Can I leave them outside all winter?

Most cast iron bases will survive winter weather fine. The paint might flake faster, but it isn't going to rust through quickly. Marble tops are different. Water can seep into natural fissures and expand when it freezes. It is safer to bring stone tops into a shed or cover them during heavy frosts.

I have an old pub garden with an uneven patio and was wondering if a three-legged base will sit flat or just rock constantly?

A tripod base is exactly what you need for uneven ground. Geometry dictates that three points naturally find a stable plane. Four-legged tables will rock on cobblestones unless you wedge something under a foot. French cafe owners knew this, which is why almost all early pavement furniture uses a three-legged design.

How do you clean the marble tops?

Avoid harsh modern bathroom cleaners. Acidic sprays etch the surface and remove the natural finish of the stone. Warm water and a mild dish soap work best for daily wiping. If the marble has deep wine stains, a poultice of baking soda and water left overnight often lifts the worst marks.

There is a gap between the metal rim and the top surface on mine, is there a way to tighten that up or fix it?

Over time, the core material under a zinc or brass top shrinks. This leaves a gap where the metal rim used to sit tight against the surface. Some restorers gently tap the rim down with a soft mallet. You have to work slowly around the whole edge to avoid crimping the metal. Often, it is better to leave it alone. The gap rarely affects how the piece functions, and tapping old metal risks snapping the pins holding it in place.

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Antique Bistro Tables

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Designed for late nineteenth-century French pavement cafes, antique bistro tables feature a heavy cast-iron or bentwood base supporting a small circular or square top, built to seat two people and withstand constant outdoor use while taking up minimal space.