One couple have proven that older is better when it comes to keeping food cold during Britain’s heatwaves.
While modern fridges struggled to cope during the weeks of sky-high temperatures, one 90-year-old unit had steadily ploughed on.
It is believed to be Britain’s oldest working fridge, and was built by Electrolux in the 1930s.
The current owners – an elderly pair in the 80s from Gloucestershire – 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, who have asked not to be named, relied on the 2-foot-wide and 3-foot-tall unit during heatwaves in 2021, which saw their newer fridge-freezer need replacing.
It is still going strong during the 2026 hot spell, when many supermarket fridges stopped working due to the record-breaking temperatures.
Many modern appliance struggle to stay cool or fail completely when air temperatures rise above 32C.
But in the family garage in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, the 90-year-old fridge is still keeping their food and drink cool.
It has also bested the Royal Family.
King Charles previously suggested in 2021 his then 67-year-old Frigidaire appliance at his Castle of Mey residence in Scotland, was the oldest still functioning fridge.
The 90-year-old retro appliance has a clipped metal latch for opening but is rather limited in space unable to hold more than ‘two coke bottles stacked upon one another’.
It was hidden from the history books until it was discovered by technicians replacing the couple’s faulty fridge-freeze.
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 £1800 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.
The unnamed owners said: ‘It’s an old workhorse. It definitely deserves a long service medal.
‘We use it a 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.’
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