The Game Fair 2021 (John Rigby & Co)
Product: Bespoke 9m x 12m safari tent
Supplier: Bond Fabrications, 01453 767171, enquiries@bondfabrications.co.uk, www.bondfabrications.co.uk
Details: Esteemed London gunmakers John Rigby & Co approached Bond in early 2021 looking for a highly bespoke tent to use for The Game Fair 2021 at Ragley Hall.
John Rigby & Co were very keen to source a large custom designed tent to offer high level hospitality to their guests and clients while showcasing their handcrafted rifles. Their brand identity is centred around the core values of workmanship, quality and exclusivity and the bespoke safari tent had to reflect this.
After many conversations a variety of CAD designs were created to suit the brief. The result was a beautifully crafted 9m x 12m custom safari tent. The overall specification was highly bespoke with a variety of details not typically standard – even down to a custom stitched canvas logo!
The design team at Bond thoroughly enjoyed the process. As a true British manufacturer, serving the outdoor hospitality industry for over 30 years, Bond provides a full design and supply service and offerS the kind of detailing and workmanship that helps clients really set themselves apart.
John Rigby & Co have already placed an order for four more bespoke tents.
Customer feedback: Simon Barr, of Tweed Media, said: “We contacted Bond in early 2021 with a view to sourcing a large safari tent that we could use at The Game Fair. As a longstanding British producer of bespoke rifles, John Rigby & Co was keen to create a bespoke tent that would reflect its brand and offer an opportunity to showcase its products and services in a unique manner.
“We were thrilled with the safari tent and the overall image we were able to achieve at The Game Fair. As a British manufacturer Bond provided a full design and supply service and were more than happy to work with us to create a bespoke structure with the quality and attention to detail that certainly sets them apart.”
Mucky Weekender Festival, Winchester
Product: Big top tents and staging
Supplier: Meerkat Marquees, 07966 402696, info@meerkatmarquees.co.uk, www.meerkatmarquees.co.uk
Details: The Mucky Weekend Festival offers music and camping for 2,000 people. Meerkat Marquees supplied the big top marquees and staging.
This was a challenging event as the largest tent was new to Meerkat and was delivered to the site from its storage yard in an 18 tonne truck. The other big top came direct from another event and arrived on a 7.5 tonne lorry. The remainder of the tents and flooring arrived on a 3.5 tonne trailer behind Meerkat’s 4×4 Toyota.
By the time the lorries were unloaded it was after midday on the Tuesday. Once the trusses were up, the 100 stakes were hammered in place. The crew was then split so some placed all the side wall poles around the tent while the rest of the 10 person team marked out and erected the king poles for the other big top. The team even managed to set up one of the 6m x 9m backstage tents by 7pm on that first day.
On day two Meerkat was on site by 8am and laced up the sheets to the main tent and did the same with the smaller big top. Meanwhile three of the crew had gone to collect the staging from another event in East Sussex, arriving on site at 2pm.
Three extra crew were brought in to assist. The stage was installed and again the team was split to set up the three remaining 6m x 9m tents (one with a floor). The walls were attached to the big tops and the stage decks were in place by 7pm.
The derig was a less stressful affair and the kit was all packed, transported and unloaded at Meerkat’s yard by the end of the day.
Feedback: Happy days! The client was happy too and has now booked us for their 2022 event.
Launch Party for Tipi Spaces
Service: Tipi hire and event management
Supplier: Tipi Spaces, 01884 277306, hello@tipispaces.co.uk, www.tipispaces.co.uk
Details: At a party planned to celebrate the end of lockdown and the beginning of a new business venture, guests were invited to view Tipi Spaces’ new Nordic tipis; the first tipi hire company in the West Country to supply ivory-white tipis.
Due to late changes to the re-opening of lockdown, but determined to celebrate, the event changed from informal BBQ to a more formal and intimate sit-down dinner. The reduced guest list enjoyed canapés and a three-course dinner cooked on an open grill from Luck Vandore-Mackay, English sparkling wine from Chapel Down and paired wine.
Guests were wowed by the white canvas giants which allowed the late June sunshine to permeate inside the tipis. As the sun set, the candlelight and fairy lights reflected off the white canvas.
The three tents had been constructed in a triangle formation, creating more than enough space for 30 guests, but the conical shape of the tipis wrapped around to create a feeling of cosy intimacy rather than vacuous space. The long, elegant dining table, styled with seasonal pink peonies, peach table runners, gold cutlery, terrariums and rattan chargers, created the perfect tablescape.
After dinner, guests stayed to enjoy music and the warmth of the outdoor fire pit or to relax in the lounge amongst the potted palms and macrame hanging plants on comfy sofas and armchairs, sampling a late evening aperitif.
Customer feedback: Guest Stephanie Stevens said: “Fantastic night! Amazing food, company and venue!”
Bluedot Festival, Cheshire
Product: Unique outdoor, multi-level carbon fibre double deck structure
Supplier: CORE Event Structures, 0845 299 6499, sales@core-eventstructures.com, www.core-eventstructures.com
Details: The Bluedot Festival describes itself as an “intergalactic festival of music, science, art, technology and the exploration of space” and takes place at Jodrell Bank Observatory.
CORE was tasked with providing a double deck outdoor structure to accommodate two bars, one on each level, from which the client, a major international drinks brand, could serve their products to festivalgoers. CORE designed a hexagonal structure with stairway access to the upper floor from which a great view of the main stage could be enjoyed.
Feedback: The client had a great event, promoting a specific drink at the festival and offering a delicious range of cocktails too. The view of the main stage was superb and ensured a great experience for everyone involved.
PRODUCT SNAPSHOT
Creative Structures
+31 (0)76 2100 401
sales@creativestructures.nl
www.creativestructuresworldwide.com
Since 2009 Creative Structures has been a global player in the production and distribution of tent structures, furniture and flooring within the hospitality, leisure and event industry. It offers distinctive, high-quality and innovative products with an eye for design and safety. Over the years Creative Structures has grown into an organisation operating in more than 60 countries. Many well-known brands opted for Creative Structures during the biggest events and festivals around the world.
Structures are TÜV certified and offer protection against the most extreme weather conditions, being resistant to temperatures from -20/-30ºC to +70ºC and up to wind force 80/100 km/h.
Boost your brand by customising your Creative Structure with a printed cover and/or sidewalls. The quick assembly and compact transport packaging makes these structures ideal for worldwide brand activation.
Top Cat Big Tops
01654 700030
info@topcatbigtops.co.uk
www.topcatbigtops.co.uk
Top Cat Big Tops is both a colourful marquee hire company as well as a team of master craftsmen manufacturing marquees with expertise and love in its workshop.
One of our private commissions was featured on a Channel Four show where the proprietor rigged the marquee himself in his chateau grounds, next to his orangery!
Top Cat concentrates on manufacturing over the winter months with a core local crew, expanding the team during the hiring festival months. Clients vary widely, from the well-known festivals, smaller niche events, corporate dos as well as funky weddings and private parties.
