Calor Gas
A United Kingdom and Ireland supplier of bottled and bulk liquefied petroleum gas.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Calor Gas is a long-established liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) brand serving households, businesses, industrial users and leisure customers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its principal products are bottled butane and propane, bulk propane delivered to fixed storage tanks, and related equipment and services. The brand is especially associated with customers outside the mains natural-gas network, including rural homes that use LPG for central heating, hot water, cooking and fires. It also supplies fuel for commercial and industrial applications, catering, forklifts, caravanning, boating, barbecues and other leisure uses. The business was established in 1935 after Ritchie Gill returned from the United States and identified an opportunity to develop LPG distribution in Britain. Gill created the Calor Gas name and formed Modern Gas & Equipment Co. Ltd. in London in January 1935. The business was transferred to Calor (Distributing) Co. Limited later that year. During its early expansion, Calor built a regional distribution network and introduced LPG as a practical alternative to coal, paraffin and other traditional fuels, particularly in places without access to mains gas. Distribution infrastructure became a defining part of the company’s development. After the severe winter of 1947 exposed the limitations of relying on rail transport, Calor contracted for road delivery of cylinders. It subsequently built filling plants at Saxham, Millbrook and Port Clarence, increasing geographic coverage and operational resilience. In the 1950s the company broadened its consumer proposition through LPG appliances, including the Flavel B500 cooker, while also establishing an industrial division. In 1956 it installed what it described as its first bulk-propane tank at a biscuit factory in Newmarket, marking a transition from a primarily cylinder-based business toward larger-scale energy supply. Calor’s growth accelerated in the 1970s as cabinet heaters became popular and demand for bottled butane increased. The company responded by investing in large storage capacity, including a refrigerated facility at Felixstowe and a major underground storage cavern on South Humberside developed with Conoco. Its domestic central-heating and industrial businesses continued to expand during the 1980s. Calor also pursued automotive LPG through Calor Autogas, although the vehicle-fuel business did not achieve the nationwide scale the company had anticipated. LPG did gain a significant role in forklift applications, supported by the launch of the EPS2000 exhaust-purification system in 1989. Corporate ownership changed during the late twentieth century. Calor became part of the Calor Group after the breakup of Imperial Continental Gas Association, SHV acquired a substantial minority interest in 1988, and SHV acquired the remaining Calor shares in 1997. Calor is now part of the privately owned Dutch SHV Gas Group. The brand has continued to operate as an LPG supplier rather than as a conventional mains-gas utility, combining cylinder exchange and delivery services with bulk-tank installation, monitoring, maintenance and refuelling. Calor’s brand recognition became unusually broad in Britain: for a period, “Calor Gas” was commonly used as a generic expression for bottled LPG cylinders and LPG appliances. In the contemporary market, the company serves domestic, commercial and industrial customers through bottled gas, bulk tanks and associated appliances. It has also maintained community activity, including the Calor Village of the Year competition. In 2023, the company announced plans affecting smaller cylinders and later confirmed that serviceable 3.9-kilogram propane and 4.5-kilogram butane cylinders would continue to be exchanged and refilled after representations from boating and caravanning organisations. That episode illustrates the continuing importance of legacy cylinder formats to leisure users.
