Dualit 2 Slice NewGen Classic Toaster

The NewGen Classic is Dualit's long-running two-slice toaster, assembled by hand at the firm's West Sussex factory and stamped with the assembler's individual mark. Its stand-out argument is repairability: the patented ProHeat elements and other parts are replaceable rather than sealed in, so a fault need not mean a new toaster. Rated at 1.2kW, it has extra-wide 28mm slots for thick or artisan bread, a Peek & Pop function to check progress mid-cycle, a slot selector to heat only one side to save energy, plus bagel and defrost settings. The trade-off versus a modern electronic toaster is its character: it uses a mechanical wind-up timer that switches the elements off but does not auto-eject, so you lift the lever yourself and learn your preferred setting. That, plus a price of around £175, makes it a considered purchase rather than an impulse buy. Buy it for longevity and serviceability; if you want push-and-forget automation, the Sage below is the easier daily driver.