A couple in Gloucestershire are proving that older can be better, as their 90-year-old Electrolux fridge continues to keep food cold during Britain's heatwaves, while modern appliances struggle.
Fridge bought after World War Two still running
The fridge, believed to be the UK's oldest working unit, was built by Electrolux in the 1930s. The current owners, an elderly couple in their 80s from Gloucestershire who have asked not to be named, have had the appliance in the family since 1949, just after World War Two. They paid £49 for the fridge, which is around £2,200 in today's money.
The couple relied on the 2-foot-wide and 3-foot-tall unit during heatwaves in 2021, when their newer fridge-freezer needed replacing. It is still going strong during the 2026 hot spell, when many supermarket fridges stopped working due to record-breaking temperatures.
Outperforming modern appliances and royalty
Many modern appliances struggle to stay cool or fail completely when air temperatures rise above 32°C. But in the family garage in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, the 90-year-old fridge is still keeping food and drink cool. It has also bested the Royal Family. King Charles previously suggested in 2021 that his then 67-year-old Frigidaire appliance at his Castle of Mey residence in Scotland was the oldest still-functioning fridge.
The retro appliance has a clipped metal latch for opening but is limited in space, unable to hold more than 'two coke bottles stacked upon one another'. It was hidden from history until discovered by technicians replacing the couple's faulty fridge-freezer.
Technician confirms quality and workmanship
Adam Kerry, a salesman at John Kerry & Sons, said: 'They were relying on it while their fridge and freezer were broken, probably due to the heat. The couple's parents bought it second hand in 1930 something for £49. That's about £1,800 in today's money. It doesn't keep things chilled as you might expect today. It doesn't have the same energy efficiency. The fridge is tiny. You couldn't buy anything that size today. It's definitely not big enough for the weekly shop. You couldn't fit two coke bottles stacked on one another in there.'
Kerry, 24, added that the fridge had survived for eight decades because of its 'quality' and workmanship. Business owner Jonathan Kerry confirmed the appliance is 'still going strong' after he visited the house again this year.
Owners call it a 'family heirloom'
The unnamed owners said: 'It's an old workhorse. It definitely deserves a long service medal. We use it at Christmas when we need extra space or for storing apples in the summer. It's been very well behaved. We're quite happy to be its guardians for years to come.'
The couple later adopted the fridge and took it with them to Sussex, where they lived for 40 years, before returning to Gloucestershire in 2006. They added: 'It's a family heirloom. We will hopefully pass it down.'
