Saving on outdoor seating

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If you’re planning on buying a new table this year, then it makes sense to begin your search by looking at what online retailers have to offer. They usually have lower overheads than traditional rivals, which means that they’re able to offer lower prices to customers.

The key is to look for retailers that also have a good range of products. That’s particularly important if you have a particular style of table in mind.

So where would we start our search? Well, we reckon that we can save up to 60% by shopping around, based on the sort of prices that we’ve seen in local garden centres and some major DIY stores. We’d begin by taking a look at Amazon online.

This mammoth retailer were originally established as sellers of books. They’ve obviously expanded considerably since then and they now boast a pretty amazing range of garden tables (as well as just about everything else that you could care to imagine!)

You can take a look at their full range online.

One advantage that they have is that they’re able to offer products that are made available by a broad range of other retailers. This ensures that they have plenty of options and also keeps their pricing competitive.

Who else might you wish to consider in this market? We think that Greenfingers are also offering some good deals at the present time and are certainly worth considering. They’re an established retailer here in the UK and are obviously specialists when it comes to garden furniture and related accessories.

Both Amazon and Greenfingers also sell parasols, which is an advantage if you’re looking to buy a complete set.

What’s the weather going to do?

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Here in the south of England, it feels like we’ve been somewhat spoilt with all of the lovely weather in April and May. We certainly didn’t see any of the infamous April showers!

For gardeners, the situation hasn’t necessarily all been good news. The lack of rainfall means that lawns are turning shades of yellow and brown, rather than the lush greens that we might expect. For those of us looking after seedlings, there’s certainly been plenty of concern about whether we need to water a lot more regularly.

Plenty of enthusiasts will have been out watering plants. This, of course, can lead to its own problems. Will the dreaded hosepipe bans arrive later in the year? It seems almost inevitable now – it’s hard to believe that reservoir levels will be high enough to cope with the expected demand as we approach the summer months.

When talking about the weather conditions, we’re frequently met by cynics who are quick to tell us that we should “enjoy it while we can”. This suggestion that it certainly won’t last and that we’re sure to be dealing with unpredictable weather again before long may well ring true. At the very least, it should ensure that we do indeed make the most of the great conditions.

Over the last week or so, we’ve seen the wind picking up and temperatures dropping somewhat. It’s felt cold. But is it really?

As we’ve become used to above-average temperatures on the thermometer and previous little rainfall, it’s probable that our expectations have changed too. Maybe we expect that it should always be warm, dry and sunny. If so, we’re likely to be in for a shock at some point over the summer!

But there are plenty of optimists about too. We hear references to the long, hot summer of 1976. People say that it was a particularly warm spell in April and May of that year too, but that it just kept going right the way through the summer months.

So how are you coping with the weather? I expect barbecue sales have gone through the roof and the coming Bank Holiday weekend is only likely to add to that. It doesn’t seem too long ago that we were all taking advantage of the last spell of Bank Holidays, thanks in part to the Royal Wedding.

The weather was, of course, suitably warm on that occasion.

The most predictable thing about British weather is usually the fact that it’s so unpredictable. Maybe that’s why some people find the nice weather so, ironically, unsettling!

Discount prices on quality benches

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Let’s have a quick scan around the best picnic bench deals that we’ve got for you right now. Fortunately, it’s a great time to be looking at a new picnic table – there are massive savings available.

Some benches are clearly cheaper than others. Remember that you’ll be looking for build quality, as well as price, if you want something that truly is a bargain. Otherwise, you may be left with something that simply won’t last.

So let’s take a look at what’s out there!

Raw Garden

These guys seem to consistently get great picnic benches. They’re presumably manufacturing themselves, since you don’t see the same models elsewhere. The 1400mm table is an absolute bargain right now and will suit most situations we’d have thought.

If you are, on the other hand, looking to go for a bigger table then the pine 1800mm picnic table also looks to be an excellent deal. A big thumbs up from us!

