Iain Booth
You’ve got a milestone celebration in the pipeline, maybe it’s a landmark birthday, a wedding, an anniversary or something more personal and unique. You want it to feel special, exclusive, and a true reflection of you or your family. So, naturally, you start where most people do: looking for a venue.
And then reality hits.
That beautiful country house you found? Already booked. The luxury hotel? Strict curfews and rigid packages. That rustic barn with twinkling lights? Only allows their own caterers, and you’d need to clear everything by 10am the next day.
Before long, you start to wonder whether the perfect venue actually exists.
Well… maybe it doesn’t, at least not in the traditional sense. But that’s exactly why more and more people are choosing to create their own. And marquee hire might be the elegant, flexible, luxurious solution you hadn’t considered yet. Read 10 Venue Dealbreakers to find out more.
In this article:
Venue Search Frustration: You’re Not Alone
Over the years, we’ve worked with countless clients who come to us at breaking point. They’ve scoured hotel websites, been for venue visits, requested brochures, negotiated with events managers, only to find that every option seems to involve some kind of compromise.
Here are just a few of the challenges people frequently face:
- Lack of availability: Popular venues are booked out months, even years in advance.
- Licensing restrictions: Want your party to run into the early hours? Many venues won’t allow it.
- Limited access times: You can’t get in to decorate until the morning of your event, and you’ll need to clear out by 9am sharp the next day.
- Catering restrictions: You’re tied into using the venue’s own catering, whether or not it suits your tastes or budget.
- Styling and personalisation limits: Some venues won’t allow you to hang decorations, light candles, or bring in your own suppliers.
- Noise constraints: Especially for rural venues, many will have tight sound limits or cut music off early.
And all this before you’ve even discussed costs, overnight accommodation or parking.
If this is sounding familiar, you’re in good company. But don’t worry, there is a better way.
Rethinking the Venue: What if You Built Your Own?
Imagine a space where:
- You choose the exact layout, style and atmosphere.
- You’re not tied to any in-house services or rigid packages.
- Your guests can party late into the night without disturbing anyone.
- You have access to set up and take down at times that suit you.
- The setting is deeply personal, perhaps even your own home or garden.
That’s exactly what a marquee venue offers.
At Lifestyle Marquees, we help clients create luxury, fully customised venues on private land, whether that’s a garden, a family estate, or a hired field with spectacular views. These aren’t flimsy tents with a few fairy lights, we’re talking fully-equipped, beautifully finished structures with flooring, lighting, furniture, power, heating, loos, professional kitchens and more.
“Our marquee was truly phenomenal. Every single guest, without exception, commented on the look and feel it created. We could not have been happier.”
Mr I. Leigh, Surrey
Why a Marquee Might Be the Venue You Didn’t Know You Were Looking For
Here’s how a marquee solves some of the most common venue challenges:
1. Total Control Over Timing
You decide when suppliers can arrive, when your guests can stay until, and how long the marquee stays up. No early pack-downs, no scrambling to tidy up before breakfast service.
2. Freedom to Choose Your Own Suppliers
Love a specific caterer? Want a mobile cocktail bar, wood-fired pizza oven or Michelin-starred chef? No problem. You’re not tied into pre-approved vendors.
3. Customise Everything
Whether you want an English country garden theme, an Ibiza-style beach party vibe, or a black-tie banquet, marquees are a blank canvas. We can help you design the look and feel from the ground up.
4. Host at Home (or Somewhere Meaningful)
Your venue doesn’t have to be a building. If you’ve got a garden, a paddock, or access to land, we can help you transform it into something spectacular. Not sure where to start? We can advise on logistics, permissions and even source land if needed.
And you probably don’t need as much space as you might imagine. We’re experts at finding solutions for small, awkward, sloping or tiered spaces and gardens. We’ve even built marquees over ponds, lakes and swimming pools.
Did you know: A tennis court is a great space for a marquee and can easily host up to 250 guests, with room for a catering area too.
