Marquee or not for September party?

[Rowley Birkin]

We're having a bit of a do in the garden in early September and cannot make up our minds whether to hire a marquee.

If the weather is hot (as it often is in early September) we will wish we hadn't ordered one. If it's raining we'll be glad we did.

None of the firms we've spoken to will entertain an option fee arrangement where we pay now to reserve and a larger sum if we need it.

The garden isn't suitable for having one area with a marquee and another without.

Advice from anyone who has hired a marquee for this type of event would be appreciated.

[Axionknight]

Can you not find one with detatchable sides so the breeze can pass through, keeping the place reasonably cool? You'll still have a roof over your head if it pisses down - which leta face it, it probably will.

[dirkgently]

Ask yourself one question........................ do you feel lucky?

[Collectingbrass]

Get a couple of gazebos and don't put them up unless you need to. Keep the receipts so you can take them back if not used.

http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/garden/out...

If the weather is very good some people (and the booze...) may be glad of the shade so you may want one at least.

[Rowley Birkin]

Collectingbrass said:

Get a couple of gazebos and don't put them up unless you need to. Keep the receipts so you can take them back if not used.

http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/garden/out...

If the weather is very good some people (and the booze...) may be glad of the shade so you may want one at least.

Hah, we have considered this...

In answer to the earlier question, yes we can get one with removable or roll-up sides. Our concern is that if we are all in a marquee it will seem more formal than if everyone can mill around. If that makes any sense. Of course it would be infinitely preferable to huddling in the garage if it's precipitating.

[Troubleatmill]

Typical risk assessment.

What happens if it chunders down..... and you have no gazebos?

What happens if it chunders down .... and you do have gazebos?

What happens if it doesn't chunder down... and you do have gazebos?

What happens if it doesn't chunder down ... and you have no gazebos?



Build a square box - with each of those scenarios.....

And fill in a percentage ( totalling 100% ) that you are happy with.


If you are 100% happy it doesn't chunder down.... and you have no gazebo's .... you are a hero.... ( if that is what happens )

Now... if you are not 100% happy... the rest is up to you and your wallet.


This is why village halls, ( and gardens ) are available for hire.

[Rowley Birkin]

Troubleatmill said:

Typical risk assessment.

What happens if it chunders down..... and you have no gazebos?

What happens if it chunders down .... and you do have gazebos?

What happens if it doesn't chunder down... and you do have gazebos?

What happens if it doesn't chunder down ... and you have no gazebos?



Build a square box - with each of those scenarios.....

And fill in a percentage ( totalling 100% ) that you are happy with.


If you are 100% happy it doesn't chunder down.... and you have no gazebo's .... you are a hero.... ( if that is what happens )

Now... if you are not 100% happy... the rest is up to you and your wallet.


This is why village halls, ( and gardens ) are available for hire.

It's not just a cost consideration. If we hire a marquee and it's sunny we have spent £350 for no reason, yes, but of greater concern is that we will be in a big tent when we'd prefer to be in the sunshine.

I suppose we could pay for a marquee and if the forecast is sun we tell them not to bring it. Swallow the cost.

[Collectingbrass]

Rowley Birkin said:

It's not just a cost consideration. If we hire a marquee and it's sunny we have spent £350 for no reason, yes, but of greater concern is that we will be in a big tent when we'd prefer to be in the sunshine.

I suppose we could pay for a marquee and if the forecast is sun we tell them not to bring it. Swallow the cost.

I understand the problem

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6...

9m x 4m, £300. I've used these in the past, they are pretty good and if you can put up a wind screen on a beach you can handle these. The side panels are removable if it turns out nice again. If you don't use it you should be able to return to Argos, and even if you do use it there is the bay of fleas where you should get some money back I would have thought. Or it's somewhere to store another couple of cars...

[Axionknight]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

On reflection, we did this for a yearly bonfire friends and I used to host - it cost a few quid but it was well worth not having to hire one year on year and of course, this current quandary wouldn't really be an issue, just decide on the day/day before hand if you want to build it or not.

Obviously storage space and whether it'll actually get used again are points to note, but a good call imo.

[pincher]

Is it an afternoon 'do' that is likely to roll on to the evening? If so, remember that it gets darker earlier in September and also chillier - and we haven't exactly had a brilliant summer so far.....

[thainy77]

Get a marquee and use it as the bar, if it's sunny people just go in to get drinks, if lashing it down you are covered.

[Jasandjules]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

As above, for £300 you are looking to hire you can buy a decent sized Gazebo and use it time and again if needs be.

[jains15]

If it's 32o and sunny (which it won't be, the summer hasn't been like that) and you have a marquee people will get hot, probably a bit drunker but your event will still happen.

If it rains and you don't have it, people will be miserable, cold, won't come, go home early and generally wash it out.

Get the marquee.

[Cotty]

BBQ last night, it rained, get a gazebo

[soad]

Time it for the Indian summer?

[Gompo]

With regards to having sides on/off, I am lead to believe that if anyone is going to be smoking in the tent then 50% of the sides need to be open. Obviously people flaunt the law but just saying.

Personally I'd go with buying something and either keep or sell and get a bit of money back. You can always wait until the day before and check the weather forecast.

[Puggit]

Gompo said:

With regards to having sides on/off, I am lead to believe that if anyone is going to be smoking in the tent then 50% of the sides need to be open. Obviously people flaunt the law but just saying.

Personally I'd go with buying something and either keep or sell and get a bit of money back. You can always wait until the day before and check the weather forecast.

If it's on private land it doesn't matter?

[JQ]

Jasandjules said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

As above, for £300 you are looking to hire you can buy a decent sized Gazebo and use it time and again if needs be.

This, buy a good quality secondhand one on Ebay. If you then don't think you'll use it again, sell it on Ebay after the event. We've done this a couple of times when looking at hiring things and have sometimes made a few quid.

[Gompo]

Puggit said:

Gompo said:

With regards to having sides on/off, I am lead to believe that if anyone is going to be smoking in the tent then 50% of the sides need to be open. Obviously people flaunt the law but just saying.

Personally I'd go with buying something and either keep or sell and get a bit of money back. You can always wait until the day before and check the weather forecast.

If it's on private land it doesn't matter?

Hi; yes sorry you are right - I got a bit carried away. On private land and for a private/non commerical party the law has no say.

However, some marquee companies work upon this premiss in general anyway - although admittedly usually for larger events.