Belling FSE60

The plastic knobs are brittle are break within a year.

The cooktop is not properly sealed so that fluids seep into the inner wiring resulting in blown elements and selector switches.

Belling don't honour their warranties even though clearly a design fault.

I would not buy a Belling again.

We have only had this less than 2 years and now have to replace it.

Bought this to replace Belling Format Cooker which had given good service for 20 years!

Cooker has good clean lines with large bottom oven which fits in well with kitchen decor. Lower Oven cooks well.

However as there is no back light on the main panel it requires a torch to be able to read the temperature scales on the two oven switches.

The top oven when used as a Grill only has 3 heat settings so it is difficult to adjust the actual temperature that you require; in addition it takes considerable practise to acquire the knack of attaching the grill pan handle.

The hob has 4 hotplate elements which have six settings rather than a variable control so its not very practical trying to simmer saucepans which require low heat input.

There is no warning light on the hob to warn one that it is still hot after switching an alement off.

Overall a few minor improvements would have made this a very acceptable cooker.

Got this cooker less than a month ago after Belling assured me this was the modern equivalent of the 600R2 which we had for 25 years with no major issues. The old one worked perfectly OK until the hob cooling fan went.

It`s a nice looking piece of kit at a good price. There are a few oddities about it compared with the old one. Some of the controls increase heat clockwise (Oven, top oven) but some work anti clockwise-strange. The temperature settings are hard to read as there are no lights. The grill does not have infinitely variable temperature, just 3 settings. You can`t have the grill door down AND open the main oven door. AND THEN-The main oven door inner glass EXPLODED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This cooker seemed to tick most of my boxes.

I'm now disabled so have to watch my budget. Although it wasn't the cheapest thing around, it looked nice enough, is an old brand, so I took the plunge.

After a couple of days, I made a curry, & was so annoyed that the sauce started to burn.

The very lowest setting on any of the hob rings won't allow this unit to actually simmer things.

As an ex hotelier/cook I make a lot of sauces, curries, stews, bolognaise etc so it is essential for my cooker to allow this.

I tend to leave casseroles, stews, curries simmering all day (or all night).

I contacted Belling who told me that "none of our models will simmer" !!! I was astounded at the very least to hear that they actually make cookers that won't simmer.

They also told me that I shouldn't leave my cooking 'unattended' !?!?

Although a nice enough looker for a basic cooker, both the lack of this feature, and the attitude of Belling put me right off. After almost 20 messages to & fro, the retailer did take it back - eventually - but it was a struggle that I could have done without.

Am still after a decent Double Oven / Induction Hob and would appreciate recommendations.