Greenfingers

These guys always seem to carry a wide selection. Some are pretty pricey, while others are extremely cheap. In all honesty, we’d be tempted to avoid either end of the spectrum and to opt for a mid-range table instead.

Picnic benches that are really cheap can sometimes be a worry. You can’t help but question how they’ve been made. Will they last you very long?

But a massively expensive choice might be more than you need. The mid-range options offer good value for money and look like they should last.

Tesco

Talking of cheap, you’ve certainly got the option to pay less at Tesco! Not exactly known as a specialist garden furniture store, although they clearly benefit from bulk buying. When it comes to picnic benches, like so much else, it seems that they’ve been able to drive prices right down.

Not to be overlooked. Many of us are tempted by discount prices. Again, check out the quality before you commit to buy.

Amazon

You may not realise this but plenty of companies sell via Amazon. The internet giant couldn’t sell such a gigantic range of items without relying on this fact.

What does this mean from a consumer point of view? It means that we can use Amazon to access just about (as far as we’ve seen) the largest range of picnic tables available in any one place online. Always worth a look, particularly if you’re not much taken with any of the other table designs mentioned above.

Kids Picnic Tables

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We always welcome questions and comments here at the Picnic Benches site and we’ve received a few recently on one subject in particular.

A lot of people have been asking us about kids picnic tables. We often find that we’re being asked to offer recommendations, or to suggest tables that would be suitable in particular situations.

Without wishing to get into a detailed analysis of all the garden and picnic tables that are currently on the market, here’s an overview that we hope will be detailed enough to answer many of your questions. We’ve broken this article down into some of the key considerations.

Location

Estate agents say that buying a house is all about “location, location, location”. While things may not be quite so dramatic in the world of picnic benches, it’s clear that you need to think about where the table will be used.

You may be thinking about buying something that will be suitable for camping trips, for instance. In that case, our advice would be that you should opt for a product that is highly portable.

In particular, you’ll be looking for a table that’s lightweight and that folds. Foldable picnic tables should fit into your car or van much more easily. Since you’re looking to buy a folding picnic bench for your kids, don’t forget to make sure that it’s made from a suitable material too. Many folding tables will be made from plastic, which will often be ideal.

If you’re looking for something to place in your garden then your requirements may be different. You may not want something that’s portable. Quite the opposite: you may wish to buy a strong, solid table that won’t be so hard for your kids to move during meal times.

Age ranges

We’re not talking about the age of the table here – we’re talking about the age of the kids!

Smaller children will certainly need tables that are low to the ground. But we all know that kids grow quickly! If you want a table that will last for years to come, then avoid buying something that’s going to leave them feeling too cramped.

Materials

Tables come in all shapes and sizes. They are also made from many different materials. When it comes to a kids picnic table, you’re likely to have a few choices in terms of materials:

Wooden picnic benches

These will usually be fairly solid, but they do need to be protected during the winter months, as they can be damaged (particularly by wet weather).

They will often have a fairly permanent design, so may not be ideal for camping trips and the like.

Plastic tables

One of the key benefits of plastic tables is that they are usually lightweight, ensuring that they are highly portable. Often brightly coloured, they are designed to appeal to children, although parents may not always think that they are particularly stylish.

Don’t tend to be as easily damaged as some alternatives.

Aluminium kids picnic tables

Designed to be portable (usually folding), these seem to be increasingly popular. Lighter than wooden tables and seemingly more stylish than plastic alternatives.

We haven’t, as yet, got our hands on an aluminium table for the kids, but we’re hoping to road-test one this summer.

Looking out at the cold garden

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It’s stopped snowing here right now, which is no bad thing. They say that December 2010 was the coldest December experienced in the UK in the past 100 years. That’s quite something.

Some parts of the country saw record low temperatures, while many of us spent much of the month looking out at snow-covered outside spaces. Although it can look pretty at first, there’s no doubt that it’s a problem when it comes to travelling.

