How to choose a marquee hire company: questions to ask and red flags

Updated 6 November 2026 · By the Marquee Assembly team

Short answer: To choose a marquee hire company in the UK, ask for a site visit, a written layout plan and an itemised quote covering the structure, flooring, lining, lighting, installation and take-down. Check they follow recognised guidance such as BS EN 13782 and the MUTA Best Practice Guide, can provide fabric fire certificates and wind ratings, and confirm their insurance. Be wary of quotes made without seeing the site.

Start with the site visit

A good marquee company wants to see the site before confirming a quote, or at least detailed photos, measurements and a plan for small garden jobs. The visit is where slopes, soft ground, trees, overhead cables, buried services and access for vehicles are checked, and where the layout is tested against the real space. A company happy to quote for a wedding marquee without any site information is guessing.

Use the visit to judge the company too. Do they ask about your guest numbers, running order, caterer and band? Do they spot problems you had not thought of, such as the distance to the toilets or the route for the catering van? Those are signs of experience.

Questions to ask

Will you visit the site, and will I get a written layout plan
Is the quote fixed, and what exactly does it include
How many days before the event will you build, and when will you take down
Which guidance do you build to, such as BS EN 13782 and the MUTA Best Practice Guide
Can you provide fabric fire certificates and the structure's wind rating
What insurance do you hold, and can I see the certificate
What is your plan if high winds are forecast
Do you supply flooring, lighting, heating and power, or will I need other suppliers
What happens if the date has to change
Who will be my contact on the build days

What a good quote includes

Item	What to look for
Structure	Type, size and style, such as a 12 by 24 metre frame marquee
Walls and lining	Window walls, solid walls, linings and any ceiling drapes
Flooring	Hard flooring, carpet, matting and dance floor sizes
Lighting and power	Lighting type, power source and who provides the generator
Heating	Number and type of heaters and the fuel arrangements
Furniture and extras	Tables, chairs, bar units, walkways and staging
Installation and take-down	Dates, times and any extra charge for awkward access
Terms	Cancellation terms, date changes and what happens in extreme weather

Comparing quotes is only fair when they include the same items. A cheap marquee that needs separately sourced flooring, lighting and power can end up costing more than a fuller package.

Safety documents worth asking for

BS EN 13782 is the European standard for the safety of tents and temporary fabric structures, covering design, materials, wind loading and anchorage. The MUTA Best Practice Guide, published by the Made-Up Textiles Association, is the main UK industry guidance on building and using temporary structures safely. A reputable company will be familiar with both and can explain how its structures and anchoring meet them.

Fabric flame-retardancy certificates for the roof, walls and linings
The structure's maximum operating wind speed and evacuation wind speed
Insurance certificate, including public liability cover
Risk assessment and method statement for the build
Handover or inspection record once the marquee is built

For a private garden party you may not need all of these, but for a public or business event your fire risk assessment and event safety plan will usually draw on them.

Red flags

Quotes given without any site information
Prices that are far below others with no clear reason
No written contract or terms
Unable to say what wind speed the structure can take
No fabric fire certificates available
Vague about build and take-down dates
Pressure to book immediately to secure a discount
Cheap pop-up gazebos offered as a substitute for a proper marquee

Reading the terms

Marquee bookings are usually made a long way ahead, so the terms matter. Read what happens if you need to change the date, reduce numbers or cancel, and when the final balance is due. Check what the contract says about extreme weather, because most companies reserve the right to delay the build or ask guests to leave the structure if winds exceed safe limits, and you should understand how that would work in practice.

Also check who is responsible for damage to the marquee during the hire, for example from candles, confetti cannons or guests climbing on frames, and whether ground damage from vehicles is covered. Event insurance can cover some of these risks, so compare the contract with any policy you take out.

After you book

Confirm the layout, dates and inclusions in writing, and share contact details between the marquee company, caterer, band and any other suppliers so they can coordinate. Ask for a final check of numbers and layout four to six weeks before the event, and make sure someone is available on site during the build to answer questions and confirm the position.