Orchard Ovens was founded by owner, Andrew Manciocchi, after he had personally failed to find anyone who could supply a pizza oven for his own garden.  Like many of his customers, Andrew had experienced the joys of the wood-burning oven whilst on his travels, and wished to recreate the experience back home.

Andrew has  abandoned a 20-year career in insurance to bring the Valoriani range of ovens to the UK, where he has sole import and distribution rights through Orchard Ovens, based in Little Hoole a village just outside Preston, Lancashire, where we have our own restaurant, training facility and showroom attached to our warehouse.

The company took the oven to the Southport Flower Show, in August 2004, and caused such a stir that they took the prestigious  Gold Medal   for the best non-horticultural trade stand at the show. In 2008 they featured on a Silver Medal winning stand at Chelsea Flower Show 2008.

Valoriani are the world’s leading manufacturers of domestic and commercial wood-burning ovens and have the reputation of producing the best ovens of their kind in the world.  It is often said that where there is a true pizzeria, there is a Valoriani and our ovens are certainly at the heart of some of the world’s best pizzerias, from London to Australia.  Including The River Café - London (Orchard Ovens Installation), Restaurant Chez Panisse-Berkeley, California, Restaurant Convivio-Santa Cruz and Casinò-Melbourne.

Valoriani are located in Reggello, in the hills of Tuscany, 25 km south-east of Florence, and was founded in 1890, to produce first-class refractory products. This area was the birthplace of “cotto clay”, and of the famous artisan masters who worked with it. To this day hand-craft Valoriani ovens are made from the finest clay, produced from Valoriani’s own mine.  Over 250,000 pre-fabricated, wood-burning ovens have been built and installed by Valoriani since the 1940s alone.

Whilst others try to imitate the Valoriani ovens, these ovens are often fraught with problems.  Those who have also tried to build their own wood-burning oven frequently fail, or suffer disasters along the way.  Orchard Ovens is well aware of this, having to launch many a “rescue mission”, for those who have tried other options, but who finally see the light and install the “real thing”.

Other ovens may also fall foul of emissions regulations, if operated indoors and outdoors, which is not the case with Orchard Ovens’ range, which has permission to operate within even smokeless zones, having been thoroughly tested and awarded a Government Smoke Zone Exemption thanks to its low emissions ratings. Used properly Orchard Ovens are carbon neutral and assist in reducing emissions.

Orchard Ovens has handled many exciting domestic installations its highest profile installations to date are a domestic installation undertaken for celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, in November 2004 an oven he has used regularly on “Jamie at Home”, a domestic installation for James Martin in May 2007  this oven featured in “Jame’s Martins Feasts”  and a domestic installation undertaken for Oscar winning actress and Italian cuisine lover Gwyneth Paltrow all of whom “love” their ovens and remain in regular contact. However one of its most enthusiastic customers to date is Jeff Leary who has lived in the same Preston Council house for 20 years and has added an oven to his much loved garden.