History
Calor Gas originated in the British LPG market during the 1930s. Ritchie Gill, a Cornishman who had worked in the United States, returned to England in 1934 and recognised that liquefied petroleum gas could provide a convenient fuel for cooking and heating. He coined the Calor Gas name and established Modern Gas & Equipment Co. Ltd. in London in January 1935. The business was transferred to Calor (Distributing) Co. Limited in August of the same year. The company expanded as LPG became attractive to rural households that lacked mains natural-gas service. By 1939, it had a London head office and five regional offices, while a Scottish operation had also been established. Distribution in Ireland was initially handled by McMullen Ltd., which Calor later acquired. A severe winter in 1947 prompted a major logistics change: rather than depending mainly on rail transport, Calor entered into a road-delivery arrangement for cylinder distribution. Calor built its first wholly owned filling plant at Saxham near Bury St Edmunds. Further plants followed at Millbrook near Southampton in 1956 and Port Clarence near Middlesbrough in 1959. The Millbrook filling plant later closed, although a sales and service centre remained. During the 1950s Calor also developed the appliance side of its business. The Flavel B500 cooker became particularly successful among caravan owners and smaller households. In 1956 the company created an industrial division and installed its first bulk-propane tank at the Meredith & Drew biscuit factory in Newmarket. Calor Ltd. was formed in 1963, and the company moved its head office to Slough in 1966, bringing more than 300 employees to the location. It received a royal warrant in 1967 for supplying LPG to the Royal Household and later received a further warrant connected with Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. In 1969, Imperial Continental Gas Association acquired the shares in Calor that it did not already hold. From the early 1970s, cabinet heaters drove rapid growth in bottled butane. The market for cabinet heaters and their fuel expanded substantially, creating a need for additional storage infrastructure. Calor purchased a large refrigerated storage tank at Felixstowe in 1976 and later developed, with Conoco, a major underground storage cavern on South Humberside. Opened in 1985, the cavern helped the company manage seasonal demand and short-term supply disruption. The 1980s brought continued expansion in domestic central heating and industrial LPG. Calor moved its head office to a large site near Slough in 1982. It also pursued Calor Autogas, a vehicle-propane business that did not reach the expected national scale, partly because of the lack of stronger fiscal support for LPG vehicle fuel. LPG nevertheless became important for forklift trucks, and Calor launched the EPS2000 exhaust-purification system in 1989. Ownership was reorganised in the same period. Imperial Continental Gas Association rejected a takeover approach in 1986, then separated into Calor Group and Contibel in 1987. The Dutch private company SHV acquired 40 percent of Calor Group in 1988 and, after joint ventures involving Calor, SHV and Primagaz in Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, acquired the remainder of Calor’s shares in 1997. Calor subsequently operated within SHV’s international LPG interests. Operational modernisation continued in the early twenty-first century. In 2002, Calor opened a network of customer operations centres across Great Britain. In 2005, it announced the Canvey LNG project, a proposed import and regasification development associated with its Canvey Island terminal. The project involved LNG Japan Corporation and later identified Centrica as a prospective supply partner, although the reference material does not establish that the full proposal was completed. Today, Calor supplies LPG in cylinders and bulk tanks to households, businesses and industrial customers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its service includes tank installation, monitoring and delivery, while cylinder products serve heating, cooking, catering and leisure applications. The company has also supported community initiatives, including the Calor Village of the Year competition. In 2023, proposed changes to small-cylinder availability prompted concern from boating and caravanning users, after which Calor confirmed continued exchange and refill service for specified serviceable cylinder sizes. The same year, it announced a reduction of 114 positions across several functions.
- 2023
Small-cylinder policy revised
[1]After announcing the discontinuation of small-capacity cylinders, Calor confirmed continued exchange and refill service for specified serviceable 3.9-kilogram propane and 4.5-kilogram butane cylinders.
- 2008
First Calor UK Village of the Year announced
[1]The Isle of Barra in Scotland’s Western Isles was announced as the first Calor UK Village of the Year.
- 2002
Customer operations centre network opened
[1]Calor opened 12 customer operations centres at locations across Great Britain.
- 1997
SHV acquires remaining Calor shares
[1]SHV acquired the remainder of Calor’s shares, bringing the brand fully into the SHV group.
- 1988
SHV becomes significant shareholder
[1]SHV acquired 40 percent of Calor Group’s equity.
- 1985
South Humberside storage cavern opened
[1]A storage cavern developed with Conoco opened, providing reported capacity of approximately 100,000 tonnes and improving supply resilience.
- 1976
Felixstowe storage facility acquired
[1]Calor purchased a 30,000-tonne refrigerated LPG storage tank at Felixstowe.
- 1967
Royal warrant granted
[1]Calor received a royal warrant to supply LPG to the Royal Household and later received another warrant associated with Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
- 1963
Calor Ltd. formed
[1]The corporate entity Calor Ltd. was formed as the business continued expanding its LPG operations.
