A marquee that feels like yours

It starts with a phone call, and we mean that in the best possible way. When you get in touch with Ribble Tent Works, whether you're planning a wedding in the Dales, a summer party in your Ilkley garden, or a corporate day out on the open green, we take the time to listen before we say a single word about structures or square footage. Nineteen years in this trade has taught us that the best events begin with a proper conversation.

Nineteen years in Yorkshire means we know the land, the weather, and exactly what it takes to make an outdoor event feel effortless.
Beautifully lined marquee interior with warm fairy lighting and dressed tables

Once we understand what you're imagining, we'll arrange a site visit, usually within a week of your first enquiry. One of our experienced team will walk the ground with you, talk through access, ground conditions, and the natural lie of the land. We know Wharfedale intimately, and we're well-versed in the quirks of Ilkley's historic event venues too. That local knowledge is something no national hire company can replicate.

From there, we'll put together a detailed, no-obligation quote that covers the structure, lining, flooring, and any lighting or furniture you'd like included. Nothing is hidden in the small print. What you see on the quote is exactly what arrives on the day, installed by our own crew, not a subcontracted team who've never met you.

On the morning of your event, you'll recognise familiar faces. Our installation team takes real pride in the finish, straight linings, secure anchoring, clean cable runs for lighting, and a floor that doesn't creak underfoot. We don't leave until everything is right. And when it's all over, we come back quietly and efficiently to take it all away, leaving your site exactly as we found it.

Start your enquiry
Marquee types

Find the right structure for your event

From classic canvas to contemporary clear-span, we offer a range of marquee styles to suit every occasion and every site across Ilkley and Wharfedale.

Traditional pole marquee at dusk with warm interior glow

Traditional pole marquee

The classic shape that's defined English summer events for generations. Sweeping canvas peaks and elegant interior lines make pole marquees the natural choice for weddings, garden parties and country shows. Ideal for open, flat ground with good access, and breathtaking when lined in ivory or white.

Close-up of aluminium frame marquee structure and joints

Frame marquee

Where ground conditions or access make a pole marquee impractical, a frame marquee steps in without compromise. Free-standing aluminium structures mean no internal poles to navigate around, giving you a clear, flexible floor plan, perfect for patios, car parks, and venues with uneven terrain across Ilkley city and its surrounding villages.

Stretch tent canopy viewed from below showing curved form and fabric texture

Stretch tent

Contemporary, architectural, and quietly spectacular. Stretch tents, made from high-tensile PVC fabric, can curve around trees, hug contours, and span unusually shaped plots that would defeat a traditional marquee. Enormously popular for festival-style events, intimate birthday celebrations, and creative corporate gatherings across the Yorkshire region.

Vast clear-span marquee interior with column-free aluminium ribs and warm lighting

Clear-span structure

When capacity, longevity, or a truly professional finish is the priority, our clear-span structures deliver. Engineer-rated aluminium frames span up to 20 metres without internal supports, creating a column-free hall that suits corporate exhibitions, large wedding receptions, and multi-day events. Fully insulated and blackout-capable on request, ideal for Ilkley's busier conference and events season.

White pagoda marquee unit with linked structures in soft focus behind

Pagoda & linking structures

Pagoda units are the quiet heroes of event design, compact, elegant, and endlessly versatile. Use a single pagoda as a bar or entrance canopy, or link several together to create covered walkways between buildings. We use them regularly on tiered Wharfedale garden sites and for corporate receptions across Ilkley where a modular, expandable footprint is needed.

What we do, in detail

Everything included, nothing left to chance

Interlocked wooden parquet flooring inside a marquee with warm overhead lighting

Flooring that feels solid underfoot

We supply and fit a range of flooring options, from traditional matting to fully interlocked wooden parquet, ensuring your guests never feel the ground shifting beneath them, even on sloped Yorkshire turf.

  • Interlocked wooden parquet
  • Traditional coir matting
  • Sub-frame levelling for uneven ground
  • Non-slip surface finish
  • Suitable for heeled shoes and wheelchair access
Ask about flooring options
Ivory marquee ceiling lining with warm fairy lights creating an intimate glow

Lining & lighting that sets the mood

A bare marquee canvas is just the beginning. Our full interior lining packages transform the space into something warm and intimate, then our lighting team layers in the atmosphere that makes it memorable.

  • Ivory and white swag lining
  • Starcloth ceiling options
  • Warm LED fairy light canopies
  • Uplighting in custom colours
  • 240V power distribution included
See lighting options
Round banqueting table dressed with white linen and glassware inside a marquee

Furniture & finishing touches

We can supply round tables, trestle tables, banqueting chairs, and bar furniture as part of your hire package, so you're dealing with one trusted supplier rather than coordinating five different companies the week before your event.

