Retro fridge freezer buying guide

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Tom Morgan

In this article

Adding a colourful retro fridge freezer to your kitchen can give your home a truly individual look. If you're shopping for a retro fridge freezer, use our expert reviews to buy a model that pairs good looks with ample storage space.

At Which?, we've tried and tested a wide range of retro fridge freezers, paying close attention to how effectively they will cool your groceries.

But choose carefully – some models we've tested are either a poor home for your food, or else have potentially unsafe flammable backing and have been made Which? Don't Buys.

Should I buy a retro fridge freezer?

Adding a retro fridge freezer to your kitchen will give the space an injection of colour and personality. There are lots of styles to choose from and, if you're after a really vibrant colour, you'll be able to pick between deep reds, lime greens and striking oranges.

A retro fridge freezer makes sense if you prefer the look of an older model but don't want to miss out on modern improvements, such as better energy use. They can be pricey, though.

Cream fridge freezers

Our consumer trends research shows that cream-coloured fridge freezers are particularly popular in 2020. A cream fridge freezer might be the way to go if you prefer a subtle look and want your new appliance to blend in seamlessly with your existing cupboards and countertops.

If you're shopping for a cream retro fridge freezer, check out our verdict on the Swan SR11025CN, Smeg FAB50LCR, Gorenje ONRK193C and Stoves STR 60197C Retro.

Where to buy a retro fridge freezer

Most major kitchen appliance stores on the high street stock retro fridge freezers. However, you'll get a better overview of the options (and potentially save money) if you're willing to shop online.

Big-name retailers that stock a wide range of retro fridge freezers include the following:

AO.com – has a wide selection of models to choose from. You can expect to spend anywhere between £300 and £2,000. At the time of writing, AO.com sells retro fridge freezers from Amica, Gorenje, Smeg, Stoves and Swan.
Appliances Direct – sells freestanding retro fridge freezers from Amica, electriQ and Galanz. These are available in 80/20, 70/30 or 60/40 splits between fridge and freezer space. Prices start at around £280 and go up to around £500.
Argos – sells just two retro fridge freezers, both Bush models - at the time of writing the Bush Classic BFFF60 is available in cream or black. Expect to spend around £430.
Currys PC World – currently sells retro fridge freezers from Montpellier, Smeg and Swan in an array of vibrant colours. The cheapest option is the £430 Montpellier MAB345K or the Swan SR11010 in a range of colours , but if your budget allows for it, you can spend as much as £1,800 on a Smeg model.

Swan retro fridge freezers

Swan retro fridge freezers might catch your eye if you don't fancy spending a huge amount.

These retro fridge freezers start at around £430 for the Swan SR11010 70/30 Fridge Freezer and rise closer to £1,000 for the Swan Frost Free Fridge Freezer. There are plenty of colours to choose from, including black, blue, cream, green, grey, lime, orange, pink, red and wine red.

If you're short on space, you might want to take a closer look at Swan's Retro Slimline Fridge Freezer, priced at around £600. It can squeeze into small gaps in your kitchen as it measures 181cm tall and 54cm wide. It has three glass shelves and three freezer drawers.

Promising to add 'cool retro-chic' to your kitchen, Swan makes a range of other retro-inspired appliances – dishwashers, slow cookers and electric ovens – to match the look of its fridge freezer line-up.

We've tested the following Swan retro fridge freezers:

Take a look at our full selection of Swan retro fridge freezer reviews.

Bush retro fridge freezers

Bush sells a single retro fridge freezer, the Bush Classic BFFF60, exclusively through Argos. At the time of writing, there are only two colours in stock - cream or black.

If you want a more striking retro fridge freezer, consider buying from a brand that offers brighter colours.

Bush retro fridge freezers on the Argos website are priced around £430. This buys you a stylish but affordable retro fridge freezer. These retro models come with an internal LED light, chrome metal handles, four fridge shelves and three freezer drawers. The fridge interior (including the rear wall) is made of plastic.

You can take a look at Bush retro fridge freezers on the Argos website.