- 1956
Industrial division and bulk propane launched
[1]Calor established an industrial division and installed its first cited bulk-propane tank at a Newmarket biscuit factory.
Products and positioning
A broad-market LPG supplier focused on reliable bottled and bulk energy for off-grid homes, businesses, industry and leisure users.
Bottled LPG
LPG cylinders
Calor supplies bottled butane and propane in multiple cylinder formats for domestic heating, cooking, catering, commercial use and leisure applications. Larger cylinders can be installed in linked packs for higher-demand systems, while smaller formats serve caravans, boats, barbecues and portable appliances. The cylinders use dedicated regulators and are distributed through exchange, refill and delivery arrangements.
Energy supply · 1956
Bulk LPG
Bulk LPG is delivered to customer-owned or Calor-installed storage tanks, which may be positioned above or below ground. The service supports rural homes, commercial premises and industrial facilities requiring fuel for central heating, hot water, cooking, process heat or other energy needs. Tank monitoring can notify Calor when supplies are low so that deliveries can be arranged.
Leisure LPG
Patio Gas
Patio Gas is Calor’s branded propane offering for outdoor leisure uses such as patio heaters, outdoor cooking and barbecues. It is supplied in portable cylinders and forms part of the company’s broader leisure-gas range.
Leisure LPG cylinder · 2008
Calor Lite
Calor Lite was a lightweight steel LPG cylinder introduced for the caravan market in 2008. The product was subsequently withdrawn because of production issues.
Automotive fuel
Calor Autogas
Calor Autogas was the company’s vehicle-propane offering. The business sought broader national adoption, but the reference material states that it did not meet expectations. LPG did achieve more significant use in forklift trucks, where Calor also introduced the EPS2000 exhaust-purification system.
Marketing campaigns
- 2008Calor Village of the Year
England · Scotland · Wales · Northern Ireland
Calor funded and organised a village competition covering the four UK nations. The programme attracted more than 1,000 village entries annually according to the reference material, and the first Calor UK Village of the Year was awarded to the Isle of Barra.
Outcome. The Isle of Barra was announced as the first UK winner.
Brand decisions
2023
Small-capacity cylinder discontinuation and subsequent retentionOtherBackground
Calor announced that it would discontinue small-capacity LPG cylinders, creating concern among boaters and caravanners whose appliances were designed for those sizes.
Action taken
After representations from the Royal Yachting Association, the UK Boat Safety Scheme and wider boating and caravanning communities, Calor stated that it would continue exchanging and refilling serviceable 3.9-kilogram propane and 4.5-kilogram butane cylinders.
Aftermath
The specified legacy cylinder formats remained supported, although the broader small-cylinder product policy was subject to change.
2023
Workforce reductionStrategyBackground
Calor reviewed staffing in its Commercial, Operations and Central Functions departments.
Action taken
The company announced a reduction of 114 positions.
Aftermath
The reference material does not provide further information about the implementation or financial effect of the reduction.
2005
Canvey LNG project announcedStrategyBackground
Calor announced a feasibility study for a strategic LPG import and regasification facility at its Canvey Island terminal.
Action taken
The project was developed with LNG Japan Corporation, with Centrica later identified as a prospective gas-supply partner and potential equity participant.
Aftermath
The reference material describes planning and project development but does not establish that the full facility was completed.
Recent events
- 2023
Calor announces discontinuation of small-capacity LPG cylinders[1]
Product generation
Calor announced that it intended to discontinue certain small LPG cylinder capacities. The decision generated concern among caravanners and boaters whose equipment was designed around those formats.
- 2023
Calor confirms continued service for 3.9-kilogram propane and 4.5-kilogram butane cylinders[1]
Product generation · Other
Following representations from the Royal Yachting Association, the UK Boat Safety Scheme and members of the boating and caravanning communities, Calor stated that it would continue exchanging and refilling serviceable 3.9-kilogram propane and 4.5-kilogram butane cylinders.
- 2023
Calor announces reduction of 114 positions[1]
Leadership change · Other
Calor announced a workforce reduction affecting 114 positions in its Commercial, Operations and Central Functions departments.
Sources2 sources
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