Temporary Event Structures: Which One for Your Event?
A practical guide to the main types of temporary event structure and which suits hospitality, festivals, exhibitions and corporate events.
Temporary structures have become a core part of how the UK hosts events, from open-air hospitality and festivals to corporate showcases and brand activations. The right structure gives you shelter, capacity and a professional finish without the cost or permanence of a building. The wrong one costs you on comfort, safety or budget. This guide covers the main types, which suits which job, and whether to buy or hire.
Hospitality and venues
Pubs, bars and restaurants increasingly treat outdoor space as year-round trading space rather than a summer bonus. The structure you choose depends on how you want to use the area. A pop-up gazebo gives fast, brandable cover for a bar, a queuing area or a service point. A marquee provides a larger, enclosed space for extended dining or functions. For a premium offer, an enclosed pod gives private, weatherproof seating. There is a dedicated overview of the options for pubs and hospitality venues if that is your setting.
With sidewalls, anchoring and heating, all of these can run through the colder months, turning unused outdoor space into covered seating that earns its keep.
Outdoor dining pods
Luxury alfresco dining pods have moved from novelty to an expected premium option. These transparent domes let guests dine in warmth and privacy while keeping a view of the surroundings, and they suit restaurants, hotels and pubs looking to stand out and extend their season into autumn and winter.
Built from durable, UV-resistant materials and designed for the British climate, pods can be dressed with flooring, lighting, heating and soft furnishings to match a venue's style. For a long-term installation, they are best anchored to decking or a concrete pad.
Festivals and outdoor events
Festivals, fairs and community events need structures that go up fast, secure on uneven ground and look the part for vendors and sponsors. Clearspan PVC structures and heavy-duty marquees handle bars, catering and hospitality areas, while pop-up gazebos suit traders, information points and first aid stations. For larger sites, modular marquees for festivals can be extended bay by bay to create ticketing zones, production areas or covered stages. There is a fuller picture on the festivals and outdoor events page.
Whatever the structure, anchor it properly for the surface and the forecast, since open festival sites offer little natural shelter from wind.
Branding and exhibitions
At a trade show, product launch or promotional campaign, a structure doubles as a marketing asset. Gala Tent's printed gazebos and flags use high-resolution, weatherproof printing across canopies, sidewalls and backdrops, so a stand reinforces brand visibility from across a busy event. For something built entirely to your specification, bespoke structures can be made to set dimensions and finishes.
Corporate and pop-up events
For AGMs, awards nights and off-site functions, a modular marquee scales to the number of guests, with flooring, lighting and lining packages for a professional finish. As a rough capacity guide, a 4m x 6m marquee seats around 20 for dining, a 6m x 12m around 60, scaling up from there.
For short-term retail, weekend sales or trialling a new pitch, pop-up gazebos go up in minutes and pack down just as fast, which suits market traders and mobile food vendors who need to be quick on and off site.
Should you buy or hire?
Gala Tent sells structures directly, and separately runs a UK-wide hire network that connects you with trusted local hirers who handle delivery and setup. The right route depends on how often you will use it. Buying makes sense for repeated or commercial use, where the structure becomes an asset you control and can brand, maintain and reuse for years. Hiring through the hire network suits a one-off event where you do not need to own the structure afterwards.
If you buy, factor in the accessories that make a structure usable in practice, since flooring, lighting and heating are what turn a bare frame into a comfortable space.
Talk it through
Gala Tent has supplied marquees and gazebos across the UK for more than 25 years, to event professionals, local authorities, hospitality businesses and major brands. To work out the right structure, size and route for your event, the team can advise on 01709 242454 or via Live Chat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a temporary event structure?
It is any non-permanent shelter used to host or support an event, such as a marquee, pop-up gazebo, clearspan structure or dining pod. They provide capacity, weather protection and a professional setting without the cost or permanence of a building, and they can be moved, reconfigured or removed after use.
What size marquee do I need for my event?
It depends on guest numbers and layout. As an approximate guide, a 3m x 6m marquee holds around 32 standing or 16 seated, a 4m x 6m around 40 standing or 20 seated, and a 6m x 12m around 120 standing or 60 seated. Allow extra space for catering, a bar, a dance floor or staging.
Should I buy or hire a marquee?
Buy if you will use it repeatedly or commercially, since it becomes an asset you can brand, maintain and reuse for years. Hire for a one-off event where ownership is not worth it. Gala Tent sells structures directly and runs a hire network that connects you with local hirers who deliver and set up.
Can temporary structures be used all year round?
Yes, with the right specification. Heavy-duty PVC covers, sidewalls, secure anchoring and heating allow marquees, commercial gazebos and dining pods to be used through autumn and winter. Clear snow from roofs and monitor severe weather.
Do I need planning permission for a temporary structure?
Short-term structures rarely need permission, but a long-term or fixed installation may, and rules vary by property and location. Check with your local authority before committing to a permanent setup.
