Festival marquee types
Choosing the right marquee is less about finding one structure that does everything and more about matching the structure to the job it needs to do.
We supply four main marquee types: gazebos, pop-up marquees, pagoda marquees and stretch tents. Each works best in different settings, from hospitality and bars to traders, catering and operational areas.
Ask Us What Will Work BestAt a glance
| Structure | Best suited to | Visual style | Flexibility | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gazebos | VIP lounges, chill areas and smaller covered spaces | Simple and practical | High | View gazebos → |
| Pop-Up Marquees | Operational areas, registration and flexible temporary cover | Clean and functional | Very high | View pop-ups → |
| Pagoda Marquees | Entrances, hospitality, bars and sponsors | Distinctive and premium | High | View pagodas → |
| Stretch Tents | Bars, dining, social areas and hospitality | Open and relaxed | High | View stretch tents → |
Explore the range
A practical option for smaller covered areas where flexibility matters. Gazebos can work well for VIP chill spaces, guest lounges, traders and other areas that need straightforward shelter without dominating the site visually.
Explore festival gazebos
Designed for quick deployment and flexible use, pop-up marquees are useful where the site needs temporary operational cover, registration space or smaller structures that can fit around changing requirements.
Explore pop-up marquees
With their distinctive peaked roofs, pagoda marquees suit areas where appearance matters as much as function. They work particularly well for hospitality, entrances, sponsor activations, premium bars and public-facing spaces.
Explore pagoda marquees
Stretch tents create open, informal covered spaces that suit festival bars, dining, social areas and relaxed hospitality. Their shape helps them feel integrated into the event rather than like a conventional enclosed marquee.
Explore stretch tentsNeed more than one type?
A single event may use pagodas for entrances, stretch tents for bars, gazebos for hospitality and pop-up marquees for operational areas. The best setup is often a combination rather than one structure repeated everywhere.
See how those structures can be used across different festival areas or explore our complete festival marquee hire service.
How to choose
Before deciding on a marquee type, think about who will use the space, how open or enclosed it needs to feel, how visible it should be and what equipment will sit inside it.
Site layout, access, ground conditions and surrounding structures can also influence the choice. If you are planning several structures, our festival site planning guide is a useful next step.
Related planning
Compare structure types against the role, audience and visual style of the space.
Understand how layout, furniture and intended use influence the space required.
Plan structures around access, movement, operational zones and nearby facilities.
Frequently asked questions
Stretch tents and pagoda marquees can both work well for festival bars, depending on the size, atmosphere and layout you want to create. Stretch tents suit open social spaces, while pagodas can create more defined bar areas.
Gazebos, pagoda marquees and stretch tents can all work for hospitality and chill-out spaces. The right choice depends on the size of the area, level of finish and whether you want the space to feel open or more defined.
Yes. Many festivals use a combination of structures because different areas have different requirements. We can help coordinate several marquee types across the same site.
Yes. Tell us what each space needs to do, where it will be positioned and any equipment or layout requirements, and we can help identify the most suitable options.
Available dimensions vary depending on the type of marquee. We offer a range of sizes and can recommend the most suitable dimensions based on your expected capacity, intended use, site layout and any equipment or furniture required inside the structure.
Not sure which one you need?
Send us the event location, dates and what each covered area needs to do. We can help you narrow down the most suitable marquee type.