Sapcote Reclining Set in Natural 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 where it 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, 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 nap. We pair the chairs with 10cm back cushions, the depth that holds its shape across long sits rather than compressing under your shoulders within half an hour.

The two footstools come separately, so they pull in front of the chairs for the feet-up position, push to the side as a perch when a friend visits, or tuck under the table when floor space matters.

Will the natural rattan fade or yellow in the sun?

Very little, because the weave is UV-stabilised. Cheaper natural rattan that has not been UV-treated goes chalky, loses the warmth in the cream tone, and starts cracking at the weave joints inside a couple of summers. Our hand-woven rattan is treated with compounds that absorb UV light before it can break down the polymer, so the natural doesn't fade for years.

The cream colour sits warm against traditional paving, warm brick, or a sandstone wall, which is why customers choose it over the charcoal default when their garden leans classic rather than contemporary.

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. 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. The hand-woven weave doesn't degrade through outdoor year-round use, and the 5mm tempered glass on the bistro table doesn't crack in British winters the way ordinary glass can.

This means you can leave the structure outside through the whole year. No cover, no storage, no £50 to £100 you'd otherwise spend on one. 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, and they pair the frame with natural-look PVC weave that fades and cracks in the sun. The cheaper recline is usually a push-back style that springs forward every time you reach for a drink. You'd be replacing the set sooner and dealing with rust streaks on your paving 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, 10cm cushions, side-handle recline, 5mm 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 you have a showroom where I can see it before I buy?

Our showroom is at Sapcote Garden Centre in Leicestershire - you can sit on the furniture before you decide. Our helpful and knowledgeable staff are here 7 days a week if you want advice on comfort, materials, or whether a reclining set will fit your patio.

Are the cushions waterproof?

No - and deliberately so. We avoid stiff plastic-coated cushions because they feel clammy, trap heat, and the coating cracks after a couple of summers in UV. These cushions are designed for comfort. Store them indoors or in a storage box when not in use and they'll last years.

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

The frame and the recline mechanism. The aluminium frame cannot rust, meaning you can leave the set outside all year round. Cheaper sets are often steel-frame, and in our experience they can start rusting around joints and bolt holes after a couple of wet winters. You also get a handle-operated recline and matching footstools included.

Is this a natural rattan set or a grey rattan set?

Natural-effect. The product is sold as "Natural Rattan", and it's intended to give you that warmer rattan look rather than a dark, flat grey finish. The weave is HDPE UV-stabilised synthetic rattan, so you get the look people want from natural rattan with the durability needed for UK weather.

Can I leave this reclining set outside all year?

The frame and rattan can stay outside all year round with no cover needed - the aluminium cannot rust and the rattan is UV-stabilised. The cushions are different: we advise storing them away when you're not using the set to keep them at their best.

How comfortable is it for a long afternoon outside?

The 10cm back cushions and reclining chairs make a real difference over a standard upright bistro set. You can adjust the backrest with the side handle and put your feet up on the footstools - our customers tell us that's what turns a quick sit into a proper afternoon outside.

What exactly is included in the Sapcote Reclining Set?

Everything you need for the set shown: 2 reclining chairs, 2 footstools, 1 bistro table with a 5mm tempered safety glass top, and cushions included. Delivery included as part of the price, plus a 3-Year Guarantee.

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.