Sapcote Companion Set in Grey 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 grey 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 bleaches 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.

What's the difference between this and cheaper grey rattan compa

The frame material is the biggest difference. This set uses aluminium, which cannot rust - many cheaper companion sets use steel frames hidden under the rattan, and we've seen customers replacing them after a couple of wet winters when corrosion works through the joints. The cushions are thicker too - budget sets often use thinner padding to keep the price down, and you feel the difference after 30–40 minutes of sitting.

Can I leave the Sapcote Companion Set outside all year round?

The frame and rattan are made for year-round outdoor life - aluminium cannot rust and the UV-stabilised rattan won't fade or go brittle. Leave the structure outside through every season with no cover needed. The one care step is storing the cushions away when you're not using the set.

Do I need a cover for winter?

A cover isn't needed. If furniture requires a cover to survive winter, that's a design shortcoming, not normal maintenance. The aluminium frame and UV-stabilised rattan on this set handle rain, frost, and snow without protection. A cover is optional if you want to keep leaves off, but the real care step is simply bringing the cushions indoors.

Is the grey rattan likely to fade in the sun?

UV-stabilised rattan is specifically treated to resist sun damage - it won't fade, crack, or go brittle with prolonged exposure. In our experience, UV stability is the difference between rattan that stays flexible and keeps its colour for years and cheaper weave that starts splitting after a couple of summers.

Is the table top safe and practical for everyday use?

The 5mm tempered safety glass handles temperature swings - hot afternoon to cold night - without cracking the way standard glass can. It's a solid, wipe-clean surface for mugs and plates, and if it ever does break, it fractures into small blunt pieces rather than sharp shards.

What's included with the Sapcote Companion Set in Grey Rattan?

Two seats, the central angled table with a 5mm tempered safety glass top, and cushions - all included. Delivery included in the price as well, so there are no surprise charges at checkout. The set also comes with a 3-Year Guarantee.

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

Our showroom at Sapcote Garden Centre in Leicestershire has this set on display - come and sit on it before you decide. Our helpful and knowledgeable staff are here 7 days a week and happy to walk you through frame materials and cushion care, the two things that matter most for how long your furniture lasts.

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.