Servis retro fridge freezers

Some Retro fridge freezers from Servis have a top-mounted design, which means the freezer is positioned at eye level. You can buy a retro Servis fridge freezer from the brand's website in black, cream, pale blue, pistachio green, chilli red or tangerine orange and you can choose different fridge to freezer ratios. There is also a left-handed door option.

All the retro fridge freezers listed on the Servis website are 60cm wide, making them well suited to smaller kitchens.

Smeg retro fridge freezers

Smeg is arguably the most well-known retro fridge freezer manufacturer. As part of its Retro 50's Style collection, Smeg offers free-standing washing machines, coffee machines, juicers, hand blenders and more.

If you're shopping for a Smeg retro fridge freezer, you can pick between models that have the freezer compartment at the top or bottom. But be prepared to spend quite a lot, as prices can climb as high as £2,000 at some retailers.

The 'Fab50' Smeg fridge freezer range (with top freezer) has a claimed fridge capacity of 315 litres and 97 litres of freezer space. Meanwhile, the 'Fab32' range (with bottom freezer) has a claimed fridge capacity of 234 litres and 97 litres of freezer space.

Then there's the 'Fab30' range, featuring a top freezer. These have a claimed fridge capacity of 222 litres and 72 litres of freezer space.

We've tested various Smeg retro fridge freezers, including these:

Unlock our full selection of Smeg retro fridge freezer reviews.

Montpellier retro fridge freezers

Promising a balance of 'function, style and reliability', the retro fridge freezer collection from Montpellier starts at less than £300. Buyers on a budget may want to take a closer look at the MAB144C, MAB148R and MAB148K.

One of the cheapest retro picks is the Montpellier MAB144C Retro Top Mount Fridge Freezer. This fridge freezer is on sale at around £280, with retro-inspired handles, four adjustable shelves, a salad crisper drawer and door storage. It's only available in cream, so you may want to look elsewhere if your kitchen needs an injection of colour on a budget.

At the higher end of the range is the Montpellier MAB365, which will set you back around £570. This retro fridge freezer has a full-width wine rack and a claimed capacity of 209 litres (fridge) and 81 litres (freezer) and comes in red (R), black (K) or cream (C).

Although we haven't tested any retro models from this brand, see how Montpellier's fridge freezers score with our Montpellier fridge freezer reviews.

Gorenje retro fridge freezers

Opt for Gorenje and you'll find yourself looking through a mixture of bottom-mount and top-mount fridge freezers. The bottom-mount models (where the freezer compartment is near the floor) include Gorenje's NoFrost Plus technology, which the brand promises is 'one of the best cooling systems in the market'.

Without a doubt, the most unique-looking retro Gorenje fridge freezer is the OBRB153BL. Inspired by the iconic Volkswagen Type 2 camper van, the front of this special-edition appliance features a large VW logo. Finished with a light-blue and cream colour combination, it has a single door and a claimed capacity of 235 litres (fridge) and 25 litres (freezer).

Depending on the type of Gorenje fridge freezer you choose, you get to pick from the following colours: black, burgundy, silver, cream, fire red, baby blue, juicy orange, olive, apple and copper.

Here are some of the Gorenje retro fridge freezers we've tested in our lab:

Gorenje ONRK193BK (black)
Gorenje ONRK193C (cream)

Visit our Gorenje retro fridge freezer reviews.

Amica retro fridge freezers

Amica sells a range of retro-themed freestanding fridge freezers that have adjustable shelving, lidded dairy compartments and salad crisper drawers.

There are plenty of attention-grabbing colours to choose from, including a stylish duck-egg blue and a deep red. Amica's freestanding, static 30/70 double-door model has a claimed fridge capacity of 164 litres, and 44 litres of space in the freezer.

Visit our Amica retro fridge freezer reviews.

Stoves retro fridge freezers

Stoves only has one model on its website, the STR 60197 Retro, available in black, cream or red.

According to the Stoves website, the STR 60197 Retro has 237 litres of fridge space and 98 litres of freezer space. It's finished off with stylish chrome handles and uses the brand's No Frost technology to prevent the fridge or freezer icing up.

See the results of our rigorous fridge freezer tests below: