Frequently Asked Questions
Is your marquee insured?
We have full Public and Employers Liability insurance. Hence if there is a problem with the structure collapsing or blowing away then we are liable. We are not covered, however, for security once we have left a marquee erected on site. Hence if there is any vandalism, fire damage or theft of a marquee once it is in situ then the liability will rest with the hirer. Some of our clients take out an insurance policy independently, others use security guards but most take this liability on with no adverse effects (or costs!). We always discuss this issue in more detail with clients at a site visit.
Chandeliers:
the most common form of lighting, running along the apex of the marquee and controlled by a dimmer. They provide the ‘classical’ feel to a marquee.
What are the lighting options?
Up lighters:
sit on the floor around the edge of the marquee, shine up at the walls and are also controlled by a dimmer. They provide a more atmospheric type of lighting. These tend to be more effective at winter events where it is very dark outside and they provide a ‘warmer’ light. As they are on the floor they can easily get knocked – therefore we tend to advise against using them if space is limited.
Spotlights:
we can provide indoor spotlights to highlight features such as a cake table, a tree or a mirror ball.
Outdoor Lighting:
We use spike spotlights for outside areas and walkways. We also provide high wattage coloured MBI floodlights to create stunning effects for trees or buildings.
What options do I have for the lining?
Our standard lining is pleated ivory. You can personalise your marquee with coloured swags, which come in a huge variety of colours to match your colour scheme, and include ivory (to match the background lining), burgundy, pink, lilac, gold, silver or green.
We can also provide complete coloured linings to order, as well as white or black background linings and themed linings such as clouds, jungles, fireworks, mountain ranges or palm beaches. Please ask about additional costs for these items.
Increasingly popular is a starlight ceiling over all or simply the dance floor area of the marquee. These are black or ivory roof linings with twinkling fibre optic lights.
My garden has a slope. Can I put a marquee on it?
This all depends on the degree of the slope. Our Event floor can be ‘packed up’ to provide a degree of levelling, generally to incorporate a fall of up to half a metre across a 6m or 12m wide marquee. A good test is to put a garden table and chairs on the slope – if they immediately won’t work then you will probably struggle. If you could just about eat a meal sitting at the table then we will probably be able to resolve it.
The alternative is for us to install level wooden flooring on scaffolding although this obviously incurs extra costs.
Can you put a marquee on a hard
surface such as a patio or car park?
Yes, although we still need to secure it to the ground. This can be done with guy ropes or large water butts or alternatively we can drill holes into the patio and screw in heavy duty fixings that hold down the marquee. This obviously depends upon your preferences and the site. Generally these type of fixings are less secure than the traditional stakes so we sometimes take a view depending upon how exposed the site is.
What are your payment terms?
Most clients pay a deposit of between 20% and 50% of the total price to secure any booking. The balance is then payable on fulfilment. We understand, however, that for an event like a wedding many people are saving up right to the day, so we are happy to defer payment if appropriate. Alternatively we will generally offer a discount if a client pays the majority in advance.
Are site visits free of charge?
Yes, and we are available at evenings or weekends if that suits you better.
Can we open the walls if it is a hot day?
Yes, we either provide window walls or walls that can be opened like curtains at no extra charge. These can be put in any wall of the marquee, which also means that you can create entrances and exits wherever you need.
Can you heat a marquee in winter if it is cold?
Yes, we use powerful blow heaters that stand outside the marquee and blow hot air into the marquee under the walls. They can heat a large tent in around 15 minutes and are then controlled thermostatically.
How long could I keep the marquee for?
Most events happen at the weekend, for which a typical scenario would be to erect on the Thursday and remove on the Monday. Depending on the amount of notice we are generally happy to give you an extra day or so at no extra cost, allowing you to arrange another party or a charity event on say the Wednesday night before or Monday night after. Our flexibility diminishes in the high season (June to September) and with less notice.
Do you provide Toilets?
Yes. We can arrange for any kind of toilet to be delivered to a site, from a builders’ style portaloo to a luxury unit for a party for 500 people. We have excellent relationships with several local portable toilet companies from whom we sub-contract, so we can advise you on the best option to suit your event and budget, and we will work with them to arrange the best location and delivery time.
Are your marquees cheaper in the summer or winter?
Due to demand we can often offer good deals during the winter months. You will need to bear in mind that these may be offset to a degree by the cost of items such as heaters, although generally we would advise that you would save money by staging your event in the winter.
I’m not sure how many people will be able to come to the event.
Will this make a difference to the size of marquee and when do I need to let you know?
Our experience has taught us that this is usually very important to you. Therefore wherever possible we will offer you the ability to add another section if you think this will work better for you even right up to the last minute. In addition we can remain flexible about the furniture (such as number of chairs, table sizes etc) up to around a week before the event.
Furthermore we are happy to provide optional extras such as walkways and separate marquees over the toilets if adverse weather conditions demand this at the last minute.
Can you provide a staff member at our event in case of emergency?
Yes. Our aim is to take away all the possible hassle and risks for all our clients, and if this gives you extra peace of mind (and indeed an extra pair of hands) on the day then we are more than happy to provide this service at very reasonable rates.
Regardless we will always give you an emergency mobile number to call in the unlikely event that anything goes wrong on the day. This person will be available to come to the event immediately
Do you sort out all the electricity?
Yes. Firstly we will advise you on the safest and most cost effective method of providing power to the marquee – either from 13A sockets in a nearby house, via a distribution board wired into your central fuse box or from a generator (and backup).
Then we will arrange the distribution of the power to cover all areas – caterers, DJ / band, lighting, toilets and heating.
The underlying requirement is to give you, the customer, peace of mind at the most favourable price; in this respect we will always ensure that there is more than enough overall supply such that there is not an overload in the middle of your event, and it goes without saying that all our equipment is regularly safety tested.
How many tables do I need?
How many tables you require depends on the event. For weddings and fully catered corporate hospitality events round tables are usually used. For more basic events trestle tables are normally used. Below is a guide to how many people you can seat at a particular size of table.
- 3' Round - 4
- 4' Round - 4 to 6
- 5' Round - 8 to 10
- 6' Round - 10 to 12
- 6' Trestle - 6 (3 each side)
What safety issue should I consider?
A major consideration when organizing an event, particularly for the general public, is safety. As all our marquees, aluminum structures and linings are BS standard, we know they are well made and what stresses and strains they can withstand. All the aluminum frames have had structural calculations performed on them by a leading structural engineer and easily conform to British Building Standards. The PVC and material used for the covers and linings, conform to the latest British Standards for fire retardancy. When quoting for public events, we refer to the Primrose Guide. This is a guide published by the HMSO and is used by fire safety officers as a reference.
How big should I have the marquee?
One of the most important aspects when planning a function in a temporary structure is getting the correct size. If the marquee is too large, it can feel as if not enough people have attended, too small and people are cramped for space. Through our many years of experience, we can recommend the amount of space you will require. For functions such as weddings etc, we advise 15 square feet per person. For functions where the guests are standing or seated in a theatre style, we recommend 6 square feet per person. Additional area may be required for dance floors etc. We recommend 2½ square feet per person for dance floors. The addition of smaller reception tents can be a good addition to a function allowing guests to meet each other and socialize before the main event proceeds. If your event is catered, you may require an area for the caterers to work in. The size of this would depend on what type of meal is served and how it is to be prepared. The best way to gauge the size required would be ask the caterer how much space they need