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We’re crossing our fingers for a heatwave again this year. When it does come, make sure your garden is summer-ready for moving life outside.
We’ve found a range of dining tables and chair sets so you can dine in style in the garden or on the balcony. From Homebase’s compact bistro set for two to Furniture Village’s smart Aintree range, there should be something for every space.
Click on the gallery to see the IndyBest buys
10 best outdoor dining setsShow all 10 1 /1010 best outdoor dining sets 10 best outdoor dining sets Laura Ashley 4-Seat This English country-style set will add a bit of elegance to outdoor proceedings. Featuring a folding table and folding chairs, it’s easy to store during the winter and you can complete the set by buying the parasol, base and seat pads. You can maintain it with teak oil.
£499 homebase.co.uk
10 best outdoor dining sets Very Barcelona 8-Piece Don’t let the name fool you as there’s actually only six seats included in this set. The other two “pieces” are the table and parasol. But that should still provide ample room for family or friends. It’s easy to put together and the seats are comfy, while the table glass is tempered for extra safety.
£299, very.co.uk
10 best outdoor dining sets Furniture Village Aintree 8-Seat Stylish and chic, this sizeable luxurious set is ideal for enjoying a morning coffee, lazy lunch or evening tipple. Available in either grey or chocolate and made from all-weather rattan, it also comes with a free parasol so that you won’t burn while eating al fresco.
£1199, furniturevillage.co.uk
10 best outdoor dining sets IKEA Askholmen 4-Seater Ikea has some great outdoor dining sets this year, including this bargain set of wooden table and four chairs with arm rests. Be sure to reglaze it on a regular basis, ideally every year, so that it will see you through a good few summers.
£95, ikea.com
10 best outdoor dining sets Homebase Folding Bistro Set This compact metal bistro set is ideal for small gardens and terraces, but it will also look great strategically placed in a corner of a larger garden. It’s weather resilient and competitively priced. Be warned though, that the table isn’t the easiest to put together.
£69.99, homebase.co.uk
10 best outdoor dining sets Plum Garden Picnic Table and Parasol Why limit garden furniture to the grown-ups? Young children will love to play games, have a tea party or simply enjoy their lunch on this picnic table with its colourful parasol. Supplied flat-packed, you’ll need to put it together yourself, but that can be done within an hour.
£84.99, elc.co.uk
10 best outdoor dining sets Blooma Bahama 4-Seat On for anyone who likes the retro look, this good-value set, also available with six seats, will do you proud for dining outdoors this summer. The set includes four foldable chairs, one glass-topped table and one parasol, although you’ll have to buy the base separately.
£67, diy.com
10 best outdoor dining sets Leisuregrow Casablanca 6 Seater This decorative metal set with a diamond pattern ceramic table top will be a real talking point and last longer than wooden models. The comfy seat cushions are thrown in and it’s also available in a four-seater version if you can’t stretch to this one.
£899, johnlewis.com
10 best outdoor dining sets IKEA Aplara/Vasman 6-Seater If you’re after a contemporary look on a budget, this is ideal. With a solid, practical wooden table (that will need treating annually), it comes with six contrasting white armchairs that are comfy without the need for cushions.
£305, ikea.com
10 best outdoor dining sets John Lewis Vichy Bistro Set This timeless bistro set will give your garden, balcony, terrace or courtyard, an instant lift. The powder-coated steel is an on-trend colour and the seat pads will keep you comfy. If you like the look, but this is too small, check out the four- and six-seat options in the same range.
£139, johnlewis.com
Verdict:
If it’s value you’re after, Ikea’s sets are worth considering. For something you can easily store away in the shed in the winter months, Laura Ashley’s four-seater set is more stylish than your average fold-up options. And for a table and chairs that will get your guests talking, we’d go for Leisuregrow’s decorative Casablanca range.
Buy now
1. Laura Ashley 4-Seat, £499
2. Very Barcelona 8-Piece, £299
3. Furniture Village Aintree 8-Seat, £1199
4. IKEA Askholmen 4-Seater, £95
5. Homebase Folding Bistro Set, £69.99
6. Plum Garden Picnic Table and Parasol, £84.99
7. Blooma Bahama 4-Seat, £67
8. Leisuregrow Casablanca 6 Seater, £899
9. IKEA Aplara/Vasman 6-Seater, £305
10. John Lewis Vichy Bistro Set, £139