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How to connect your marquee to a building

Connecting a marquee to a house typically involves two approaches:

Butting the Marquee Directly Up to the House:

  1. Generally feasible when house doors open to the marquee end rather than the side, beneficial for weather resistance and structural considerations.
  2. Ensure a snug fit between the marquee and the house, especially near overhanging guttering.
  3. Leave off the end panels facing the house and position them on either side, filling any gaps between the marquee corners and the house.
  4. This arrangement enhances the event atmosphere by allowing house windows to offer a direct view into the marquee.
  5. For a polished appearance and improved insulation, consider lifting the scalloped edge of the roof facing the house slightly.

Using a Walkway:

  1. Our modular walkways come in 2x2m, 2x4m, or 2x6m structures, but improvising with wood or PVC is also an option.
  2. Keep the walkway as short as possible if the event spans both the house and the marquee to encourage seamless flow between the two spaces.
  3. Consider heating provisions for the walkway if needed.

For personalized event advice, feel free to contact us with details about your event, including the type, available space, guest count, and site diagrams or photographs. We’re ready to provide tailored guidance.

Should you wish to use or quote any portion of this article, kindly reach out to us for permission or licensing.

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How to choose were to put up your marquee

Not everyone is blessed with the luxury of perfectly manicured bowling green lawns. So, when selecting the ideal spot for your marquee, consider these essential factors:

Terrain Considerations:

  1. While a marquee doesn’t demand absolute flatness, a level surface certainly facilitates the setup. To assess the ground, experiment by placing garden furniture on the intended location.
  2. A gentle slope is manageable, but excessively bumpy and uneven landscapes might pose challenges. Don’t be tempted to improvise with dining tables on a slope, as it can result in chairs at awkward heights.
  3. Avoid waterlogged areas, especially during winter events.
  4. Our marquees are versatile enough to be erected on hard standing or a mix of hard and soft surfaces, as long as there’s not a significant height difference.

Choosing a Garden Location:

  1. Marquees typically come in square or rectangular shapes, so factor this in when planning their placement.
  2. Incorporating flower beds, small trees, or bushes within the marquee can add charm, but be mindful that they will reduce the marquee’s capacity.
  3. During winter, it’s wise to position the marquee close to or connected to the house for convenient access.
  4. Consider having two layout options—one for stormy weather with the marquee near the house, and another for fair weather with the marquee set back.
  5. For a cosy gathering in a vast garden, position the marquee across the garden, creating a small courtyard in front to foster intimacy and prevent the feeling of being lost in a large space.

For personalized event insights, reach out with event details such as type, available space, guest count, and site diagrams or photographs. We’re here to provide tailored advice.

If you wish to use or quote any portion of this article, kindly contact us for permission or licensing.

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How to secure marquees on hard surfaces

Portland marquees function like robust boxes, making them suitable for setup on hard surfaces such as concrete, tarmac or paving. However, proper anchoring is crucial to ensure stability. While tie downs are the conventional method, they may not be ideal for hard surfaces. Here are alternative anchoring methods:

  1. Bolting: On certain hard surfaces, bolting the marquee to the ground is an option. The footplates come with pre-existing holes for this purpose. For increased strength, consider drilling eye-bolt fixings 1-2 meters away from the marquee sides and use straps similar to those found in tie-down kits.
  2. Heavy Weights: Strapping heavy weights directly to the marquee is a popular and effective anchoring method on hard surfaces. Various weight options include:
    • Water butts: Light and portable, but avoid long-term use due to the risk of standing water and legionnaires disease. Access to a hose pipe on-site is essential.
    • Concrete blocks or other dense materials: Excellent for stability but can be cumbersome to move.
    • Vehicles: For short-term setups (e.g., exhibitions), marquees can be strapped to vehicles. Ensure a secure attachment that won’t damage the vehicle.

Combining methods is also an option, such as using tie downs to a nearby grass area on one side and heavy weights on another. It’s crucial to note that the metal weights commonly used for gazebos are insufficient for anchoring commercial marquees.

Every site is unique, and the responsibility for adequate anchoring lies with those setting up the marquee. Customized advice for your event is available by contacting us with event details, including the type of event, available space, number of guests, and site diagrams/photographs.

For any use or quotation of this article, please reach out to us for permission or licensing.

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Why our 4m wide premier marquees are so strong

Our premier Portland Marquees surpass the industry standard as well as our own party tent and luxury ranges in terms of strength. The robustness is attributed to the incorporation of features commonly found in 6-meter wide structures:

  1. Vertical and Horizontal Roof Braces: The inclusion of both vertical and horizontal roof braces significantly enhances the strength of the roof, setting our marquees apart.
  2. Intermediate Purlins: Strategically positioned intermediate purlins along each side, halfway down the roof, provide additional support, reinforcing the marquee’s overall structure.
  3. Wind Resistant End Panels: Our wind-resistant 2-meter end panels, covered in detail in a separate article, contribute to the marquee’s stability in challenging weather conditions.
  4. Envelope Style Roof: The unique envelope-style roof adds to the distinctive features of our marquees, ensuring durability and reliability.
  5. Automatic Inclusion of Groundbars: Groundbars are automatically included, contributing to the overall stability of the structure.
  6. Gable Uprights: A gable upright at each end facilitates the use of interchangeable side panels, offering flexibility in design and functionality.
  7. High-Quality Material: All roofs and sides are crafted from a reliable 500gsm rip-stop PVC, ensuring longevity and resilience.
  8. Triangular Structure: Leveraging the strength of the triangle, the additional roof braces create a robust triangular structure, providing substantial strength to the marquee frame.

Collectively, these features position our 4m commercial marquees as the most durable and heavy-duty structures in their class globally.


For personalized event advice, feel free to contact us with details about your event, including the type of event, available space, number of guests, and site diagrams/photographs. We are committed to offering tailored guidance to meet your specific needs.

If you intend to use or quote any part of this article, kindly reach out to us for permission or licensing.

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6m x 4m marquees VS 4m x 6m Marquees

6x4m marquees vs 4x6m marquees
6x4m marquees vs 4x6m marquees

In the realm of marquees, the initial specification typically revolves around the width of the structure. For instance, a marquee measuring 6 meters in width and 12 meters in length would be denoted as 6x12m.

However, there exists a common source of confusion between 4x6m and 6x4m marquees. The key distinction lies in the width of the A-frame, as illustrated in the diagram. A marquee employing 4m wide A-frames with a length of three 2m bays is labelled as 4x6m (depicted on the left in the diagram). Conversely, a marquee utilizing 6m wide A-frames and spanning two 2m bays is referred to as 6x4m (shown on the right in the diagram).

While the 4x6m model tends to be the more popular and cost-effective choice for this size, the 6x4m variant may be more suitable in certain scenarios. For instance, when butting up to a house it is advisable to use a 6x4m marquee if the area is only 4m deep and 6m wide. This ensures that the flat gable aligns with a house for weathering purposes, allowing water to run off to the side without any rail obstruction to door openings within the marquee.


We are always eager to provide personalized advice for your event. Feel free to reach out to us with details about your event, including the type of event, available space, the number of guests, and any diagrams or photographs of the site. We will gladly offer guidance on your options.

If you wish to utilize or quote any part of this article, kindly contact us for permission or licensing.