Kenwood Chef or Kitchenaid, or door number 3?

My husband and I have recently become fanatics about fresh homemade pasta.  Plus, I want to start making our own bread (testing it in the Uuni, but baking for real when we have a kitchen with proper oven).  Those points, along with all the pizza bases, have caused me to fully appreciate just how old my hands are, and how feeble I am.

I may be a year away from needing it ( ), but I am starting the research now because when we do finally have a kitchen, I will be getting an appliance to do the kneading for me, and I want to have already done my research so I can just get what I need when the time comes.  So my question is, pretending cost is not a factor (it is, but let's pretend it isn't), and I want something heavy-duty enough to knead pasta and bread dough without stripping (plastic?) gears, what should I be looking at?

Anybody have any good experiences?  Bad experiences?  Things to look out for?

(I bring this up now because I just made some pasta for tonight's dinner, and my hands ache.    )

I bake bread regularly (once every week or two) and make pizza occasionally.

I have a KitchenAid Artisan and I love it. It's not cheap and it's true you can do without it, but it makes kneading (and clean up) so much easier.

I got mine from John Lewis and had an issue with the one that came in the order, but they replaced it swiftly. John Lewis has a great guarantee - two years for KitchenAid products, which is the same that you get with KitchenAid directly, but means you can give it to John Lewis and have then arrange the replacement for you.

I got mine a few years ago when it was on offer around Christmas. Sometimes they have free add-ons (I've seen meat grinder attachment and ice cream maker attachement). Mine came with the ice cream attachment. I haven't used it, but it was free! They have a pasta attachment, but I don't know if it's ever the free add-on.

Don't forget that I posted the best buy recommendations from Which magazine on another thread that Nan started. Or you can just get a free trial of Which.com for yourself.  Definitely worth it if you are buying lots of big ticket items

Don't forget that I posted the best buy recommendations from Which magazine on another thread that Nan started. Or you can just get a free trial of Which.com for yourself.  Definitely worth it if you are buying lots of big ticket items

I'll search for that thread when I'm on my laptop later.  Thanks, Jimbo.

Right now, we're leaning toward Kenwood Chef (mid-range), I think.  But we've got a year or better to research this.

I'll search for that thread when I'm on my laptop later.  Thanks, Jimbo.

Right now, we're leaning toward Kenwood Chef (mid-range), I think.  But we've got a year or better to research this.

I have a Kenwood Chef Classic, which I'm happy with (though I only use it for baking and not bread/pizza)... then again, I've never used KitchenAid and mainly got a Kenwood because that's what my family has always used.

I had a KitchenAid in the USA which I loved.  But I didn't use it for dough.

Costco sells the Kenwood, so it must be good.   

https://www.costco.co.uk/Appliances-Security/Small-Kitchen-Appliances/Food-Processors-Mixers/Kenwood-Chef-Stand-Mixer-46L-KVC3100W-in-White/p/370000

I've never used KitchenAid and mainly got a Kenwood because that's what my family has always used.

I'm the opposite - I've never used a Kenwood and got a KitchenAid because that's what everyone in my family has in the US.

I've been looking at the Kenwood Chef longingly. We need far more organised storage for me to get it though. I did get a von chef food processor that has a dough blade. I've uses a regular food processor blade for pie dough before but obviously gluten free dough in general is much different than its wheat counterpart as there's really no kneading.

I've got a Magimix that I've had for 11-12 years. I think some of the blades are getting dull, so I just googled for replacement blades....ZOMG!!!    They're like £40 each!!!   

Had (have) a Kitchenaid in the US and did use the doughhook on occasion - that thing always seemed indestructible. I now have a Kenwood food processor and while it works fine there are little bits about it that make me miss my Cuisanart and wish I had bought that here instead.

Re: bread - my parents can't knead dough anymore but instead what they do is use the bread machine for all the mixing and kneading and then take the dough out and pop it into proper loaf pans and bake them as normal. Would it be possible to get a second hand bread machine for the next year?

Re: bread - my parents can't knead dough anymore but instead what they do is use the bread machine for all the mixing and kneading and then take the dough out and pop it into proper loaf pans and bake them as normal. Would it be possible to get a second hand bread machine for the next year?

That's not a bad idea, except we don't have the space right now.  And once we have the space (a kitchen!), I'll get the mixer and be done.

Your cuisinart is a food processor, not a stand mixer, right?  Or is this a door #3 to consider?

Based on the responses so far, it sounds like both brands are probably up to the task... I think it'll come down to what offer looks best when we're ready.

Whichever brand you go for, I'd highly suggest getting it from John Lewis unless you find an amazing deal somewhere else. The warranty at John Lewis is great.

John Lewis will match prices for anything you find in another brick-and-mortar store. (Not online stores.) So if you find a mixer you like cheaper than JL and JL carries it, there's a form you can fill out when you go into JL and they'll match the price - plus then you get the JL warranty and service! 

John Lewis will match prices for anything you find in another brick-and-mortar store. (Not online stores.) So if you find a mixer you like cheaper than JL and JL carries it, there's a form you can fill out when you go into JL and they'll match the price - plus then you get the JL warranty and service! 

Oh, that is useful information.  Nearest JL is in Cardiff, but that's fine if I'm getting a good price and an excellent warranty.

Oh, that is useful information.  Nearest JL is in Cardiff, but that's fine if I'm getting a good price and an excellent warranty.

I totally forgot about the price match (nice one, Nan!), but I think you can get the price match with an online order if getting it delivered makes it easier.

I've also gone to the physical John Lewis store and purchased something for home delivery (paid in cash there and it was delivered the next day for no additional cost). I was expecting to have to lug it home on the Tube, so the home delivery option was a pleasant surprise.