Paul Simon Marquees
A clearspan marquee in an exceptional estate garden with formal hedges and an ornamental pond

Seven structure types

Marquee hire in the South East

Over twenty years of events across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and beyond. One team, from the first call to the final breakdown.

Evening wedding reception inside a traditional marquee — guests dancing under paper lanterns and fairy lights
Looking up through a clearspan marquee clear roof at a Cotswold manor house against a deep blue sky at dusk
Festival-style stretch tent setup with seating, outdoor furniture and decorative props on dry grass
Double tipi set in a stunning English private garden with an ornamental pond and azalea in full flower
Glamping field with several white bell tents pitched across dry grass beneath trees
Interior of a clear-span marquee dressed for an elegant wedding with chandelier, gold chiavari chairs and sequin linen

01 — Clear-span

No internal poles. The full floor area is yours.

Modern aluminium-frame structures available from 9m to 30m wide and any practical length. The most versatile option for large weddings, corporate hospitality, and multi-day events — where a clean, uninterrupted interior matters most.

9m – 30m wide · Any length
A traditional pole marquee in the walled kitchen garden of an English country estate with lavender borders

02 — Traditional pole

Character that a modern frame cannot replicate.

Canvas over wooden poles, tensioned into the shape that has defined the English garden party for generations. A warmth suited to smaller weddings, milestone birthdays, and events where the feel of the space is part of the occasion.

Ideal for up to ~100 guests
Festival-style stretch tent setup with seating, outdoor furniture and decorative props on dry grass

03 — Stretch tent

Sweeping peaks, organic form, no right angles.

A tensioned membrane pulled over masts and cables into curves and peaks. Anchors to trees, walls, or masts — adapts to the site rather than demanding a flat rectangle of it. Particularly beautiful after dark, lit from within.

Flexible form · Any footprint
Two white pagoda marquees linked together in a beautiful English garden with flowering borders and a period house

04 — Pagoda

Modular elegance. Each bay a perfect peak.

Peaked-roof units in 4m, 5m or 6m bays, joined to cover the footprint required. Well suited to venues with unusual shapes or restricted access — and to events where the exterior profile of the structure adds something to the setting.

Modular 4m, 5m or 6m bays
A tipi at golden hour in a meadow alongside a vintage Citroën van — atmospheric and evocative

05 — Tipi

An atmosphere no rectangular structure can produce.

Tall spruce poles, a high canvas ceiling, natural rope and timber. Nordic tipis create a warmth that photographs well but is far better experienced in person. Multiple units join together for larger guest counts.

Joinable for larger events
Wide pastoral shot of many white bell tents arranged in a field at a wedding

06 — Bell tent

Glamping that changes the rhythm of a wedding.

White canvas bell tents clustered beside the main marquee mean guests stay on site — carrying the evening on, waking up in the same field. Available from bare canvas to fully furnished honeymoon suite.

Accommodation · 4m or 5m
A geodesic dining dome entirely covered in fairy lights, glowing warm gold against dark woodland at night

07 — Dome

When the structure itself is the event.

A geodesic dome is the right choice when intimacy and architecture matter more than capacity. Exceptional as a self-contained space for private dinners, corporate activations, or as a secondary venue alongside a main structure.

Intimate · Up to ~30 guests
Festival-style stretch tent setup with seating, outdoor furniture and decorative props on dry grass

"The site matters more than most people anticipate. We visit every site before we quote — it is the only way to give you accurate information rather than a number that shifts later."

Choosing the right structure

Guest count

For a seated dinner above 80 guests, a clear-span structure will almost always be the most sensible foundation. Below that, the choice opens up considerably and the feel of the space becomes a legitimate factor.

The site

A garden with mature trees and a narrow side gate rules out some structures before anything else is considered. Ground that is soft or on a slope changes the groundwork required. We visit every site before we quote.

Budget

A traditional pole marquee will typically cost less than a clear-span at the same guest count. A tipi for a smaller wedding may cost more than either. We can quote both and let you compare directly.

Ready to talk?

If you have a date, a rough guest count, and a location in mind, a short call is usually enough to tell you which structures are suitable and what the cost range looks like.