The inaugural Great Taste Festival of Food and Drink proved a tasty day out as the National Trust’s Clumber Park was transformed into foodie heaven with ten GL events Snowdens’ marquees creating the various feature areas.
The main Food and Drink marquee, the largest structure used on site at 90ft by 190ft long, was bustling all day long. The traditional pole marquee was trimmed with branded bunting to create a village market feel, a theme that continued throughout the event.
A 40ft by 80ft traditional pole marquee, transformed into the Cookery Theatre, was bursting at the seams as celebrity chefs such as Michelin star John Burton Race created a fantastic selection of dishes.
BBC Radio 2 presenter Nigel Barden and the Guild of Fine Food hosted the Producers Theatre in a 40ft by 60ft marquee where visitors learnt more about the various food and drink producers as well as sampling all their produce.
Other marquees served as craft and teaching areas where children of all ages took part in various classes in pizza and ice cream making, and the home to the various baking competition finalists.
Snowdens’ marquees were also used to provide an area for exhibitors to wash up, the visitor entrance points and the organisers’ office with an additional VIP room.
Outside, visitors enjoyed the various food stalls and the Big Red Bus Bar while listening to live bands as they reclined on the hay bales under the ‘weather cover’ pole marquee, again dressed to give that vintage vibe.
Traditional pole structures seem to be making a comeback according to Director Keith Bishop. Keith explains: “With more lifestyle events going for that vintage and retro feel, we have seen the demand for traditional pole marquees rise over the past few months. Opting for this type of marquee can really affect the look and feel of an event. This organiser added hay bales and bunting to the mix, creating a vintage village fete scene.”
For nearly two centuries, GL events Snowdens has been hiring out marquees and temporary structures and is now one of the UK’s premier marquee hire companies in the events industry. From contemporary aluminium frame marquees from 3m to 40m wide, to traditional pole tents and marquees and the tensioned 90ft wide Showspan giant marquee, capable of accommodating up to 15,000 people, marquees can be hired for every kind of event.
Snowdens regularly works with hire clients include The Nantwich Show, The Bakewell Show, Burghley Horse Trials, and the Aegon Tennis Championships in Eastbourne.
