Christmas Party Tent Hire in Devon & Cornwall: How to Host a Festive Party Under Canvas
It’s only October, and yes, we’re already talking about Christmas. Sorry! But if you’ve ever been put in charge of finding somewhere for the Christmas party, you’ll know how it usually goes. Everyone has an opinion, the choices are a function room or a hotel with a set menu, and by the end nobody is quite happy.
We think there’s a better answer, and it’s a tent.
We’ve been putting tents up across Devon, Cornwall and the rest of the South West since 2007. Think about what a good Christmas party needs: lots of people in one place, good food, music, somewhere warm, and nobody looking at their watch. That’s pretty much the list for a wedding reception, and we’ve had plenty of practice.
Why a tent works so well
The biggest reason is that it’s yours. You choose the date, the music, the food and the finish time, and there’s no one waiting to put the chairs away.
A tent also changes how people behave. When everyone is under one roof, with lights up and music on, they mix in a way they don’t in a room full of separate tables. That’s lovely for a family party, where the cousins finally end up in the same conversation. It’s even better for a work Christmas party, where people from different teams, who’ve only ever known each other through email, suddenly find they have plenty to talk about.
Start with who’s coming
The number of guests decides almost everything else, so it’s the first thing we’d ask you. Our tipis can be linked together to seat up to 1,000 people, which means even a big company party can all fit under one roof. Our sailcloth marquees and our stretch tent each seat up to 300. For a family Christmas or a smaller team party, a single tipi is a warm and friendly place to be.
If you like to see how it could look, our floor plans show where the tables, the bar and the dance floor could go. And if you’re not sure which type of tent suits you, we’ve put together a guide to choosing between them.
Then think about where
Another good thing about a tent is that it can go almost anywhere. A garden, a farm, a field, or the yard behind your business if it’s a work party. There are just a few things worth checking first. Is the ground fairly level? Can a van and a crew get close? Where will the power and toilets come from? It’s also a good idea to let your neighbours know, and to agree a finish time with them beforehand.
If you tell us where it is, we’ll give you an honest opinion on whether it will work.
What about the cold?
It’s the question we hear more than any other, and we completely understand it. It’s December in the South West, and your guests will be dressed for a party, not a walk across the moor.
We’ll talk through the heating with you, so please don’t bring your own heaters or candles into the tent without checking with us first. The rest comes down to small, thoughtful things. A place by the door to hang coats. And a hot drink in everyone’s hand as soon as they walk in. Mulled wine or hot chocolate does the job nicely. Finished with one of our firepits to roast marshmallows!
Lights, floors, accessories and dancing
Winter evenings suit a tent. It’s dark before half past four in December, so the party starts in the dark, and good lighting does a lot of the decorating for you. Warm fairy lights overhead, softer ones around the bar and tables, and a lit path from the car park to the door so your guests feel welcome from the first step.
December fields can be wet, so it’s worth asking about flooring. And if you’re hoping for dancing, a proper dance floor gives everyone somewhere to go when the music gets going. Finished off with outdoor lighting, blankets to keep guess warm, and fireworks!
Doing the work do?
If you’re the one who’s been asked to organise the work Christmas party, we’d love to help. We do corporate events and parties as well as weddings and festivals, so tell us how many people are coming, what date you’re thinking of and what sort of evening you’d like, and we’ll work out the rest with you. You’ll find more on our corporate and parties pages.
Shall we get started?
Whatever you’re planning, a family Christmas, a big birthday or the whole company, we’d like to hear about it. Send us your date, where you are and roughly how many people are coming. If you’re not sure about the rest, that’s fine, we’ll work it out together. Get in touch, or have a look through our FAQs.