It makes it hard (and dangerous) for people to commute to work. There were plenty of (predictable) grumbles about how this country seems incapable of coping with weather of this type. With airports closing and roads hard to pass, it’s easy to see why people get so worked up.

But the reality is that plenty of other countries experience snow and cold conditions on a more regular basis. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that they’re also better prepared to deal with the situation.

Anyway, enough general musings! The snow’s stopped right now and I can see the lawn outside the window. It doesn’t look too bad. I had wondered whether the weight of the snow might have done some damage, but thankfully that’s not been the case. If anything, things looked worse after a couple of hot weeks in the summer.

Back then, the grass had taken on a rather nasty yellow colour. It didn’t look particularly healthy.

Talking of summer, I can’t help but think ahead to this year’s summer months. Once the temperatures start to climb, many of us will be wanting to plan garden parties, get-togethers and other events. It’s making me think about the preparations that need to be done in the next few months.

There will soon be a need for a general tidy up. If nothing else, we’ll want to remove the brown leaves that currently litter some parts of the garden. Fortunately, that’s not a task that involves an enormous amount of work or hardship.

The garden shed, on the other hand, may have suffered during the coldest months. Spring will mean that it’s time to check that it’s all still waterproof. It may be time to add an extra coat of protection, just to ensure that there aren’t problems next year. A check on the felt roof will be in order too.

What about the garden furniture? The picnic bench has been under wraps for a couple of months now. It’s been far too cold to get out there and use it. There’s only so much heating that can be provided by fire pits and gas heaters. Eventually, all of us have to admit defeat.

So the table’s not been in use since November. It’s been stored under a tarpaulin, which was tightly secured. Does that mean that the entire table will be in good condition by the time that I next take a look at it?

Although I hope so, I do fear that some damp is almost guaranteed to infiltrate that cover. If nothing else, the wind will have managed to open up a few gaps in the covering at some point. So will it be time to protect the table with a bit of varnish by March or April?

I suspect that it will be. If nothing else, I’ll want to make sure that it’s presented in the very best possible condition. It’s always good for creating the right impression with friends and neighbours.

Looking at the vegetation, it seems stark right now. It’s hard to believe that this garden will be in full bloom within a matter of months.

Soon we’ll be sitting at the table, drinking cool drinks, eating great meals and enjoying the colourful view.

For now, it’s nice to look out at the green lawn from the warmth of the house. But how soon things will be changing.

Alexander Rose Tables

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Alexander Rose are a leading manufacturer of picnic benches, garden tables and other garden furniture. You may well have seen their products being sold in garden centres and by specialist internet retailers.

Looking at their current product range, we can see the following:

Alexander Rose Pine Belfry

A 6-seater circular table, the Alexander Rose Pine Belfry table is made from pine and is from 100% well-managed forests, like all Alexander Rose picnic tables.

It has a height of 77cm and a width of more than 2 metres. If you are looking at purchasing this table, then do remember that it weighs some 81 kilos. That means that you may need some help when positioning the Belfry in your garden, or on your outdoor patio.

Alexander Rose Gleneagles

The Alexander Rose Pine Gleneagles table is a larger version of the popular Belfry product. Seating 8 adults (rather than the 6 seats provided with the Belfry), it offers a similar circular design.

Made from pine, it’s at a height of 75cm and has a diameter of just less than 1.9m. It weighs in at just short of 59 kilos.

As with the Belfry, the Alexander Rose Gleneagles is suitable for both domestic and commercial use. That means that it’s just as likely to crop up in school playground or pub beer garden as it is to appear on a lawn.

Woburn Picnic Tables

These Alexander Rose pine picnic tables are rectangular and are currently available in two sizes (a 5ft version and a 6ft version).

Both types of table have a pre-drilled hole in the centre, allowing for the use of a parasol.

Traditional in style, these are many people’s idea of the perfect pub beer garden table.

The full selection of Alexander Rose tables are being sold by a number of online retailers. It’s worth comparing prices before you buy.