Party and garden marquees

Party and garden marquee hire across the UK for birthdays, anniversaries and family celebrations, sized to fit your garden.

In short: Party and garden marquees are smaller frame marquees and party tents, typically 3 to 9 metres wide, put up in back gardens, patios and driveways for birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and family gatherings. They suit hosts who want a covered space at home without hiring a venue. In the UK they typically cost £500 to £1,500 to hire and install for 30 to 50 guests.

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Most garden parties are shaped by the space available rather than the guest list. A typical suburban garden has a fixed width between fences, a patio at one end, a shed or trees at the other, and a side gate everything has to come through. The first job is working out what will actually fit, including room around the edges for pegs or weights and for people to walk.

Frame marquees are the usual choice because they need little space beyond their footprint and can sit on lawn, patio or a mixture, with legs levelled and ballasted where pegs cannot go in. Smaller jobs often go up in a few hours on the day before the party, with simple lighting, coconut matting or carpet and a few walls left open to the garden.

What is included

Check of the garden measurements, access route and any slopes
Frame marquee or party tent sized to fit the available space
Fixing with pegs on lawns or weights on patios and decking
Side walls with windows, and open panels facing the garden if wanted
Matting, carpet or simple flooring on uneven or soft ground
Festoon or fairy lighting run from a suitable power supply
Optional tables, chairs and a small dance floor
Installation and collection at times agreed around your plans

Who it is for

Milestone birthdays, anniversaries and retirement parties at home
Christenings, naming days and family gatherings
Garden parties where the house is too small for everyone indoors
Wakes and memorial gatherings held at home
Back gardens, patios, driveways and small paddocks

How much does it cost?

As a guide, a small UK party marquee for 30 to 50 guests usually costs £500 to £1,500 to hire and install. Flooring, furniture, heating and longer hire periods add to the price. See our full cost guide.

How it works

How party and garden marquees works, step by step

Measure the space

Send the length and width of the area, photos and the width of the side gate or access route.

Pick a size and layout

Choose a marquee that fits with room around it, and decide on seating, bar and any dance area.

Install

The marquee goes up, usually the day before, fixed to suit lawn, patio or a mixture of both.

Collect

The marquee is taken down after the party, often the next day, and the garden is left clear.

Party and garden marquees: FAQs

Will a marquee fit in my back garden?

Often yes, but measure first. You need the marquee footprint plus roughly half a metre to a metre around the edges for fixings and access, more if there are overhanging branches or a slope. A 6 by 9 metre marquee suits around 40 to 50 people seated and fits many medium gardens. Also measure the side gate or access route, as frame parts are long.

Can a marquee go on a patio or decking?

On a patio, yes, using weights rather than pegs, as long as the surface is reasonably level. Decking is more limited because it may not take the point loads from legs and weights, and you cannot peg through it. Many garden marquees straddle a patio and lawn, with the legs fixed differently on each surface and flooring used to even out the step.

Is a pop-up gazebo a safe alternative?

For a few people in calm weather, a good quality gazebo can be fine. Cheap pop-ups are light and catch the wind easily, and many are damaged or blown over every summer because they were not weighted or pegged properly. For a party with tables, lighting and guests underneath for several hours, a properly fixed frame marquee is the safer choice.

Do I need to tell the neighbours?

There is no legal requirement for a one-off private party, but a quick word helps, particularly if the crew will need to park nearby, the marquee will be close to a shared fence, or music will run into the evening. Noise from a private party can still be a statutory nuisance if it is excessive, so keep the volume reasonable later on.