When a Marquee Becomes a Manchester Home: Unusual Expo’s MoneySuperMarket Installation
When it comes to creativity, some of the most impressive uses of our marquees happen far beyond the usual wedding, festival, or exhibition setting — and this recent project from Unusual Expo proves it.
Working on behalf of MoneySuperMarket, the award-winning exhibition design company transformed a 9m x 9m Fusion Modular Marquee into a full-blown purple house in the heart of Spinningfields, Manchester. Built to promote the brand’s household savings and money management tools, the installation turned heads for all the right reasons.
The structure began life as a standard Gala Tent Fusion — a heavy-duty modular marquee known for its versatility and quick assembly. But Unusual Expo’s design team took it several steps further, adding a custom-built timber fascia that replicated a house front, complete with a pitched roof and welcoming doorway. Once installed, the marquee became an immersive experience for visitors, guiding them through a tongue-in-cheek “household” setup featuring everyday items MoneySuperMarket can help you save money on — from washing machines to coffee makers.
Inside, the stand was a perfect blend of practicality and playfulness. The space was fitted out with purple cabinetry, printed wall graphics, patterned flooring, and clear product zones that encouraged people to explore and interact.
Martin Wilkie, Design Director, told us this about his company and the installation, "Unusualexpo pride ourselves on creating anything, anywhere, anytime and this project was a great example. With a short lead time we were asked by EGI Live to design and create a public activity for the team at MoneySuperMarket.com
This was scheduled for a two day slot at Spinningfields piazza in central Manchester. The area was only 12m x 12m and we had a lot to pack in and a lot of considerations considering weather and wind.
Promoting their Household Money Index meant we just had to create a house to meet and discuss this innovative data with potential users. The house front was 10m wide by 5m high and needed some significant ballast to ensure it could withstand the weather. We then needed a suitable covered area behind it in which to welcome guests. We asked several local marquee suppliers but with a 3am build window many weren’t able to support the project.
So also wanting to build our house front to work with the marquee we started to hunt for one we could purchase and pre build to ensure it met up with the house front. The Gala Tent Fusion stood out and we had bought from Gala before with the utmost confidence.
We were able to erect the first 3m bay at our workshops and build the set to meet it. On site we were able to construct the Fusion quickly and easily in the heat of the short build window. The Fusion is a square section aluminium beam rather than tubes and has sturdy steel joints with reinforcing steel cables and easy to fit wing nut bolts. The pull-over roof sheets are easy in 3m widths rather than being a complete huge ’throw-over’ type roof. It withstood the weather well and was a relatively easy pack-down at the end of the event."
The result was a striking activation that blurred the line between architecture and marketing — proof that marquees aren’t just for shelter, but for storytelling.
At Gala Tent, we love seeing our products used in unexpected ways, and this project captures the spirit of what’s possible when creativity meets engineering. The Fusion Modular Marquee has become a go-to choice for businesses and event designers who need a structure that’s adaptable, strong, and open to customisation — and Unusual Expo’s MoneySuperMarket house is a standout example of that versatility.
If you’re planning something out of the ordinary, we’d love to help bring it to life. The Fusion Modular Marquee is available in multiple sizes and can be customised with your own branding, fascia panels, and layout. Whether you’re an event designer like Unusual Expo or a business looking to make an impression, call 01709 242454 now. Gala Tent can give you the foundation to do it in style.
To learn more about Unusual Expo and the great promotional work they do for huge brands, head to their exhibitions page. You'll see some award-winning designwork.
