Guest Areas
Hospitality spaces should be easy to reach and positioned around the intended guest journey.
Festival Planning Guide
Festival site planning guide
Temporary structures work best when they are planned as part of the wider festival site rather than positioned one by one.
Guest movement, service access, delivery routes, backstage operations and the relationship between different event areas all influence where structures should sit.
Start With the Whole Site
Map the key areas before placing marquees
Think first about entrances, stages, bars, catering, hospitality, staff routes and operational areas. Temporary structures should support that layout rather than interrupt it.
This is especially important where several structures are being installed across one festival.
Key Planning Zones
Separate guest-facing and operational needs
Bars
Festival bar structures need room for queues, service access and customer circulation.
Catering
Catering areas need sensible delivery, staff and service routes.
Backstage & Staff
Production and staff welfare usually need to sit away from public congestion.
Site Planning Sequence
Six questions to work through
- 01Where do visitors enter and move?
- 02Where are the main guest destinations?
- 03Where do service vehicles and crews enter?
- 04Which spaces must remain separate?
- 05How will structures be installed and removed?
- 06How do all temporary areas connect?
Access & Installation
Temporary structures also need a practical build route
Site access affects delivery and installation. Structures may require clear routes for vehicles, equipment and crew before the festival opens.
Consider installation and collection access early so the final layout does not create avoidable conflicts with other suppliers or event infrastructure.
Guest Movement
Do not create unnecessary bottlenecks
Bars, catering and popular hospitality areas can generate concentrated footfall. Positioning them too close to main routes, entrances or each other can create congestion.
Leave enough space around temporary structures for queues, entrances and people moving past the area.
Structure Size & Site Position
Size planning and site planning belong together
If a structure is too large for the available area, the problem cannot be solved by layout alone. Use the festival marquee size guide before finalising site positions.
Once the approximate size is understood, compare the available festival marquee types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Festival site planning FAQs
Should marquee positions be decided before structure sizes?
They should be considered together. The available site area affects suitable sizes, while the required floor area affects where a structure can practically sit.
Why is service access important?
Catering, bars, production and installation teams may need vehicle or staff access that should not interfere with main guest routes.
Can several structures be coordinated across one festival site?
Yes. Multiple guest-facing and operational structures can be considered together as part of one wider layout.
What information helps with site planning?
A site plan, access points, event dates, intended structure uses, approximate capacities and any known restrictions are all useful.
Ready to Discuss the Site?
Send us the event location and structure requirements
Once you know the main festival areas and approximate structure sizes, we can discuss how the temporary setup might work across your site.