Event Marquees & Pagodas

Effectively we can deliver anything from 9 square metres, to say, 20,000 square metres! The smallest width structure we have in our range is 2.5 or 3m. The largest span available is 50m and there are a wide range of sizes in between. Different structures are more suitable for different types of use and different types of configuration. So start by having a conversation with us about your needs and we’ll go from there.

As a general rule of thumb, the size of marquee you need depends on what you are using the marquee for, and how many guests it needs to hold. We work on a square metre rate per person which is set out in the Purple Guide (the HSE guidance for event organisers and suppliers). 

For example, for kitchen space we would suggest .75m per person. For Meet & Greet, this increases to 1m, for sit down dining up to 2.5m and for dining with big production it can be as much as 3m. Your marquee layout must also allow for the correct aisle and door widths to allow egress in the event of a fire.

Planning permission is not required if the marquee is up for less than 28 days. However, if you are selling alcohol or having entertainment, you will need to apply for specific licences for these. Factors like traffic management and event and fire safety may also mean you require a licence or local authority permissions but this depends largely on the size of the event you are planning.

One of the main advantages of hiring a marquee is the ability to have it where you want it, within reason! This means that you have total ownership of the venue, and you are not restricted in terms of branding (which might not be the case if you hold your event in a permanent venue which is already sponsored). Capacity is another advantage as the capacity of a marquee is more flexible than that of a fixed venue. And finally, you have far more scope to tailor the look and feel of your temporary structure.

Subject to budget, you can pretty much customise every aspect of your marquee – far more so than would be possible in a permanent venue. For example, you can determine everything from the colour of the carpets and staff uniforms, the table linen and chairs, to the drinks that are being sold. Through theming, you can completely transform the interior of your marquee with a range of effects which can be hired in or manufactured specifically for your event.

Pagoda is a generic term for what is often referred to as a “pointy hat” or “Chinese hat” type of marquee because of its shape. Aesthetically, they are attractive structures. They are also very practical because they are modular – so can be linked together to create intricate shapes and designs. Take a look at our Pagoda page, to get inspiration on how pagodas are commonly used.