Monday June 14, 2021
Most people, indeed, the vast majority who buy from us, currently purchase marquees for the reasons you’d expect them to. It’s so that they can hold events outdoors in a well-ventilated space (in line with current covid health guidance) but still in comfort and weather protected as we are constantly being reminded that “outdoors is safer than indoors. Indeed, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, if it weren’t for social gatherings, parties, weddings, receptions, and events we probably wouldn’t have much of a business. However, it would be far from the truth to suggest that this is the whole story.
We therefore decided it would be fun to poll a few of our many customers to find out why they bought a Marque from UK Tents, what they are using them for and generally the creativity of some of our many satisfied clients, so we could share with you some of the uses they are being put to. I’ll admit that frankly some of the reasons they are being utilised came as a surprise to us too!
We supplied one such tent to a vet’s practice in semi-rural Lancashire who wanted needed more space for animals, specifically for the cats and dogs, left with the practice during the day for treatment, recovery, or observation. The installation of a Marquee across part of his hard standing to the rear of his surgery allowed him to achieve this goal. This meant the surgery could keep these pets socially distanced and in a well-ventilated space. We were rather confused as to why he would want to do this until he explained that there have been cases recorded, albeit rare, of covid being passed from human to animal, specifically cats and dogs, and no doubt there was therefore the possibility of such pets transmitting the disease from one to another and potentially back to humans.
Need Extra Space?
We have sold three to a film company who have used them extensively though a current shoot. They’ve found the spaces flexible, easy to erect and dismantle and more covid compliant than the traditional trailers, busses, and caravans. They’ve deployed them as a dining area, Covid testing room and a make-up room, respectively. They also repurposed one to provide under cover storage for their expensive equipment during recent heavy storms.
How about a comedy club? Fancy a laugh? When regulations permitted outdoor entertainment at least three of our larger Premium, fire retardant, Marquees became places of stand-up entertainment around the country – who said socially distanced, outdoor, table service spaces couldn’t be fun?
We have a number of tents abutted to Private hospitals and clinic entrances or erected in car parks near the entrances, as rapid covid testing points so prospective patients, staff and visitors can be checked before entering the premises, helping to keep everyone safe. We have also supplied to the NHS in support of their rapid response surge testing efforts that has become a vital defence against newly discovered variants.
There is a large supermarket, large enough to qualify as a superstore, in the West Midlands who wanted to keep all their staff as safe and as comfortable as they could. Bear in mind that food providers were definitely in the list of essential workers and would not have had the option to work remotely or be furloughed. The issue they had was the cramped and poorly ventilated team room – the place where team colleagues would normally take their rest breaks and eat their meals. The solution (as if you couldn’t guess) was to install a marquee in part of the staff car park. They ran power, lighting, and heating into the space. They relocated the vending machines, microwaves, and other food preparation equipment into the tent along with tables and chairs that were all set up within the tent, socially distanced, of course. Indeed, they even extended the plumbing to provide a free-standing sink with running water. I can only imagine the morale boost to the team, knowing how the company takes their welfare into consideration and provides such facilities. Admirable.
You’ll see one of our products at a boot fair in Wiltshire almost every Sunday that outdoor markets have been permitted. They have used it for their catering facility, moving their Café from inside to outside. First, as a servery offering takeaways and then, when rules permitted, a sit-down eatery too using picnic benches. If you’ve enjoyed a coffee, bacon bap or maybe even a ham and cheese baguette using local Wiltshire produce at a Sunday market purchased inside a lovely white tent then chances are you’ve experienced one of our products whilst enjoying your breakfast and perusing the bargains you managed to snaffle in the market itself!
One of the most creative and unique uses for one of our Marquees is the one we delivered to the West Country. On a fairly spacious rural estate one of our larger marquees has been erected to cover an outdoor “lap pool” – a swimming pool designed for exercise. Apparently, the owner wanted to avoid being rained on whilst taking her early morning exercise and a marquee became a perfect solution. It seems she has an aversion to getting wet whilst swimming!
I am of course obliged to confess that we actually use a marquee ourselves in an unusual way. We operate from a large capacity two story warehouse near Bedford. If you’ve purchases from us using “click and collect” you will have seen it. We’ve erected one inside the warehouse, on the upper deck which is now an extremely comfortable and airy office for the team!
So, there you have it, just a few novel ways our tents have been put to use – if you’ve bought one, we’d love to hear from you about your experiences and what you use yours for, especially if you can compete with any of the above. Or maybe you have a problem in mind that you are considering a marquee to overcome and wish to discuss the practicalities.