Sapcote Companion Set in Brown Rattan

Is the angled set-up actually different from a straight bench?

Yes. On a straight Jack-and-Jill bench, both of you face the garden, both of you stare straight ahead, and after twenty minutes one of you is twisting your neck to hold a conversation. We designed this set differently.

The two chairs sit at an angle and meet across the table, so you naturally turn toward each other when you talk and your mug or glass sits within reach on the tempered glass top rather than balanced on a chair arm. The angled layout is the reason customers buy a companion set instead of two folding chairs and a side table from the shed: this set is set up for morning coffee or an evening drink for two, not a chair pulled in from inside.

Will it fit a small patio or balcony?

Yes, usually. The shallow V-shape sits in a footprint of roughly two metres by one metre, with clearance behind each chair for walking past. Mark the footprint out with masking tape on the slabs first if your space is tight, that's usually enough to confirm the fit before you order.

Compared with a four-seater dining set, this companion footprint frees up the rest of a small patio for planters, a path, or a back-door swing. The scale suits a balcony, a sun-trap corner, or a terraced courtyard where a larger set would crowd the space.

Is it really all-weather, no cover needed?

Yes. The frame is aluminium, which cannot rust, and we use a 0.2mm powder coating, two to three times thicker than what most aluminium garden furniture carries, so the coating doesn't break down through wet winters and freezing nights. We also use UV-stabilised synthetic rattan, which won't fade, rot or go brittle when left outside year-round. The 5mm tempered safety glass top doesn't crack in British winters the way ordinary glass can.

This means the structure is fully weatherproof and doesn't need a cover or storage, so it saves you the hassle and the £50 to £100 a cover would cost. In our experience, customers come back ten or fifteen years later saying their rattan is just as good as when they first bought it.

Cheaper brown companion sets at this size hide a steel frame under the weave that rusts at the joints and bolt holes within a couple of wet winters, and they pair it with PVC rattan that fades to a washed-out beige and cracks in the sun. You'd be back shopping for a replacement set inside three years, and there'll be orange streaks across your paving in the meantime. We design our own Sapcote range and sell it direct from our family-run Leicestershire showroom since 2001, so you get reasonable prices without the excessive markup of big name brands.

Can I leave this companion set outside all year round?

The frame and rattan can stay outside all year round - no cover needed. Aluminium cannot rust, and the rattan is UV-stabilised so it holds its colour and shape through sun and rain. The only part we advise bringing in is the cushions, which stay fresh and dry when stored away between uses.

Do you have a showroom where I can see it before I buy?

Our showroom at Sapcote Garden Centre in Leicestershire has the Sapcote range on display. You can sit on the set, see how the angled layout feels, and ask our helpful and knowledgeable staff anything about the materials or long-term care. We're open seven days a week.

Will the brown rattan fade in the sun?

The rattan is UV-stabilised HDPE, which is specifically what prevents fading and brittleness from sun exposure. Over 25 years of selecting rattan furniture, UV stability is one of the first things we look for - it's what keeps the brown weave looking consistent season after season rather than washing out or going brittle.

Why is this set more expensive than similar companion sets I've

The main difference is the frame. This set uses an aluminium frame, which cannot rust - unlike steel frames that corrode from the inside out through joints and bolt holes after a couple of wet winters. Add UV-stabilised HDPE rattan and a 5mm tempered safety glass top, and the set is built to stay outside for years without needing replacement. In our experience, that's where the real value sits.

Can I leave the cushions outside if it rains?

We advise storing them away when you're not using the set. Over two decades we've found that "waterproof" cushions feel clammy, trap heat, and the coating cracks after a couple of summers in UV (we avoid stiff plastic-coated cushions!). A storage box or bringing them indoors keeps them in good condition for years.

Does the Sapcote Companion Set come as separate pieces or one un

The Sapcote companion layout has two seats and a central table arranged so the seating angles inward. Whether yours arrives as connected pieces or separate units depends on the specific design, but the layout works the same either way - the angled position is what makes conversation feel natural once it's set up.

What's included with this set?

Two chairs, the angled central table, a 5mm tempered safety glass top, and cushions - all included. Delivery is included in the price as well, and the set comes with a 3-Year Guarantee. Everything you need to use it straight away, with nothing extra to buy.

How much assembly is required?

None at all. The whole set, including the middle table section, arrives fully assembled. Unbox it, set it out, and you're ready.

Delivery is included in the price, 3-7 working days to mainland UK. Your furniture is delivered on pallets via our courier, and we'll email you a timed delivery window so you're not waiting around all day.

Worth knowing: our courier delivers to the kerbside or driveway, they won't take items around the back of the house, and the pallet and boxes are left with you. If you'd prefer a white-glove delivery with set-up and rubbish taken away, get in touch and we can usually help.

We dispatch from our Leicestershire garden centre. "In stock" means we have it here, ready to send, not drop-shipped from a third-party warehouse.

Returns: if you're not happy, let us know within 7 days and you can return it within 30 days for a refund (minus return delivery costs). The furniture must be in its original condition and packaging, and we'll arrange the collection with you.