Quick Marquee Hire FAQs

What Areas do you Operate in?

We are based in Baldock, Hertfordshire and operate in the following counties:

When do you set up the marquee?

Our install team typically work Monday-Friday. Assuming your event falls on the weekend we would typically set your marquee up 1-4 days days before (Mon-Fri) and we would remove your marquee the week after.

We can work on weekends to install/de rig your marquee however this would need to be pre-agreed with us. Any weekend work has a premium charge rate as our team are paid extra to work on weekends.

You do receive your installation date at the time of paying your deposit and we will let you know your de rig date 1-2 weeks prior to your event date when our working calendar has been finalised.

What is the 4% Damage Waiver?

It is the responsibility of the client to insure all goods by either:

i) Obtaining a 4% damage waiver from Abacus Marquee & Event Hire which will cover for the cost of fire, theft, vandalism, storm and flooding. The damage waiver does not cover any negligence or carelessness by the client or their guests.

ii) Obtaining insurance to cover fire, theft, vandalism, storm & flooring to cover the total replacement value.

We will need sight of said insurance no later than 2 weeks prior to installation of your marquee, otherwise we will add our 4% damage waiver to the hire.

How do I Book a Marquee with You?

We just need a 20% non-refundable deposit to secure your booking. This can be paid by card or bank transfer.

This is one of the lowest deposits in our industry - with more companies asking for 35%-50% deposit.

Your remaining balance is strictly paid 2 weeks prior of your marquee up date.

Holding Deposit

You can also pay a refundable £100 holding deposit to hold the marquee for your date.

The holding deposit lasts for 7 days upon which you have two options:

Continue with the booking and pay the remainder of the 20% deposit to secure your booking
Have your £100 holding deposit refunded.

Do You Offer Site Visits?

In most cases yes we do! We always like to have a conversation regarding your event and get an initial quote out to you before booking a site visit with you.

Once you have received your initial quote we can look to fit in a site visit with our team.

During peak periods or perhaps if your location is quite a distance from our base, we may suggest for you to send some images of the space over and if we are concerned we will make the trip out to come and formally measure.

We can come along and measure the area for you, and run through your options for your event to make sure it's the very best event it can be.

Are your Marquees Waterproof?

We use one of the leading UK suppliers of commercial quality marquees.

Our marquees are made from high quality PVC and are fully watertight.

They can withstand up to 60 mph wind speeds meaning our marquees can be used for long term hire periods too.

Our linings & interior equipment are of the very best quality too, so you can be assured you are hiring a premium commercial hire product suited for the hire industry.

Can I have my Marquee Installed on a Hard Surface?

Yes you can. Clearspan marquees means you can install them either on grass or hard surfaces such as concrete, patios, decking and tarmac.

The marquee is secured via water weights/concrete weights so there is no permanent damage to the hard surface.

Water weights is a cheaper weight solution. As long as there is an outside water tap nearby this would be the most cost effective weighting system.

If there is no water nearby the site of the marquee, then concrete weights will be required.

Does a Marquee Damage my Garden?

A marquee will not damage your lawns. We recommend and hard floor & carpet to protect your lawns which offer the protection compared to 60 people treading on your lawn throughout your event.

Our hard flooring is unique to most other companies and have no weight bearers digging into the grass and also have small holes in them to provide air to the grass.

Some asian wedding hires are hired for 1-3 weeks and all that happens is the area covered turns slightly yellow where the grass has had no sunlight. 7-10 days after the marquee has been dismantled your grass will return to it's usual green colour.

During very wet weather where the grass is very boggy you may find some areas get quite muddy if you have a high traffic flow etc.

Do I Need a Generator for my Event?

In most cases no you do not need a generator for your event.

You can use a nearby building/house to power the marquee lighting systems, fridges and DJ/band areas.

When You Will Need a Generator

If you are hiring a wedding marquee, where the caterer requires a catering tent to prep a 2/3 course hot meal this is where you will likely require a generator.

Most domestic buildings won't be able to cope with the electrical load of several heating ovens, fryers etc this catering tent will have.

Or if your power source is more than 50m away, again this is likely where you will require a generator for your power source.

You can read a more in depth article about if you require a generator here.

Are You Fully Insured?

Yes we are.

We have a £5m public liability policy and a £10m employers liability insurance.

You can view our insurance policies here

Are Marquees Suitable in Winter?

Yes marquees are suitable in winter as long as they have the following items installed:

Hard Flooring & Carpet

To provide a suitable firm surface that keeps any wet weather away from the floor. This is recommended for both hard terrains such as patios as well as grass sites. The floor insulates the ground and helps retain the heat in too.

Linings

Linings act as a second skin to the marquee and helps make the marquee more thermally efficient.

Heaters

Our power automated diesel heating systems provide the heat for your marquee to ensure no matter how cold it is outside, your marquee is of an ambient temperature for your guests to feel comfortable.

You can find a more in depth section about winter marquees here.

What is the difference between a Gazebo & a Marquee?

A gazebo is a domestic rated product which is usually made from an inferior lightweight plastic covers and thin metal/plastic poles.

They offer limited wet weather protection and are only rates for up to 15-20mph wind speeds.

Most gazebo's you can buy/hire for less than £500 are typically single use structures if it is windy as the poles snap. which is obviously a safety concern if it is windy when your event is taking place!

Marquees are of commercial quality and offer a fully watertight solution and able to withstand up to 60mph wind speeds.

They are typically taller than gazebos allowing them to be attached to a building if required. Their internal linings & flooring systems are of commercial quality and are far superior to a gazebo.

Commercial marquees require an experienced team of installers due to their more complex and superior framework to keep them safe no matter the UK weather.

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