A Journey Through Marquee Mastery: Tents and Events 2023 Recap
THANKS 2023 – it’s been another good one and it’s just flown by!
We don’t know about anyone else but hasn’t 2023 just flown by? Maybe we’re just getting older (!) but honestly, it just happens when you’re busy, busy, busy – take our word for it!
The cold, dark months of January and February are normally fairly quiet for us at Tents and Events HQ. However, along with the usual annual maintenance schedule of painting, varnishing and washing, we were out in all weathers in the early months of the year. Our TV filming clients were finishing off their latest blocks of filming. We supplied them with tentage to allow warm, bright spaces for the costume department, hair and make-up and also the supporting actors’ holding area. The two filming shoots used almost 1500m² of floor space between the various tents and, of course, lots of tables, chairs, heating and lighting which we can all manage ‘in house’. We have a vast stock of tables and chairs at our disposal!
TOWARDS THE END of February we returned to Clydeport to install the ‘Summer’ season marquee for passenger security screening at the quayside. This 12m x 40m structure remained in place over the year and was removed in the autumn once the last cruise liner of the season had left the port and the high tech screening equipment had been removed from the tent. On top of this it was varnishing, painting and cleaning galore…
MARCH WAS A GREAT month for us to take the opportunity to refresh our training prior to the summer season. Two of the team travelled to Leeds to work with MUTA (the tent and marquee regulatory body of which we are proud members) on a two-day site supervision skills course. All staff were placed on a first aid training course, Banksman training was undertaken by all the boys and the whole team were refreshed in all aspects of health and safety awareness for the work place.
APRIL TENDS TO be the start of the season for us and this year we had a busy month for sure! Our team were in Dollar to assist and advise the local Community Development Trust in putting up their own marquee for the town’s summer season events. Back at headquarters, we were in full laundry/repair mode, helping one of our long-standing customers refresh their ivory linings from their three marquees prior to the start of their hospitality season and carrying out their repairs where needed.
Over the winter months we had a marquee out on hire supporting the team at the KGV Docks in Glasgow who hosted a ship of Ukranian refugees. As the MS Ambition left the dock and all the refugees were rehoused, it was time for us to remove the quayside marquee once the security equipment had been removed.
AS MAY ARRIVED we were super excited to be part of the Extreme E tented village, providing the catering marquee for the competing teams and support staff. Extreme E races take place in some of the most remote corners of the planet, many of which are impacted by climate change.
Featuring ten teams, each consisting of a male and female driver, the series aims to shed light on global issues and inspire the next generation to take action. In May, after racing these electric vehicles in Saudi Arabia, an open cast mine in Dumfries and Galloway was the location for the next competition before they moved on to Sardinia, then the Amazon and Chile. All aspects of the racing events are precision planned in such a way to reduce their carbon footprint. The overall series winners were RXR – Roseberg X Racing.
May is a perfect month for hosting a marquee wedding. The weather is usually good and the famous Scottish midges are not yet in full season!
This year we were lucky enough to have not one but two local weddings in May. The first wedding was in Innellan at the beautiful Acadia venue. The ceremony was held in the willow tunnel, with the marquee nicely tucked behind the main house giving the guests total privacy for the whole day. Our second May wedding was held near Tighnabruaich on a family farm. With elevated views over towards Arran and Bute, the marquee was perfectly positioned to make the most of the spectacular setting – it was simply stunning!
THE WEDDINGS KEPT coming in June with our marquee set up at High Wards in the village of Gartocharn on the shores of Loch Lomond. We have worked there with Emily and her team for many years and it is such a perfect location. Back in Dunoon it was party time in Bullwood when a client hosted a joint housewarming-retiral get together. It looked like a fabulous day and night and just look at the evening footage from it: a fabulously warm, balmy evening!
JUNE IS ALSO full of installs and derigs for annual events with the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston being one of our biggest of the month. With only a week in between the Highland Show and the GWCT Scottish Game Fair, which is held in the grounds of Scone Palace, it is a tight turnaround for the team. Both are great events that we have worked at for years and working in Perth is a particular favourite in our annual calendar.
As soon as we were back ‘home’ from the Game Fair it was time to start loading the vehicles for a trip to Campbeltown. We were invited back to install for a family wedding on a farm at Southend (our second time working with the family – always a good sign!). It was such a fabulous location with uninterrupted views over Kintyre and, of course, a great time was had by all! Then it was on to Campbeltown itself for another wedding. Two in a row in Kintyre: how fabulous!
AUGUST ARRIVED at full speed and it was all hands on deck for several back-to-back events.
Hamilton Race Course Ladies Night took place on 5th August, a brilliant day but – my goodness – the heavens opened in the evening. Everyone was happy to get into the marquees!
The same weekend saw our marquees at Fort William where we were very proud to play our part of the UCI Cycling World Championships which were being held over Scotland throughout early August. It can be a challenge when there are large events on over the same time period. However, with a well planned install and derig schedule it’s all seamless!
August continued onto the Piping Live! music festival in Glasgow and then the preparations were in full swing for the Cowal Highland Gathering, which is just a stone’s throw from Tents and Events HQ in Dunoon. This is, of course, another favourite of ours, being on home territory; it’s great to be able to work in our lovely home town!
SEPTEMBER SAW US at Marr Hall for a private event and also back to Hampden National Stadium to install the FanZone for the 150th Anniversary of the oldest international fixture in football, Scotland vs England. The result didn’t exactly go to plan but it was, of course, a great atmosphere; as they say, ‘No Scotland, No Party’!
As the month progressed we were loading the equipment and heading off to Wigtown for the Wigtown Book Festival which was celebrating its 25th Anniversary in the heart of Scotland’s National Book Town. Guests gracing the tents this year included Judy Murray, Maggie O’Farrell, Nicola Sturgeon, Gavin Esler, Michael Murpurgo, Sally Magusson and Hamza Yassin and many, many more. What a stellar line up!
It ended up being a very windy week in Dumfries and Galloway and Graeme spent a lot of time in the town keeping a watchful eye over the structures. Graeme keeps a very, very close eye on the weather in all of our marquee locations all year round and he will take steps where required to provide additional protection for the safety of our structures and, of course, the public. Thanks to the resident Book Festival photographer Colin Tenant for allowing us to use these images!
MOVING INTO THE END of the year we had a few long-term hires to be removed, one of which was the installation from February at the Ocean Terminal in Greenock. With over 80 cruises docking at the terminal over the year it was a busy season for the marquee, but by November the cruise season was well and truly over for the year and time to derig!
As we move out of our spectacular Tents and Events 2023 journey we already have our 2024 plans in place. A lot of bookings in our schedules are annual events that we return to year after year. We have the most fabulous, loyal customers, but to have this loyalty we must provide first class service in all aspects of our business and that is exactly what we do.
We are heading into our 26th year in business with a strong, stellar reputation in the events and marquee sector. As they say, ‘customer service is an attitude and not a department’!
So it’s farewell to Tents and Events’ adventures of 2023 and now onto 2024!