A rise and recline chair is an armchair with a powered mechanism that does two jobs. It reclines, extending a footrest and lowering the backrest so you can relax; and it rises, tilting the whole seat gently up and forward so you're brought close to standing without having to push yourself up from a low, deep seat. The Bilbury does both at the press of a button on a simple handset.
The point of the rise function is independence. When getting out of a standard armchair or sofa has become a daily struggle, a chair that lifts you most of the way to your feet removes the strain — and the need to ask for help. The Bilbury is designed to look like a proper armchair rather than a piece of medical equipment, so it sits naturally in a normal living room.
It suits anyone who finds standing up from a low or soft seat difficult — whether because of age, reduced strength, joint pain, recovery from injury or surgery, or simply spending much of the day seated. It's equally popular with people buying for themselves and with families buying for a parent or grandparent who would benefit from a little more support at home.
Because the rise function does the lifting for you, it's a genuinely practical choice for a main chair you'll use every day. If you're unsure whether a rise-and-recline chair is the right answer for your situation, call us on 02476 705 600 and we'll talk it through honestly.
The mechanism is electric and built into the base of the chair, operated by a handset with clearly marked buttons — there's no manual lever to pull and no body weight needed to push the chair back. To recline, the footrest extends and the backrest lowers smoothly. To rise, the seat tilts up and forward until you're in an almost-standing position, then you simply step away.
Because it's powered, it's straightforward for anyone to use, including those with limited grip or strength who would find a manual pull-lever recliner difficult. The seat can also be held at any point between fully upright and fully reclined, so you can set it exactly where it's comfortable rather than choosing between two fixed positions. As with any mains-powered recliner, the chair needs to sit within reach of a plug socket. If keeping the chair usable during a power cut matters to you, check whether the model includes a battery backup on the product page or ask our team before ordering. It's also worth operating the chair gently rather than forcing it, which helps the motor and mechanism stay reliable over years of daily use.
The Bilbury comes in two materials, and the right one depends on how it'll be used. Genuine leather looks smart, wipes clean easily and copes well with spills, which makes it practical for daily use — though it can feel cool to the touch at first before it warms up. Fabric feels warmer and more breathable straight away, which many people prefer for sitting in for long stretches, and it blends softly into most living rooms.
For a mobility chair used every day, fabric is often the more comfortable long-term choice, while genuine leather wins on easy cleaning. Both are offered at the same price, so it comes down to feel and practicality rather than budget. Note that these are genuine leather, not a leather-look upholstery — if you'd like to compare, our leather sofas collection explains how genuine leather and other finishes differ.
Genuine leather is available in tan, black, cream and grey, and fabric in black, light grey and grey — seven variants in total, all at the same price. Grey and light grey suit lighter, contemporary rooms; black works well in darker schemes; cream keeps things soft and neutral; and tan adds warmth alongside wood furniture. Because the chair is meant to sit unobtrusively in a normal room, choosing a shade close to your existing furniture helps it blend in rather than stand out as a mobility aid.
The Bilbury has a compact footprint that works well in smaller UK living rooms, and it doesn't need a large gap behind it to recline — a few inches of clearance from the wall is usually enough. The seat height and depth are designed to suit average adult proportions, but fit matters a great deal with a mobility chair, so it's always worth checking the exact dimensions on the product page against the person who'll use it.
