Wednesday June 30, 2021

I wanted this week to have a little peek behind the door of our accessory cupboard. What we sell, why you may wish to consider them (even dare I say it, if you bought your marquee, eh-hem, elsewhere) and even an exclusive sneak preview of things to come!

Perhaps not the most animated of reads – as lists go this will be one of them – but hopefully a useful guide to what you can buy and why you may wish to consider them. I’ve tried to organise this in a helpful way starting with safety.

There’s an anecdote, may be folklore but I kind of hope it’s real, that occurred during the big storm of 1987 (the one that helped Michael Fish decide to retire and the one where Sevenoaks became “one oak”) that goes like this.

A dispatcher receives a call from two police officers on patrol who are calling in a report that they’ve just been overtaken on the A27 by a garden shed!

Of the advantages of a Marquee is the excellent ventilation properties as well as their (relatively) light weight structure. These very features could however prove problematic during periods of very high winds and of course both preventing damage to your tent and of course more importantly the comfort, safety and security of users and guests. Let’s have a look at ways to protect the Marquee from the extremes of the British weather.

GROUND STAKES

If your Marquee is on soft ground, then you can’t have enough ground stakes – these are the Marquee equivalent to the tent peg. Our stakes are rebar steel, corrosion resistant and ribbed for extra grip. They are a full half metre long to provide a robust anchor point – simply hammer into the soil to help anchor each marquee leg.

Please note – these are NOT suitable for hard standing but have no fear we have you covered – see storm kits (below).

STORM PROTECTION KITS

We offer two versions, both for soft ground (soil, lawns, fields, etc) as well as for hard surfaces (like tarmac, concrete hard standings and similar).

The soft ground kit comprises two tension belt straps with ratchets, each a generous 15m as well as the 4 earth pegs needed to secure them.

For hard ground choose the appropriate kit, at the same price, the difference maker being the strong eye bolts instead of the earth pegs. These are drilled into place to anchor the straps.

In each case the straps are fitted to the tent at eaves height and held firmly by either the pegs or eye bolts as appropriate.

This kit can help prevent the worst of the wind from lifting or distorting the structure and provide peace of mind at minimal cost.

OTHER SAFETY MEASURES

Used either in conjunction to the above stakes and storm kits a really cheap and effective method for extra peace of mind we would recommend using either sandbags or water weights. These are easy to obtain, either from DIY outlets or even by repurposing existing containers.

FLOORING

Bridging the gap between safety and comfort is our range of flooring. Especially if you plan to install over uneven ground (like a lawn or similar). Not only can it provide a surer footing for your guests as well as make the area more wheelchair accessible, but it’s also the perfect surface to overlay with carpet or rugs. It can also help prevent muddy shoes!

You may also wish to order enough flooring to provide a “path” from building to marquee again aiding guest comfort as well as helping to reduce the chance of a slipping accident on damp grass.

We offer two grades to suit most needs.

Either the Rola-Trac PPCP Premium flooring, cost effective, weather proof and chemical resistant with an anti-slip surface or the TerraGuard Professional flooring, which is flexible, hard wearing and designed to be easy to install – it boasts a multi directional non slip surface making it one of the safest floors available.

Both flooring options are modular and therefore suitable for any marquee in the range.

MARQUEE LINING

Lining a marquee is like adding luxury wallpaper to a function room. The material can soften the  angular frame of a Marquee as well as adding a richness to the walls and ceiling. Available in either satin or organza and seven colours this additional enhancement can turn a simple Marquee into a palatial function area.

We of course supply ribbon tiebacks free of charge to make dressing your Marquee a breeze.

CARRY BAGS

We can supply purpose made bags both for poles and the tarpaulins – ideal for storage and transportation of your marquee. Protect and extend the life of your investment with this cost-effective solution. Move your marquee from location to location in an organised manner without losing track of individual components, with ease.

STOP PRESS

If you have read through this far, I think you deserve a reward. We at UK Tents are committed to providing you with a one stop solution to all your marquee needs and with that in mind we boast an ever increasing range of accessories.

We are therefore proud to announce some forthcoming enhancements to our range.

Ideally used in conjunction with our Premium or Professional flooring range, we will soon introduce a range of attractive yet hardwearing and functional carpets ideal to add that touch of underfoot class.

Festoon lighting in a number of designs and lengths to add a touch of the fairy-tale to your event. Used in conjunction with our marquee linings create a luxurious wedding reception or attractive party setting.

Of course, it goes without saying that if you have an idea or a need that isn’t yet listed why not give us a call as we may be able to help you source what you need.