Abstract Aims Operative management of emergency presentation with a hiatal hernia aims to reduce the herniated stomach, dissect the hernial sac and reapproximate the crura. This will often be followed by fundoplication or gastropexy to minimise the risk of recurrence. This study compares the recurrence rates between patients who underwent fundoplication and gastropexy. Methods From October 2012 to November 2020, 80 patients were admitted to a tertiary oesophagogastric centre requiring emergency surgery to repair a giant hiatal hernia. We conducted a retrospective review and analysis of their admission and follow-up. The primary outcome measure was acute and post-discharge symptomatic recurrence of hiatal hernia. Results Of the 80 patients requiring emergency hiatal hernia surgery, 38% had fundoplication procedures, 53% had gastropexy, and 3% had both (n 30, 42, 2 respectively). One patient had neither, and 6% (n 5) patients had a complete or partial stomach resection due to necrosis. Eight patients (10%) had a symptomatic recurrence of hiatal hernia requiring a repeat operation; three within the index admission, five postdischarge. 50% had undergone fundoplication, 38% underwent gastropexy and 13% underwent a resection (n 4, 3, 1)(p-value 0.5). 19% (n 15) patients were readmitted. Post-operative mortality was 6% (n 5). Conclusions There is no conclusive evidence in the literature favouring fundoplication versus gastropexy. The surgeon's experience and patient factors influence choice of technique. This review, which includes the largest cohort of patients available in the literature, demonstrates that surgical technique does not influence the symptomatic recurrence rate in our patient group.