Sapcote Reclining Set in Dark Grey 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 usually 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. 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 dark grey rattan look right on my patio?

It depends what your patio looks like. Dark grey sits well with anthracite porcelain tiles, grey slate paving, charcoal composite decking, and the kind of contemporary garden where the planting leans architectural: ornamental grasses, agapanthus, structural evergreens. The set reads as part of the patio in that context rather than sitting on top of it.

If your patio is warm-tone block paving, timber decking, or sandstone surrounded by cottage planting, our Sapcote range in brown is the variant we would point you at instead. Dark grey is for the garden where you want the furniture to read as architecture; brown is for the garden where you want it to settle in alongside the planting. 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, and there would be a seized recline mechanism and rust streaks on your paving .

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.

Do I need a cover for this set in winter?

No cover needed. The aluminium frame cannot rust and the rattan is weatherproof, so both stay outside through winter without protection. A cover is optional if you want a cleaner surface when spring arrives, but it's for convenience - not survival. The one thing to keep on top of is storing the cushions between uses.

Is the table top glass safe for outdoor use?

The table top is 5mm tempered safety glass - heat-treated to handle temperature swings far better than standard glass. In the UK, where warm afternoons and frosty nights can happen in the same week, that's the difference between a table top that lasts and one that cracks.

Why is this reclining bistro set more expensive than other 2-sea

It comes down to the materials and the chair function. You're getting two reclining chairs on an aluminium frame that cannot rust - not static steel chairs that corrode after a couple of winters. Steel-frame sets are the ones we see customers replacing after 2–3 seasons, while aluminium-framed sets like this are chosen by people who want to buy once and keep it for years.

Can I leave the Sapcote reclining set outside all year round?

The frame and rattan are both made for year-round outdoor use - aluminium cannot rust and the rattan is UV-stabilised, so neither will degrade through winter. We advise storing the cushions away when you're not using them, but that's the only regular task. No cover needed for the frame.

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 included in the Sapcote Reclining Set in Dark Grey rattan

Two reclining chairs, one table with a 5mm tempered safety glass top, and cushions included. Delivery included in the price - no surprise charges at checkout. Everything arrives together so you can set it up and sit down the same day.

Will the Stone Grey/Dark Grey rattan fade in the sun?

The rattan is UV-stabilised, which is specifically what prevents fading and brittleness over time. PVC rattan - the cheaper type used on many budget sets - breaks down in sunlight and can look tired after a couple of summers. UV-stabilised rattan is made to hold its colour through years of direct sun.

Can I see this set in person before I buy?

Our showroom at Sapcote Garden Centre in Leicestershire has this set on display - you can sit in the chairs and try the recline before you decide. We've been here since 2001, so unlike online-only retailers, there's a real place you can walk into. Our helpful and knowledgeable staff are available 7 days a week.

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.