Sapcote Reclining Set in Grey Rattan

Is this comfortable for an afternoon outside, not just a quick coffee?

Yes. Most bistro sets at this size use upright chairs with no recline and a flat table for a mug, and ten minutes in you are back indoors looking for the sofa. We designed this set differently.

Each chair has a side handle by your elbow. Pull it, ease the backrest to the angle that feels right, and the chair locks there. The recline is not limited to three or four preset notches, and it is not a push-back mechanism that springs forward every time you shift your legs. You set the angle deliberately, the chair won't shift, and you stay where you put yourself, whether that is a slight tilt for a cup of tea or fully back for a Sunday afternoon nap. The two footstools come separately, so you can pull them in front of the chairs for the feet-up position, push them to the side as a perch when a friend visits, or tuck them under the table when you need more floor space.

Will it fit a small patio, a relaxation corner, or a balcony?

Yes, usually. The set is modular: two armchairs, two footstools, one bistro table, all standing as separate pieces, so the layout fits whatever shape the corner of your patio happens to be. Chalk the rough area on your slabs before you order, arrange the pieces in the space, and check the route past the back door clears comfortably.

The footstools coming separately is the reason this works on smaller patios. A full sun lounger needs roughly two metres of clear length with no flexibility, which is more than most balconies, terraced courtyards, or new-build patio corners can spare. Here, the footstools pull out for lounging and push away when the floor space matters, so the set scales between an upright morning-coffee layout and a feet-up afternoon-lounger layout in the same footprint.

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. The recline mechanism inside each armchair runs on aluminium components too, which matters because a steel-frame recliner would corrode exactly there, at the moving parts and bolt holes where moisture collects. We also use hand-woven UV-stabilised synthetic rattan, which won't fade, rot or go brittle when left outside year-round. The tempered glass on the bistro table 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.

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

Cheaper reclining bistro sets at this size use steel frames that rust within a couple of winters, particularly at the joints around the reclining mechanism where moisture collects, and they pair the frame with PVC rattan that goes brittle in the sun. The cheaper recline is usually a push-back style that relies on bodyweight and springs forward every time you reach for a drink. You'd be replacing the set sooner and fighting the chair every time you tried to sit still 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, side-handle recline, tempered glass on the table. 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.

Do I need a cover in winter?

A cover is not required for the frame or rattan - they handle frost, rain, and snow without protection. If furniture needs a cover to survive winter, in our view it's not properly weatherproof - it's just outdoor-tolerant. Covers are optional for convenience, but the important job is keeping your cushions stored away when not in use.

Will the grey rattan fade in the sun?

Very little. The rattan is UV-stabilised, which is what stops it fading and going brittle over time. We've seen cheaper, non-UV-stabilised weaves lose colour after a couple of summers - this set is built to avoid that problem.

Is the reclining handle easy to use?

The side handle is built into each armchair - pull it to recline, release to lock in position. In our experience, handle-operated recliners are simpler day-to-day than push-back styles because you're not relying on bodyweight to change position. You can adjust while seated without needing to stand up and resit.

Can I leave this reclining rattan set outside all year?

The aluminium frame cannot rust and the UV-stabilised rattan will not fade or go brittle, so the set stays outside all year round - no cover needed. We advise storing the cushions away when you're not using them, but the frame and rattan are fully weatherproof through every season.

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

Our showroom is at Sapcote Garden Centre in Leicestershire - you can sit in the chairs and try the reclining action for yourself. Our helpful and knowledgeable staff are on hand 7 days a week if you want to talk through fit, care, or how the recline feels in person.

What's included in the Sapcote Reclining Set in Grey Rattan?

Two reclining armchairs with side handles, two separate footstools, one bistro table with a 5mm tempered safety glass top, and cushions - all included. At £724 with delivery included, that is the full price with nothing added at checkout.

Is the table top glass safe for outdoor use?

The table uses 5mm tempered safety glass, which handles temperature swings without cracking. That matters in the UK where you can get warm afternoons and near-freezing nights in the same week - standard glass can struggle with that kind of cycling.

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.

What's the difference between this and cheaper reclining bistro

Two things: materials and how the recline works. The aluminium frame cannot rust - steel corrodes from the inside out through joints and bolt holes. And where cheaper sets use a push-back recline that relies on bodyweight, this set has a dedicated side handle so you can set the angle deliberately and lock it there.

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.