I too have a solid fuel stove in my living room. They are an absolute god-send.
Ok, so I have to clean it out every morning but hey, it's heating most of the house for nothing.
There is wood everywhere it's just a case of collecting it and keeping it in dry storage.
There are many smokeless coals available from your local coal merchant. They burn hotter for longer than softwood. I have tried them all and have found a brand called Supertherm to be the best.
We only use the Gas boiler for hot water and occasionally turn on the heating.
There is a lot to be said for solid fuel, it keeps your gas bills down for one.
If my stove was a boiler type that heated the water as well as the room I would have the gas disconnected altogether. I really do object to paying Britich Gas' ever increasing rip-off prices.