance from the stove. A medium to large output stove is recommended for this size. The 5m bell tent and a properly fitted wood burning stove is the combination that most glamping operators start with and for good reason.
At 6m you have a genuinely large interior. Bell Tent Sussex's 6m models are SGS certified and built for commercial use on professional glamping sites. The interior volume requires a higher-output stove to heat the space effectively; underspeccing here means burning through wood constantly without achieving real warmth. If you are setting up a commercial glamping tent with a 6m canvas, speak to the Bell Tent Sussex team directly on 01323 401400 for a specific stove recommendation.
7m Bell Tent :
The 7m is the largest model in the Bell Tent Sussex range fireproof rated with an integrated stove hole and flap, designed specifically for commercial glamping operators who need a tent that performs season after season. The interior volume is substantial and requires a high-output stove to maintain comfortable temperatures across the full floor area. This is the gold standard combination for a four-season professional glamping experience.
Everything You Need to Know about Stove Safety
A wood burning stove inside a bell tent is perfectly safe when installed and used correctly. Bell Tent Sussex's stove hole flap system is designed with safety as the priority. Follow these guidelines every time.
Always use the purpose-built stove hole flap. Every Bell Tent Sussex model includes this as standard. The reinforced aperture with heat resistant collar is there specifically so that the stovepipe exits safely without any contact with the canvas. Never improvise your own exit point.
Maintain a one-metre clearance around the stove. All bedding, rugs, clothing, furniture, and other flammable materials should be kept at least one metre clear of the stove body at all times. Position the stove away from the centre pole and away from the sleeping area.
Always use a stove fire mat. A fire resistant mat positioned beneath the stove protects the canvas groundsheet from heat transfer and accidental ember fall. This is a basic but non-negotiable accessory available in the Bell Tent Sussex stove accessories range.
Keep ventilation open when the stove is burning. A canvas bell tent with the stove running should always have a small ventilation gap either at the entrance or by lifting the groundsheet edge slightly on one side. Never fully seal the tent with an active fire. Adequate airflow is required for safe combustion.
Install a carbon monoxide alarm. A battery operated CO alarm inside the tent is essential whenever using any combustion heat source indoors. They are inexpensive and could save your life.
Never leave the stove burning overnight. Let the fire reduce to embers before sleeping. The insulating properties of Bell Tent Sussex's cotton canvas mean the tent will stay warm from embers for several hours, you do not need an active fire through the night.
Never use a BBQ or charcoal inside a tent. BBQs and charcoal produce carbon monoxide at dangerous levels even with ventilation. Always use them outdoors, well away from the tent entrance. The Bell Tent Sussex BBQ range is designed for outdoor use alongside your tent setup, not inside it.
Bell Tent Sussex Stove Accessories | Completing Your Setup
A stove alone is not a complete installation. Bell Tent Sussex's stove accessories collection includes everything needed to set up correctly and safely.
Stove fire mat : essential protection for the canvas groundsheet beneath the stove. Placed under the stove before each use.
Angled flashing kit : fits around the stovepipe where it exits through the stove hole flap, creating a weatherproof seal between the pipe and the canvas aperture. Available in different angles to suit the roof pitch of different bell tent sizes.
Stovepipe extensions : allow you to extend the stovepipe height to improve draw and ensure smoke exits cleanly above the tent roofline, particularly useful in low-wind conditions or with larger tent sizes.
All accessories in the Bell Tent Sussex range are chosen for compatibility with their canvas tent and stove collections. For advice on which accessories are needed for your specific setup, call 01323 401400.
Using a Stove With the Bell Tent Sussex Tent Range : What Makes the Difference
Bell Tent Sussex's canvas tents offer something most camping stove buyers overlook until they experience it: the insulating quality of natural cotton canvas. Once a wood burning stove has raised the interior temperature in a Bell Tent Sussex canvas bell tent, the canvas fabric holds that warmth in a way that polyester or polycotton alternatives cannot match.
This is why the combination of Bell Tent Sussex's SGS-certified canvas tents and a properly sized wood burning stove is the preferred setup for professional glamping operators who need to offer genuine four-season comfort to paying guests. The canvas does a significant portion of the thermal work; the stove simply needs to raise the temperature to a comfortable level and the tent takes care of the rest.
Bell Tent Sussex tents are available in sizes suited to every adventure from the lightweight 3m tent for solo campers and couples to the Emperor Tent and specialist models like the Touareg Tent for larger groups. Every model in the range includes the stove hole flap as standard, making every tent in the collection genuinely stove-ready without modification.
For anyone starting a glamping business, Bell Tent Sussex's dedicated glamping site setup pages cover everything from choosing the right tent and stove combination to site layout, planning, and building a viable business model from a canvas camping investment.
Final Thoughts
The right camping stove makes a bell tent usable in every season. Bell Tent Sussex's combination of SGS-certified canvas tents with purpose-built stove hole flaps, a curated stove range matched to their tent sizes, and a full accessories collection means everything you need is available in one place from a team who understands how it all works together.
Explore the full Bell Tent Sussex stove range online with next-day UK delivery available, browse the stove accessories collection to complete your setup, and call 01323 401400 if you want expert advice on which stove suits your specific tent and use case.
FAQs
Do all Bell Tent Sussex tents come with a stove hole flap?
Yes. Every bell tent in the Bell Tent Sussex range includes a purpose-built stove hole flap with heat-resistant collar as standard from the 3m through to the 7m commercial model. There is no need to modify the canvas.
What size stove do I need for a 5m bell tent?
A medium to large output stove is recommended for the 5m bell tent. For a specific model recommendation based on your usage pattern, call the Bell Tent Sussex team on 01323 401400.
Can I use the stove with any of the Bell Tent Sussex tent models?
Yes all Bell Tent Sussex tent models include the stove hole flap and are compatible with the stoves in their range. Dimensions are standardised across the range.
What accessories do I need for a safe stove installation?
At a minimum you need a stove fire mat to protect the groundsheet and an angled flashing kit to weatherproof the stovepipe exit point. Both are available in the Bell Tent Sussex stove accessories collection. A carbon monoxide alarm is also essential.
Can I use a BBQ inside my Bell Tent Sussex bell tent?
No. BBQs and charcoal grills must only be used outdoors. They produce carbon monoxide at levels that are dangerous even in ventilated spaces. Use them outside and well away from the tent entrance at all times.
