"I knew I had to have one."

Open fire cooking sits at the very heart of cast iron’s history. That’s why we were excited to get a Hornbeam skillet into the hands of Andrew Clarke, the chef behind Acme Fire Cult in Dalston.

Andrew’s restaurant is an unusual one: born during the pandemic, when traditional dining was impossible, he rekindled his love for fire, cooking for hundreds of people outdoors on grills in Hackney. What began as a pop-up experimenting with fire and food eventually found a permanent home in Dalston, evolving into the live-fire experience Acme Fire Cult is known for today.

“The first thing I thought when I saw Hornbeam’s pans was simply how beautiful they looked. I wasn’t in the market for more cast-ironware, but I knew I had to have one.

We gifted Andrew a Hornbeam skillet to test. He tells us it's become a staple for him on and off the flames.

"It’s become my go-to at home – on the hobs, in the oven, or over the fire. The heat distribution is excellent, the finish is lovely, and it feels like a piece you actually want to cook with.”

For Andrew, the pan moves seamlessly between backyard fire and weekday cooking, a reminder that when our tools are simple, solid and reliable we reach for them again and again.