There are some important things and information you need to know about your event and requirements before you hire a marquee. You will need to have a good idea of the following: 

• The event date and location, ideally the postcode 

• The size of marquee you need or the number of people attending

• The ground conditions and access to the build site

• When can we have access to start the build and finish the de-rig

• What specification options do you need such as flooring, carpet, lighting and access doors

•  An indication of your budget is always helpful

 If you are unsure, or simply want to get our advice, our Project Managers will be able to help you.

The main types of marquees include clearspan marquees, traditional pole and rope, circus style “big tops”, sailcloth marquees, tipi marquees, conical marquees and stretch tents. All of these options will create a different aesthetic look and feel for your event. Field and Lawn exclusively stock conical marquees (also known as pagodas) and clearspan marquees, which are available in different sizes.  Clearspan marquees provide event organisers many benefits, including:

• Safety and compliance, with enhanced wind and weather ratings compared to other types of event marquees 

• Complete flexibility, customise your marquee a wide range of modular options and bespoke finishes

• Visual consistency and and branding options

• Operational efficiency, with rapid build and derig times as well as the ability to install on any ground surface, including sloped sites

The ideal marquee size depends on your number of guests, how they will use the marquee, for example standing or seated (and how they will be seated, for example, theatre style will take less space than round table, cabaret style seating). The additional space needed for catering, bars, and entertainment also needs to be taken into account. A contingency needs to be allocated for circulation and equipment such as staging, heaters, if the event is in winter and any décor. As a general rule, the following calculation will give you an indication of the marquee size you need for your event:

• For chairs (theatre): no. people x 0.7 m² = space required in m².
• For trestle/banquet tables: no. people x 0.8 m² = space required in m².
• For round tables: no. people x 1.2 m² = space required in m².

A clearspan marquee is a large, modular, self-supporting event structure with no internal poles or supports. This creates a flexible open-plan space, with flat gable ends that is installed in bays. A clearspan marquee can be adapted and configured for a wide range of events, shows, festivals and other events. Clearspan event structures are engineered to be scalable, weatherproof and fully customisable. They can be installed directly onto a range of ground surfaces, including grass, gravel, tarmac. A clearspan marquee can also be customised with clear window walls and roofing as well as glazing. This sets them apart from stretch tents, tipis and traditional pole and rope marquees, giving event organisers much more flexibility.

If you are looking for an event marquee, the different types of marquee styles include stretch tents, sailcloth tents, tipis and traditional “big top” style pole and rope marquees. All of these options can create a unique aesthetic, depending on the style and theme of your event. There are a number of key differences between these options and a clearspan marquee. 

Firstly, a traditional pole and rope marquee can only be installed on grass or gravel as they do require guy ropes for structural support. This also means the footprint of the tent is greater than the actual usable space due to the additional area required for guy ropes. If you require a bespoke design or fit-out for your marquee, a clearspan structure complete customisability, with integrated glazing, solid walling and even bespoke branding options. In comparison, there are fewer options available if you are looking at another marquee style.  Finally, traditional marquees, tipis, sailcloth tents and stretch tents are less resilient to poor weather conditions and can be susceptible to damage or failure in high winds. 

Clearspan marquees stand up much better to high winds and typical British weather and are often higher wind and weather rated due to their frame system. We only supply clearspan event marquees and pagodas.

Yes, while our marquees are commonly associated with events, our flexible structures provide great medium and long-term hire options.  We have deployed marquees for extended durations as overflow storage tents, warehouses, shops, temporary school classrooms, semi-permanent hospitality spaces, gyms and fitness centres and welfare facilities on public sector infrastructure projects.  

We carry a wide range of specification options to customise the structure to your needs and can supply all the extras you need for a longer-term hire from heating and cooling to flooring, lighting and joinery packages.  When it comes to hiring a structure, there are two routes to go down, depending on how long you need the structure.  These are adapting and specifying an event marquee or renting a specialist, custom manufactured industrial tent. We can provide both solutions and our knowledgeable team can talk you through the options.

Yes, we work with a number of events and exhibitors and if we are already supplying the event, we may be able to accommodate your trade stand or exhibition marquee requirements.  To find out if we are supplying the event you are attending, please contact your local branch to discuss your requirements.

Field and Lawn are a large national marquee hire company. Our marquees are mainly suited to large festivals, seasonal events, corporate hospitality, specialist activations, agricultural shows and public sector events that require significant space and event infrastructure. It is worth contacting us to check our availability.