5. It’s a Private, Exclusive Experience
There are no strangers staying in hotel rooms next door. No other weddings or parties happening in the same building. It’s your space, and yours alone, for as long as you need it.
But What About the Practicalities?
Understandably, many people worry that marquee hire sounds like hard work or requires a lot of planning. That’s where the right supplier makes all the difference.
At Lifestyle Marquees, we’ve been providing luxury marquees across the south of England for many years. Our team offers full end-to-end support, helping you plan everything from structure size and layout to heating, lighting, loos and power. We also have trusted connections with caterers, florists, event planners and furniture suppliers, so if you need help pulling your event together, we can coordinate it all.
And because we’re a family-run business, we’re not about churning out standard packages. We treat every celebration with care, creativity and attention to detail.
“What a pleasure it has been dealing with Lifestyle Marquees! Consummate professionals from start to finish. Absolutely loved the whole process and the final result was stunning. A huge thank you to this wonderful team .” – Google Review
Is a Marquee Right for You?
A marquee won’t be right for every event. But if you:
- Have access to a garden, estate or suitable land (even borrowed!)
- Want a high-end, personalised celebration that reflects your style
- Don’t want to be tied down by someone else’s rules
- Are looking for something different – something people will talk about long after the last glass of Champagne
Then it’s absolutely worth considering.
And we offer a wide variety of marquee options and styles to suit every type of occasion. You can explore them here.
Still Weighing Up the Options? Here’s What to Do Next
Choosing a venue is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning an event, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But don’t limit your options to what’s listed on venue hire websites. Read What Most People Forget to Ask When Booking a Venue to discover more.
Sometimes, the perfect place isn’t something you book, it’s something you build.
If you’d like to explore a party venue alternative and discover what’s possible with marquee hire, we’re here to help. Whether you’ve got a clear vision or no idea where to begin, our friendly team can walk you through everything, with no pressure or hard sell.
Read our customer testimonials, explore our case studies or download our comprehensive marquee hire guide to find out more.
Get in touch today or browse our past projects for inspiration
Lifestyle Marquees is a family-run marquee hire company with many years of experience in creating beautiful, bespoke marquee venues for weddings, parties and events. Based in Surrey, we work across the South East, including Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Berkshire and London.
Explore our case studies, our galleries, call us 01483 322070 or email enquiries@lifestylemarquees.co.uk, alternatively, click the button below and send us a message.
About the author
Iain Booth is the Managing Director of Lifestyle Marquees and a seasoned expert in marquee hire with over 30 years of hands-on experience in the events industry. Having worked on everything from private garden parties to luxury milestone celebrations, Iain brings deep practical knowledge and a calm, solutions-focused mindset to every event.
As the founder of this family-run business based in Surrey, Iain understands the challenges clients face when searching for the perfect venue, and how a well-planned marquee can offer the flexibility, freedom and wow factor they’re looking for.
Related FAQs
A marquee gives you control over your event. You set the timeline, choose the suppliers, design the layout, and decide how long the celebration lasts, all without the common restrictions imposed by traditional venues.
It depends on the event, but marquee hire isn’t a ‘cheap’ option. While marquee hire involves infrastructure costs, there are no hidden fees like corkage or compulsory catering. It’s the flexibility, and opportunities for personalisation that make marquees the better option for a truly bespoke event.
You’re free to choose all of your own suppliers, including catering, entertainment, bar services, and décor suppliers, or we can recommend trusted partners. No mandatory menus, no corkage fees, and no restrictions.
Yes. On private land, you set the finish time (within local noise regulations). Unlike many venues with strict music cut-off times, a marquee allows you to party into the night. However, it might also be a good idea to let your neighbours know of your plans well in advance.
Most venues impose rules around access times, early finish times, mandatory use of in-house caterers, and limited scope for décor or theming. These restrictions can make it hard to create the event you really want.
