Mothercare Easy-fix Premium Safety Gate > Reviews (1)

I needed something to stop my puppy from tearing upstairs and eating my shoes and the cat's food, but didn't want to strat drilling holes in my 19th century stair post or walls. I looked at various stair gates online but without seeing them in the flesh, couldn't assess the size of the opening - a friend has one that only a supermodel could get through!

Luckliy there is a Mothercare not too far away so I looked at what they had to offer. Although there wasn't one made up on display, a very helpful member of staff took one out of its box so that I could see the complete style. The gate is white metal, so blends in with most surroundings, and has just a bar at the bottom rather than a step which can be difficult to negotiate.

This is a pressure-fit gate (so no holes, screws or glues), just some easily fitted and adjustable soft ended fixings which you screw into place with the included spanner. The basic gate fits openings between 73-80cm, but can fit up to 120cm with extensions available separately. The overall height is 75cm.

I fitted this between a varnished rounded wooden stair post and a wallpapered wall. It took me a little while to get the adjustment correct so that the gate would actually open (too tight and iy won't shift) but it has been up a week now and hasn't budged. You open it by pressing a small button and raising the handle at the same time. I have no trouble operating it one handed.

The gate is normally priced £29.99 but is on offer at the moment for just £19.99. There is a wooden version - but I thought the puppy might chew that.