Quick answer
Start with the Sudbury Garden Dining Table as your fixed footprint, then add six Sudbury Dining Chairs with fine red awning stripe cushions and position the Polperro Parasol so its shade covers the seats, not just the tabletop.
Why the cushion pairing matters more than the chair count
A six-seat table only feels comfortable if every seat has the same cushion depth. The Sudbury Dining Chair Cushion is a simple square that fits both the Sudbury Dining Chair and the Sudbury Carver Chair, so you can mix chair styles without breaking the visual rhythm. Its stain-repellent, water-resistant fabric and shape-holding fill mean you can leave the cushions out between meals rather than stacking them indoors after every use.
Parasol placement: shade the people, not the plates
The Polperro Parasol adjusts with a traditional pulley rope and pin system, which lets you tilt the canopy as the sun moves. A common mistake is centering the parasol over the tabletop only; the scalloped canopy should instead cover the seating edge where shoulders and faces sit. The cedar wood frame will patina over time, so treat it as a material that improves with weather rather than one that needs hiding.
When six seats is too many
The Sudbury table seats up to six, but a tight garden may only allow four chairs plus a serving side. If you regularly host fewer people, leave the two end settings clear and use that space for a drinks tray or a small planter. The table itself is galvanised steel and can stay out uncovered, so you do not need to plan storage for the table—only for the cushions if you prefer them dry.
Your Sudbury setup, step by step
- Measure the table footprint plus chair pull-out: Allow at least 60 cm of clear space behind each chair so guests can push back without catching the table edge. Mark the table centre and the six seat positions on the ground before moving anything. Check that the parasol base will not sit where a chair needs to pull out.
- Place the table and confirm the parasol base position: Set the Sudbury table in its final spot, then position the Polperro Parasol base so the canopy can be tilted to cover the seating edge. Use the pulley rope to test a low sun angle before you finalise the base. If the base sits under the table centre, the canopy may only shade the tabletop—shift it toward the sunniest side.
- Set out six chairs with matching cushions: Place the Sudbury Dining Chairs evenly around the table and fit one fine red awning stripe cushion to each. Check that the cushion front edge sits just behind the knee rather than pressing into it. If you use a mix of dining and carver chairs, keep the same cushion model on every seat for a consistent look.
- Test the walkway and serving access: Walk a full loop around the table with a serving tray. If you have to turn sideways, remove one chair from the end and use that space for serving instead of seating. A four-seat layout with a clear serving side often feels more generous than a cramped six.
- Decide your cushion storage routine: The cushions are water-resistant, not waterproof, so bring them in during heavy rain or leave them out only if you accept a damp seat. Store them in a dry basket near the door so they are easy to grab for impromptu meals. Keep a small towel in the basket for wiping down the galvanised table before setting plates.
Product facts
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Sudbury Garden Dining Table: Handmade from hot-dipped galvanised steel and seats up to 6 people. You can leave the table outside year-round without covering it, and plan seating for six around a fixed footprint.
Sudbury Garden Dining Table
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Sudbury Dining Chair Cushion, Fine Red Awning Stripe: A square cushion with stain-repellent, water-resistant fabric that holds its shape. It suits both Sudbury chair styles and needs no plumping, so you can keep the same cushion depth across every seat.
Sudbury Dining Chair Cushion, Fine Red Awning Stripe
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Polperro Parasol, Blue Stripe: A scalloped parasol with a cedar wood frame, pulley rope and pin adjustment. You can tilt the canopy to follow the sun and expect the frame to patina rather than stay pristine.