If the seat is too high, too low or too deep for the user, it undermines the point of the rise function, so measure before you order and ask us if you're unsure. A useful check is to measure the user seated in a chair that suits them — the height from the floor to the back of the knee, and the seat depth from the back of the knee to the base of the spine — and compare those against the Bilbury's dimensions. Maximum user weight is an important figure for any rise-and-recline chair — it's listed on the product page, and our team can confirm it for you on the phone before you buy. If you'd like to be certain of the fit, you're welcome to try the chair at our Coventry showroom before deciding.
| Consideration | What to check |
|---|---|
| Seat height | Suits the user's leg length so feet rest flat — check product page |
| Seat depth & width | Comfortable support without being too deep to sit back in |
| Rear clearance | A few inches from the wall is typically enough to recline |
| Front clearance | Room for the footrest to extend fully |
| Maximum user weight | Listed on the product page — confirm before ordering |
| Access route | Measure doorways and hallways on the way in |
Most people put the Bilbury in the main living room, but it works just as well in a bedroom, home office or conservatory. It's a particularly good fit for anyone who spends a significant part of the day seated, and the rise function is useful anywhere that getting up from a low seat is a challenge. Position it within reach of a plug socket, facing the TV or window, with the footrest able to extend freely in front. It's also worth placing it where the person using it can easily reach the things they need day to day — a side table, a lamp, the remote — so the chair becomes a comfortable base rather than something they have to keep getting up from. Leaving a clear, unobstructed path to and from the chair makes standing and moving away safer once the seat has raised.
Both materials are easy to look after. Genuine leather can be wiped with a soft, slightly damp cloth and kept away from harsh chemical cleaners; an occasional leather conditioner helps it stay supple. Fabric can be wiped down with a damp cloth and handles most everyday spills — blot promptly rather than rubbing. Keep the chair out of prolonged direct sunlight so the colour stays even.
One practical tip: as with any electric recliner, try to keep pets off the chair. Claws can catch on the upholstery around the footrest, which is the most exposed part when the chair is fully reclined. It's a small thing, but worth knowing before it becomes a habit. Between deeper cleans, a light regular wipe-down keeps the chair looking its best for longer.
A manual recliner needs you to push back with your body weight and work a lever, which is fine if you're mobile and comfortable doing so. An electric rise-and-recline chair like the Bilbury does the work for you at the press of a button — and crucially, it lifts you towards standing, which a manual recliner can't. For anyone with joint pain, reduced strength or balance issues, there's really no comparison.
If mobility isn't a concern and budget is the priority, a manual recliner will do the job. But if the reason you're looking at the Bilbury is that standing up has become difficult, the electric rise function is the whole point, and it's what we'd recommend. You can also browse our electric recliner chairs for reclining seats without the rise function.
Standard delivery is free to England and Wales, with most in-stock Bilbury chairs arriving within 7–10 working days. You receive a confirmed delivery date once your order is placed, and the day before delivery we call to confirm a two-hour arrival slot. Our own two-person team brings the chair to the ground floor of your chosen room, access permitting, and sets it up on-site so it's ready to use straight away.
Packaging is removed at the time of delivery, and old sofa or chair removal is available if you add it at checkout. Because a rise-and-recline chair is often needed promptly, let us know if timing is pressing and we'll do our best to help — call 02476 705 600 to discuss delivery or access before you order.
Yes. You can spread the cost with PayPal Pay in 3, Klarna Pay in 3 or Pay in 30 (both interest-free), or Clearpay in 4 interest-free fortnightly payments. For longer-term plans, DivideBuy lets you spread payments further. You can apply at checkout in minutes, and all finance is subject to a credit check and status. See our finance options for full details.
We're a UK furniture retailer, not a faceless warehouse, and we care about getting a mobility purchase right — because it genuinely matters to the person using it. The Bilbury's electric motor and lift mechanism are built for daily use, and our sofas and chairs hold a 4.8★ Excellent rating from over 4,800 genuine Trustpilot reviews. Delivery is free to England and Wales by our own two-person team, who set the chair up in your room and remove the packaging.
Spread the cost with PayPal, Klarna, Clearpay or DivideBuy, subject to credit check, and order with confidence under our 14-day change-of-mind returns policy. Explore related ranges: our electric recliner chairs, recliner sofas, leather sofas and fabric sofas, or read our care tips. You're also welcome to visit our Coventry showroom at 440–450 Stoney Stanton Road, CV6 5DG to try the chair in person.
