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In this Neptune kitchens review, we look at what makes this brand so special and unique. Find out how Neptune compares to other UK kitchen brands, and whether it’s worth the considerable price tag.
Founded in the early 2000s, Neptune produces 4 solid timber fitted kitchen collections: Chichester, Suffolk, Henley and Borough. The brand takes inspiration from iconic English designs, and all its ranges, with the exception of Borough, have a traditional aesthetic.
Neptune kitchens are produced in 3 workshops in the UK and China. Neptune also manufactures its own kitchen accessories, such as bar stools, taps and sinks. All Neptune cabinets are handmade at one of the workshops before being custom-painted.
Neptune kitchens are made using solid wood: tulipwood or oak. As these timbers tend to shift, hardwood ply sheets are added to the central panels to create a strong frame to which hinges and hardware can be affixed.
Each kitchen cabinet door is constructed with 2 stiles, 2 rails and 1 central panel. Work surfaces include granite, Carrara marble, quartz, ceramic and pure oak. Cabinetry is made in China, but Neptune’s design and manufacturing teams are located in the UK.
Neptune’s bespoke design service lets you create a kitchen that’s completely unique. For example, you can combine cabinetry from different ranges and select interesting finishes. Neptune will repaint your cabinets according to your specific preferences.
A Neptune kitchen is a considerable investment, so carefully consider whether this brand is a good fit for you, your home and your budget.
To get started with Neptune, visit a local store or book an appointment online for a free 90-minute consultation. During this session, the designer will discuss your ideas and provide lots of inspiration. You’ll also be able to view the kitchen ranges up close in the showroom.
From there, you can follow up with Neptune’s full design service, which comes with a £350 fee (which will be deducted from your final invoice should you go ahead with your purchase). The designer will visit your home to take measurements and make recommendations. You’ll also be provided with 3D plans and elevations so you can visualise the space down to the last detail. The designer will also help you choose appliances, flooring, tiles and paint.
Once you are satisfied with everything, you’ll need to pay a 20 per cent deposit and settle the full amount 21 days before your kitchen is fitted.
It takes between three to four weeks to complete your kitchen, including one week to fit the cabinetry, and 10 working days to template the worktops and tailor-make your cabinets and tops to your kitchen’s layout. It will take another week to fit and finish the kitchen, including hand-painting the cabinet doors and ends.
You can use your own fitters to complete the installation, but Nepute offers a lifetime guarantee if the kitchen is installed by one of their approved fitters. All Neptune fitters undergo weeks of training by installation experts and designers to achieve accreditation.
If you want a luxurious, high-end kitchen, but you don’t want to be limited to the traditional aesthetic that Neptune offers, Magnet is your best bet. The company offers 18 kitchen ranges in 3 styles with luxurious finishes, full design consultation and comprehensive aftercare support.
Those on a budget may want to consider IKEA fitted kitchens, which start just over £600. The quality is not as high as Neptune and Magnet, but the price and range of options are very appealing.
Neptune kitchens are not cheap. According to their Kitchen Inspiration brochure, you can expect to pay at least £8,000 for your cabinetry, but this can vary depending on your chosen range, customisation, accessories and paintwork.
| Kitchen supplier | Estimated cost of an 8-unit fitted kitchen (excluding installation) |
|---|---|
| Neptune | From £11,000 |
| IKEA | £627 to £1,200+ |
| Wickes (Lifestyle ranges) | £979 to £1,300+ |
| Magnet Kitchens | £2,487 to £7,600+ |
| B&Q | £1,053 to £2,798 |
| Wren Kitchens | £1,796 to £4,671 |
Neptune produces a range of aftercare products that customers can use to keep their timber kitchens in tip-top condition, including treatment oils and the IsoGuard Care Kit (for unpainted wood).
Painted Neptune kitchen units are made from tulipwood, which is relatively easy to repaint if needed. The company uses water-based eggshell paint, which can be cleaned by simply dusting or wiping the surface clean with a damp cloth. Scuffed or chipped paint can be sanded down with 320-grit sandpaper, wiped and then repainted. Deep chips will need to be filled with wood filler before sanding and repainting.
Neptune kitchens has a solid reputation for great products and customer care, as reflected by its 4.7-star Trustpilot rating. There are some complaints about the quality of smaller products sold by Neptune, rather than kitchens themselves.
“Working with all the team at Neptune made the whole experience of having a new kitchen fitted very easy. Their customer service was exemplary from design planning ideas, the whole fitting and snagging process, through to finishing touches and follow up. They were all quick, efficient and professional at all times… and our new kitchen is super quality….and looks fantastic … thankyou!”
“The items I purchased are great, no complaints at all. I love the Neptune range. The issue I had was, never receiving any communication from Neptune even confirming my order had been received. I received nothing, then one day after several weeks a courier turned up with the box. Quite unusual to buy products and not receive a confirmation of order email with expected delivery time frame. I was unsure if any of it was actually coming.
Neptune kitchens are handmade from high-quality timber and backed by a very rare lifetime guarantee when an approved-installer is used.
The company is very customer-orientated and will help you throughout the process. It also sells a range of complementary furnishings and accessories, including bar stools, sinks and appliances, so that you can complete your entire kitchen with just one supplier.
The brand doesn’t offer many design choices, but timber cabinets are highly customisable and you can use their bespoke design service to mix and match to your heart’s content.
If you are looking for a timber kitchen that will last a lifetime and you have a generous budget, Neptune is the way to go.
Neptune kitchens start around £11,000 for 8 units, but that’s just for the cabinetry and excludes installation costs. Overall, you can expect to pay around £15,000 for a fitted kitchen for Neptune.
Our home experts certainly think so! While they come with a high price tag, Neptune kitchens are handmade from durable, high quality materials.
To compile this Neptune kitchens review, we read hundreds of customer reviews online and consulted professional forums and media opinion pieces. We then rated the company using a 100-point scoring system to evaluate product quality and range alongside customer experience.
We compiled Neptune’s score as follows: