Beyond the Beats: The Amazing Tent Co’s Summer of 2023

As the vibrant days of summer start to fade, we are reflecting on Summer 2023. It has been a whirlwind of extraordinary festivals, concerts, and events for us at The Amazing Tent Co. We have been at the heart of many exciting experiences with our SaddleSpans, transforming the humble field into a realm of creativity, comfort, and exclusivity. Within the kaleidoscope of summer, our versatile SaddleSpan structures have become part of the landscape of festivals, concerts, and outdoor extravaganzas.  

In what has been a summer of mixed British weather, amidst the sea of glitter, elaborate costumed festival-goers, and thumping beats, our SaddleSpans have provided a haven of continuity, ensuring that the show goes on regardless of the elements. Whilst sometimes associated with more utilitarian purposes, SaddleSpans metamorphosise of the event tent – housing everything from sprawling stages to cosy bar areas and exclusive VIP zones. 

Our summer journey helped to provide festival shelter and comfort, with spaces to rest, connect, and rejuvenate. From the sun-drenched shores of Cornwall’s Boardmasters, to the star-studded BBC Radio One Big Weekend. We ventured further north to the dual engines of Leeds & Reading Festivals where bands and fans created unmatched festival experiences. The Big Feastival offered a different kind of event—one of flavours and aromas merging from food stalls to open-air stages. Creamfields North & South, was an immersion into the electronic realm, of pulsating beats and dazzling lights.  

The intricate planning, collaboration, and dedication that goes on behind the scenes ensures that The Amazing Tent Co’s SaddleSpans enhance the festival experience – uniting style, innovation, and functionality as extensions of the festival spirit— as places to take cover, mingle, and connect, immersed in the magic of music and community. 

So, here’s to next year’s mud-splattered wellies or sun-kissed skin festival and event season. However next summer unfolds, now is the time to contact us to discuss how we can support you to create an unforgettable 2024 festival experience. +44 (0)7778 835 207 / enquiries@amazingtent.co.uk 

 

Photo credit: Anthony Mooney 

 

 

 


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Cool ways to stay cool

We pitch our SaddleSpans at venues across Europe and the UK, with many installations being on hot summer’s days. Through our years of experience, we’ve developed some canny ideas to keep our crew cool as they set up. Here’s just a few things we do to stay chill during the summer heat:  

  • Make use of the breeze. If you’re by the coast, or somewhere that has a natural breeze, make the most of it. Consider keeping one, or both sides, of the #SaddleSpan open so that a through breeze keeps your clients cool. 

 

  • Set up in the shade. If you have the opportunity to pick your pitch at the festival, exhibition, or event within larger grounds, it’s worth thinking about pitching it up in the shade. Try the shade given from an existing building or under a canopy of trees – we’ll worry about the height clearance and safety of this, and advise you accordingly. 

 

  • Hire a portable air conditioner or cooler. This is essential in any heat wave or if you’re working in southern Europe or a Middle East venue. We can advise on suppliers for these too. 

 

  • Let down the sides and open all entrances. If air con isn’t an option, due to budget or location keep the air flowing by letting down all the sides of the tent down. Alternatively, if you can’t let the sides down on your #SaddleSpan, then we suggest you open all entrances and consider large fans. 

 

  • Stay hydrated. One of the most important, and one of the most often forgotten at festivals, events and parties! ;o) 

 

Stay cool with us next summer and call us to book in your event: 44 (0)7778 835 207 / enquiries@amazingtent.co.uk  

 

#EventTent #EventVenue #EventSuppliers #TentHire #MarqueeHire #StayCool 

 

 

 


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Making your event tent ‘summery’!

As well as large events and festivals, a smaller summer celebration can be the perfect way to party – weddings, birthdays, corporate fun days, engagements, and christening parties can all be enjoyed in a Saddlespan. Make the most of the warmer weather and create a fun, beautiful environment for your colleagues, friends, and family.

Here’s our top tips for planning your exceptional event this summer in one of our unique structures: 

  • Choosing the right size SaddleSpan – before ordering, consider the number of guests you are hosting and the type of party. Is it a sit-down event with food and drinks? Will you want to dance under the stars or be covered by a canopy? 
  • Decoration is key – weddings and christenings might be lighter décor with chandeliers, and an engagement or birthday party might be themed to suit the couple or birthday person’s interests. We have many contacts in the tent interiors business who can guide you with these choices. 
  • Would you like a side with that? – for a family fun day you might opt for a circus or Hawaiian theme, so why not remove the sides from the #Saddlespan for flexibility and room for fun. Whether it’s juggling or hula-ing! This is also a good option for wedding receptions, so your guests can easily mingle inside and outside.  
  • Don’t forget the lights – if you’re planning to party into the evening, you will need to ensure that you have adequate lighting set up to keep the party going. We can help with this too.
  • Furniture – do you need tables and chairs for sit-down dining, or a relaxed seating area near the bar? Depending on the theme and ‘feel’ of your event there are many options to be considered. 

Do get in touch with us when you’re planning your summer party and we’ll help guide you towards a spectacular summer celebration: (0)7778 835 207 / enquiries@amazingtent.co.uk 


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A summer of events!

What is that big yellow shining sphere in the sky?!  It seems we might have a summer of better weather ahead, which has us contemplating what’s coming up for us over the next few months. Some of our old favourites are back, with a few new events thrown into the mix. Here’s where you can spot us in the fields of England over the summer – you might even be able to bag yourselves some tickets for some of these if you are quick. 

We’ve already had some fun in the sun recently, you may have spotted our majestic SaddleSpans at Creamfields South and BBC Big Weekend in Dundee? Coming up in June we have the Birmingham Guild of Students Ball and we’ll be amongst the regal racing action at Royal Ascot later in the month. 

The rest of the summer looks something like this – give us a wave if you see us: 

Boardmasters  

 

Creamfields North 

 

Reading Festival  

 

Leeds Festival  

 

Big Feastival  

 

If you have any events or festivals for 2023 or 2024 that you are looking for stage, bar or VIP cover, please give us a call and we can chat over your options:  

+44 (0)7778 835 207 / enquiries@amazingtent.co.uk 

 

Image credit: Geoffrey Hubbel 


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Events are back!

If you’re looking for available tickets for the confirmed festivals this summer, you’ll discover that Glastonbury is sold out, Creamfields is sold out, Reading Festival only has day passes remaining and Creamfields South has just a few tickets up for grabs too – get on those waiting lists now!

That’s before we start to look at the likes of Camp Bestival, Greenbelt and all the other fabulous festivals dotted around the UK, which are planned alongside a host of university balls, weddings and parties – it looks like we’re in for one Amazing (pun intended) summer of fun. Pull on your wellies, don your festival gear and glitter your faces…

That said, the return of events and festivals will certainly bring some learnings from the last couple of years. These are the musings from our team for the summer of 2022:

In-person events will be social and creative

Despite some hybrid events still being around, we do expect there to be a surge in in-person events such as outdoor festivals and concerts, where there is plenty of space and fresh air. People are keen to socialise in person, make up for lost time and host those events that just couldn’t be done in the same way online. For that reason, we expect in-person events to be more creative with a focus on experiences – something that online events simply can’t recreate in the same way.

Focus on sanitation and cleanliness will continue

Even once restrictions are relaxed, we predict that there will be a continued focus on sanitation and cleanliness. People are much more conscious of hygiene after two years of being constantly reminded, and the expectations of cleanliness will continue. This might mean extra toilet facilities at festivals, or hand sanitiser dispensers remaining a feature at events for the foreseeable future.

Contactless will still be king

From QR codes to virtual check-in, e-tickets and cashless bars, we expect the contactless ways of the last few years to continue. These processes have been particularly useful during social distancing, but have also proved their worth in efficiency, reducing costs and reduced waste.

The pandemic accelerated an already established trend towards more digital and contactless solutions for events. We expect that things like e-tickets are here to stay.

Reducing environmental impact

One of the benefits of events being online has been the reduced environmental impact – from less travel to less plastic packaging. This will all be on the minds of those running events, but also for attendees. We are much more aware of our impact than we were a few years ago, and all much more concerned with reducing our plastic waste and carbon footprint. We expect to see event organisers focus even more on reducing single-use plastics and looking for ways to off-set the carbon footprint of the event, such as Glastonbury’s ‘Love The Farm’ initiative, encouraging festival goers to ‘reuse, reduce, respect.’

In summary outdoor festivals and events are definitely back for 2022 and our #SaddleSpan tents will be found on site at:

Creamfields

Creamfields South

BBC Big Weekend, Coventry

The VET Festival

With more to follow…

We look forward to seeing you out there!


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Hiring the right size tent

Making sure you hire the right size event tent can seem daunting, and certainly isn’t something you want to get wrong. There are many online calculators that estimate the size based on the number of guests and basic information, such as standing or seated events; these are great for roughly estimating what you’ll need but over-simplify your requirements. When you hire through us our team will take the time to talk through what you need in detail to make sure the tent you hire is right for your event. There are multiple factors to consider, from the number of guests to the layout of the space, from extras such as dance-floors to any staff working the event too. Here’s what we’ll need to know:

How many people?
We’ll need to know how many people will be at your event, this includes all guests, any speakers/hosts, event planners, serving staff, performers etc. It might be more than you initially think once it’s all added up.

Will your guests be seated or standing?
The type of event you are having will massively affect the size of structure you need. We calculate the space needed per person for different events. Seated events such as a sit-down dinner require more space per person than a theatre-seated seminar; a standing drinks reception will need less space than a party with a dance-floor. Our team can calculate this for you, taking out the guess work!

How will the space be arranged?
As well as the type of event we also consider how the space will be laid out. Will you need a bar in the space or an auxiliary tent to serve from? Will there be a dance-floor in the middle of the space or tucked into one corner? Will you have a speaker or performer requiring a stage? Will there be lighting rigs or sound systems to take into consideration?

Hiring an event structure isn’t just about getting the right size. Our team can also advise on other aspects to make sure your event goes smoothly, such as considering acoustics, making sure you deliver the wow-factor and practicalities such as planning for the weather.

 

Read our blog on choosing the right event structure for your event: https://www.amazingtent.co.uk/how-to-choose-the-right-cover-for-your-outdoor-event/

 


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A few of our favourite festivals

We all love a good festival, whether that be music, food, arts or otherwise. We’ve seen our fair share of fantastic festivals over the years in both glorious sunshine and pouring rain, and we’ve certainly missed attending them.

After cancellations across the board in 2020 due to the pandemic, we had all hoped for a return to normal this summer, none more so than the entertainment and events industries. The government decision for restrictions to end on 19 July was music to our ears, but unfortunately it was too late for many of this summer’s festivals, and some have found insurance and other challenges too insurmountable for this season. We are delighted to see that some festivals are managing to run again this summer and are looking forward to a return to the full festival season next summer.

We decided to take this opportunity to look back at the festivals we’ve provided our Saddlespan event tents for over the years, and to celebrate some of our team’s personal favourites.

 

WOMAD festival imageWOMAD

More than just a festival, WOMAD is an experience, bringing music, workshops and cuisine from around the world all to a little corner of Wiltshire. The festival is inclusive in every way possible and that is part of why we love it, as well as its commitment to the environment. We’ve provided the event tent for what our team think is the best part of the festival ‘Molly’s Bar’ named after a beloved dog. A few of our team are very disappointed that WOMAD won’t be running again this year, as they like to attend with their own families – only once our Saddlespan stage covers are all in place of course!

 

Creamfields festival image

Creamfields

This huge festival is the biggest electronic dance music (EDM) festival in the UK and is always an exciting event to be a part of. The Creamfields festival brings the biggest names in EDM to Cheshire for a four-day event over the August bank holiday, with 70,000 people attending each day. For a number of years, we have provided two saddlespan tents for the VIP area for the festival. We are delighted that this festival is due to go ahead this year.

 

Latitude festival image

Latitude

A family-friendly festival set at Henham Park, in the Suffolk countryside, Latitude is a definite favourite of a few of our team. With a range of entertainment from top musicians to poetry, dance to comedy, art to theatre, there is something for everyone and all the family. We’re proud to have supplied our Saddlespan event tents to house the Lake Stage for the last several years, which has played host to the likes of Wolf Alice and Clean Bandit.

 

Electric Castle festival image

Electric Castle – Romania

Set against the backdrop of the 15th Century Banffy Castle in Transylvania, Romania, Electric Castle is an exciting festival, that brings an eclectic mix of music, technology and alternative arts. What truly makes the festival unique is that organisers donate a percentage of the profits from ticket sales towards the restoration of the historic castle. So far this has helped restore the roof and build flooring. We first supplied our Saddlespan tents to the festival in 2018, where it housed the festival food hall, which boasts an impressive variety of cuisines and even fine dining options.

If you are lucky enough to be attending a festival this year, we hope you have a fantastic time. And if you are an event organiser planning a festival for autumn or next year, then get in touch with us if you need to get it covered!


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Tips for planning a party for friends and family

From 19 July COVID19 restrictions are due to be relaxed, allowing larger gatherings.

For over a year we’ve all stayed away from large gatherings and missed out on celebrating those big birthdays and milestones with friends and family. From 19 July 2021, when restrictions are due to be lifted, we can look forward to getting our family and friends together to make up for lost time. Planning an event for a large number of people can be daunting, especially after a year of lockdowns and limited social contact, so we’ve put together a list of things to consider to make your catchup celebration one to remember for all the right reasons!