  • Round tables for 8-10 covers
  • Trestle and banqueting tables
  • White banqueting chairs
  • Wooden cross-back chairs
  • Bar and cocktail units
  • Dance floor panels
Ask about furniture hire
How it works

From first call to fond farewell

Planning a marquee event should feel exciting, not stressful. Here's exactly what to expect when you hire with Ribble Tent Works.

Your first conversation

Call us on 01200 555 271 or drop a message and we'll get back to you within one working day. We'll ask about your event, the date, the numbers, the feel you're after, and the site. No forms to fill in, no chatbots. A real person who knows Yorkshire events inside out.

Site visit & tailored quote

We'll visit your site, whether that's a garden in Ilkley, a field outside Ilkley, or a venue car park in Harrogate, assess the ground and access, then send you a fully itemised quote within 48 hours. No surprises, no day-of additions.

Installation day

Our own experienced crew arrives on the agreed date, typically one to two days before your event, and builds, lines, and lights your marquee from the ground up. We'll walk you through the space before we leave, so you know exactly where every switch and cable run is.

Collection & clear-up

Once your event is over, we return at a time that suits you and take everything away cleanly and efficiently. Your lawn, venue, or site is left exactly as we found it. Many of our clients in Ilkley and Wharfedale have been booking with us for over a decade, that relationship matters to us.

Track record

Marquees across Yorkshire

A selection of setups from weddings, garden parties, and corporate events across Ilkley, and the wider Wharfedale valley.

Traditional pole marquee at golden hour on open Yorkshire moorland
Traditional pole marquee, wedding reception, Wharfedale
Elegantly lined wedding marquee interior with ivory lining and fairy lights
Ivory-lined interior with parquet floor, private wedding, Ilkley
Clear-span marquee at a corporate venue with clean white exterior
20m clear-span structure, corporate exhibition, Ilkley
Stretch tent over a garden setting at dusk with warm amber light beneath
Stretch tent, summer garden party, Harrogate
Three linked white pagoda marquees forming a covered walkway in a courtyard
Linked pagoda units, outdoor reception, Ilkley city venue
Starcloth ceiling inside a marquee with pinpoint LED lights
Starcloth ceiling, evening wedding reception, Skipton
Polished marquee bar unit with glassware under warm overhead lighting
Built-in bar unit, corporate summer party, Leeds
Frame marquee on a terraced Yorkshire garden with string lights and open sides
Frame marquee, garden party on terraced site, Otley
Parquet dance floor inside a marquee with coloured uplighting
Parquet dance floor with uplighting, wedding, Grassington
Common questions

Marquee hire - your questions answered

Still wondering? Ask us directly

Most marquee types can be installed on grass, hard standing, gravel, or compacted earth. Traditional pole marquees require steel pegs driven into the ground, so soft lawn is ideal, but our frame and clear-span structures are free-standing and can be anchored with ballast weights on patios and car parks. We'll assess the site during our pre-event visit and advise accordingly. We've installed marquees on every kind of ground Yorkshire has to offer, including sloped Wharfedale gardens that require sub-frame levelling for the floor.

Our structures are rated to withstand typical UK wind speeds and are built to British Standard specifications. In the event of an amber or red wind warning, which, in Yorkshire, can happen, we'll contact you in advance and discuss options, which may include additional guy ropes, partial sidewall removal to reduce wind loading, or, in extreme cases, a postponement of erection. We carry comprehensive public liability insurance for every hire, and all our structures are annually inspected and certified.

Every hire includes the structure itself, installation and dismantling by our own crew, and a full site visit beforehand. Lining, flooring, lighting, furniture, and power distribution are available as additions, most clients take a full package so there's a single point of contact. You'll receive a fully itemised quote with no vague line items before you commit to anything. We serve events across Ilkley, Harrogate, Skipton, and throughout the Wharfe valley.

For summer weekends, particularly June, July, and August, we recommend booking at least three to four months in advance. Popular dates around bank holidays and wedding season fill quickly across Ilkley and Wharfedale. That said, we do our best to accommodate shorter lead times where our diary allows, so it's always worth calling us on 01200 555 271 even if your event is only a few weeks away.

Yes. While we're based in Ilkley, we regularly install marquees across Ilkley, Harrogate, Skipton, Otley, Grassington, and the wider West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire region. Delivery and installation are included in your quote, there are no hidden mileage charges for locations within our standard service area. For sites further afield, we'll let you know upfront if any additional costs apply.

We understand that event plans can change, venues fall through, dates shift, guest numbers fluctuate. We ask for a holding deposit to secure your date, and our cancellation policy is set out clearly in our hire agreement before you sign anything. If you need to move your date and we have availability, we'll do our best to accommodate the change. We'd always rather work with you to find a solution than lose a long-term client over an unforeseen change of plans.

Book an appointment

Ready to start planning your event?

No forms, no waiting, just a friendly conversation with a local team who know Yorkshire events inside out.

01200 555 271 Send us a message