Sapcote Reclining Set in Brown Rattan

Is the recline actually useful, or one of those notched things with three preset angles?

It is actually useful. The side handle on the chair arm controls the backrest, and the chair locks at whatever angle you stop on rather than clicking through three or four presets. We designed this set differently from the notched recliners that you find in the cheap end of the category.

A notched recliner gives you three preset angles, and you usually find that none of them is quite the angle your back wants. With a side handle, you pull, the back tilts, you let go where it feels right, and the chair locks. Reach for a mug, shift to talk, lean back further when the sun comes round, and the chair stays where you set it instead of springing forward on you. In our experience, this is the difference between a chair you sit in every afternoon and one you give up on after a couple of weeks.

Is it really all-weather, no cover needed, including the recline mechanism?

Yes, and the mechanism question matters more on a reclining set than on a fixed one. 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. Every hinge, pivot and bolt point in the recline mechanism is aluminium too, which is the part that matters: a steel-frame recliner corrodes exactly there, where moisture collects. The mechanism on a steel recliner stiffens then seizes mid-recline inside two or three wet seasons, even when the rest of the frame still looks fine. We also use hand-woven 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.

Does brown rattan look dated next to a modern garden?

It depends what your garden looks like. Brown sits well with timber decking, brick patios, sandstone paving, and any garden where the planting is already doing some of the visual work: lavender, ornamental grasses, mature shrubs. Brown reads as part of the garden in that context rather than sitting on top of it.

If your patio is modern paving in a grey-scale palette with minimal planting, our Sapcote range in charcoal is the variant we would point you at instead. Brown is for the garden where you want the furniture to settle in alongside the planting; charcoal is for the garden where you want the furniture to read as architecture. Both are UV-stabilised, so the colour doesn't fade for years, where untreated rattan fades out within two summers.

How does this compare to other reclining sets at this price?

Cheaper reclining sets at this size use steel frames that rust within two winters, and the rust is usually worst at the hinges and bolt holes where moisture collects. They also pair the frame with PVC rattan that goes brittle in the sun. You'd be back shopping for a replacement set inside three years, with a seized recline mechanism and rust streaks in the meantime.

Considering a brand-name reclining set at £1,500 or more? You'd be paying mainly for the marketing and the polished website. The actual furniture is almost exactly the same as ours: aluminium frame, UV-stabilised rattan, 5mm tempered glass. We design our own Sapcote range and sell it direct from our family-run Leicestershire showroom since 2001, without the excessive markup of big name brands.

Why is this set more expensive than other 2-seater rattan bistro

It's mainly the frame and the recline. You're paying for an aluminium frame that cannot rust - so it can stay outside all year - and a mechanical reclining system you adjust with a side handle. In our experience, lower-cost steel-frame sets often need replacing after 2–3 seasons once rust gets into the joints, so the cost per year of use is often lower with this set.

Can I leave this reclining set outside all year round?

The frame is aluminium, which cannot rust, so the furniture stays outside all year round with no cover needed. The HDPE rattan is UV-stabilised, meaning it handles sun exposure without fading or going brittle. We advise storing the cushions when you're not using them - that's the only maintenance.

Do the chairs recline with a handle or do you push back?

Each chair has a side handle that lets you adjust the backrest angle and lock it where you want. Unlike push-back recliners that rely on bodyweight, the handle holds your position - so the chair stays put when you reach for a drink or shift to chat. Most customers find this more comfortable for daily use.

Does the table come with glass, and is it safety glass?

The coffee table comes with a 5mm tempered safety glass top. We use tempered glass on all our sets because it handles outdoor temperature swings - frost to sun - better than standard glass. It gives you a flat, wipe-clean surface for drinks and snacks.

Will the brown rattan fade in the sun?

Fading and cracking are far more common on lower-cost PVC weaves, especially on south-facing patios after a couple of summers. This set uses UV-stabilised HDPE rattan - high-density polyethylene - which holds its colour and resists going brittle in strong sun. In our experience, HDPE keeps its appearance for years.

What's included with this reclining set?

Everything you need for two people to sit and recline. You get two reclining chairs with side-handle recline, one coffee table with a 5mm tempered safety glass top, and cushions included. Delivery is included in the price, so there are no surprise charges at checkout.

How much assembly is required?

Hardly any. Slot each backrest into its seat and you're done. No tools, no screws, no fittings. The table arrives assembled and ready to use.

Can I leave the cushions out in the rain?

We advise storing the cushions indoors or in a cushion box when not in use. We avoid stiff plastic-coated cushions because they feel clammy, trap heat, and the coating cracks after a couple of summers in UV. Keeping them dry and stored is the simplest way to keep them comfortable for years.

Do you have a showroom where I can try the chairs?

Our showroom at Sapcote Garden Centre in Leicestershire has the chairs on display, so you can sit down and test the recline yourself. Our helpful and knowledgeable staff are in 7 days a week - or call us on 01455 274748 if you'd like advice before visiting.

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.