Plan for the British weather
At Amazing Tents we supply event structures for large festivals, but our smaller configurations are perfect for family parties and weddings too. These provide much needed shade and rain cover to keep your party going whatever the weather, and save needing to find an indoor space large enough.

Arrange catering
Preparing food for a large gathering can be quite a feat, so hiring in outside catering can be a great way to reduce the stress of organising a party. There are plenty of options to suit every budget from supermarket food platters to hiring a personal chef! If you bring in outside caterers to work at the party we can provide marquees and tents to accommodate food preparation areas.

Keep your guests hydrated
Its easy to get carried away thinking about alcoholic options like wine and cocktails for parties, but don’t forget to plan non alcoholic drinks for those avoiding alcohol, children and to keep guests hydrated between alcoholic drinks too. Jugs of water with fruit and ice are a great option to keep guests hydrated but also look great and can add to your decoration.

Provide entertainment
Music and other entertainment can be a great way to get the party atmosphere started. It doesn’t have to be expensive, a mobile phone or tablet connected to a speaker is a great option. You could also consider a local band or musician to bring that special touch to your gathering.

Think about the kids
Many family parties will include children, and keeping them entertained means a well-earned break for their parents! Bouncy castles, garden games such as croquet, and organised activities like scavenger hunts are a great way to keep them busy. You might also want to consider a separate marquee or tent to give children a covered space just for them.

A small saddlespan tent configuration for garden partyParty with a saddlespan tent


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Live opera in a SaddleSpan tent

Every year clients amaze us with the inventiveness of their events, the setting, the staging, the lights or the performances themselves.

But Scottish Opera really won the prize this year for the most unusual and inspiring event – a performance of Pagliacci in a tent.

And not just any tent, but an Amazing Tent Co QuadSpan tent, which accommodated the live orchestra, all the cast who moved around the tent and the audience who were mainly standing to enjoy the whole movement and sense of the opera.

This was Scottish Opera’s attempt at bringing opera to a wider audience, attracting many people who had perhaps never seen one before. It has widely been recognised as a huge success, and a world first in terms of the format and staging of the opera.

Take a look at this video on the Scottish Opera YouTube account of the set-up of the event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0kIih01ELc

And this video of the news coverage on STV:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BMUIni7UFU

We certainly had our challenges – being in Paisley, Scotland, we had to contend with those strong Scottish winds. But what a successful event! The QuadSpan offered a vast space for the performance, that worked well with the lighting and the orchestra. We were very proud to support this unique event and provide event cover for Scottish Opera.


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Amazing Tent Co to supply cover for the UK’s number one outdoor cinema event company

We are delighted to announce that this year we’ll be working with The Luna Cinema to provide temporary event cover for their brand new open-air cinema season designed specifically for kids.

Luna Kids Cinema will be touring six venues across the UK from July to September, screening family-friendly classics alongside this year’s blockbusters, as well as the first ever outdoor screenings of The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and Stick Man. All the screenings will utilise the highest definition outdoor screen in the country, meaning a crystal-clear picture even in full daylight for an amazing cinematic experience.

We are providing SaddleSpan tents for six children’s cinema events in Dulwich Park, London; Hatfield House, Hertfordshire; Hampton Court Palace; Priory Park, Surrey; Heaton Park, Manchester and Tatton Park, Cheshire.

Simon Fookes, director of Amazing Tent Co, said: “We are really pleased to be working with the team at Luna Kids Cinema. These are seriously cool events at fantastic locations around the UK. But the focus is on a quality experience for the audience, from the sound and lighting to the food and drink suppliers, so we are delighted to be working with Luna Kids Cinema to help provide that experience.”

George Wood, founder of The Luna Cinema, said: “We are delighted to be working with Amazing Tent Co for the very first Luna Kids Cinema this summer. Luna Kids will celebrate all that is great about cinema for children of all ages – this last year has been so fantastic for kids’ films, with pictures like Paddington 2, Coco and Despicable Me 3 topping box office charts and delighting adults and children alike. To experience these films, alongside timeless classics such as Aladdin, Up and The Incredibles, on a giant high definition screen will make for a truly unique summer family outing. No one wants to be cooped up in a darkened room during the summer holidays – Luna Kids encourages us all to get out in the open air and enjoy some of the most stunning parks and historic sites in the country, and Amazing Tent Co’s SaddleSpan tents will only enhance the experience.”


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