Hilltop Tots Daycare in Staffordshire invested in two Vantage 6m x 6m Pop-Up Marquees to create a covered outdoor classroom, and ran into a couple of snags during setup. Rather than handle it by email, our Operations Director Andrew and Marketing Manager Ryan drove over to help in person.

On arrival, Andrew checked both frames and carried out a few small repairs so that everything was sound from a health and safety point of view. The team then worked with the Hilltop staff to raise the structures, set the leg heights, and arrange the sidewalls in the combinations that suited the daily flow of the nursery.

The key step was joining the two 6m x 6m Vantage units into a single span. Using infill panels and a gutter kit, the two squares became one weatherproof 6m x 12m cover, 72m² of space to learn, play and host events. Hilltop Tots have not been at the site long and are clearly building something for local families.

Ryan, Marketing Manager at Gala Tent, said:

"As much as we would love to see every order and delivery go perfectly, sometimes it's necessary to roll up your sleeves and get out on the road to personally help customers get exactly what they paid for. This was one of those occasions, we're delighted to have assisted, and it was great to see the new marquee out in the wild, exactly as we hope our customers will use them."

What the day delivered

A quick fix became a full setup session. The result is a 6m x 12m covered area, properly linked, guttered and configured around how the nursery uses the space. During school hours, it works as a flexible learning and play area while work is carried out on the main building. After hours and at weekends, the plan is to host small functions and community events to help raise funds, so a single purchase serves two purposes.

It was also a good demonstration of the Vantage 6m x 6m doing what it is designed to do: go up quickly, stand firm, and scale without complication. Sidewalls on or off, windows positioned where they are wanted, and a weatherproof join between the two units.

Kieran from Hilltop Tots Daycare said:

"We looked all over the internet for products that were large enough, heavy duty enough, and equipped for us to erect whenever we need, quickly. When we found Gala Tent and the Vantage, we made our minds up very quickly. It does exactly what we need. Thanks for coming down, it was a great help."

Why we made the trip

We engineer our structures for commercial use, and we support them with people. When something needs attention, we would rather sort it directly. Andrew's adjustments brought the structures up to our safety standards, the linked setup gave the nursery the full benefit of buying two large-format pop-ups, and the sidewall combinations were configured with Hilltop's team so they can be adjusted in seconds day to day.

About the Vantage 6m x 6m Pop-Up Marquee

The Vantage is built for fast, repeated, large-format use. Key features include:

• A 60mm hexagonal aluminium frame with rolled profile aluminium joints, which are stronger than cast alloy.

• An Arabian peak roof profile and a 600D PVC-coated polyester canopy, available in Classic White or Elegant Taupe.

• A full set of sidewalls (solid and windowed) and a ground bar set included as standard.

• A pitch time of around 5 to 15 minutes with a four-person team.

• Modular compatibility with 3m x 3m and 3m x 6m Pro 60 units, joined with gutter kits for linked runs like the one at Hilltop Tots.

• A heavy-duty wheeled transport bag for the frame, with the whole 6m x 6m system packing into a standard van.

• A five-year frame warranty with full UK parts and spares support.

You can see the full specification on the Vantage 6m x 6m Pop-Up Marquee page. The Vantage is designed and developed in Britain and supplied as a buy-to-own structure, which makes it a practical option for nurseries, schools and hire businesses alike.

About Gala Tent

Gala Tent is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of commercial marquees and pop-up shelters. The Vantage range is built for users who need speed, strength and longevity without a lengthy build.

If you are thinking about a covered learning space, an outdoor classroom or a community event area, call our team on 01709 242454, use the live chat, or contact us. You can also download a brochure or request a product demo. For education settings specifically, see our schools and education page.