The Swanky Marquee Company Reviews
Reviews
4.4 out of 5 rating
4.4 out of 5 rating
11 reviews
88% recommend it
Badges
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![Andy]()
Andy E. Sent on 12/08/2022*Unsafe and Incapable*
TL;DR - The 4m central pole in the stretch tent fell out of place and crashed down onto a table, breaking crockery - thankfully no-one was sat underneath it at the time or it would've been a very different story. The company took no responsibility for this and blamed us for using the tent for longer than it was hired for!!! I could've fallen off my chair when I read their response to our complaint, hence the reason to tell you all to AVOID this company as their installations are unsafe and their service is incapable.
We hired the Swanky Marquee Company for our wedding in July 2022. We contacted them early in 2021, we booked them and looked forward to the date. Just as we approached the 3 month count down for the wedding, at the time when you are at your highest point of anxiety in the planning stage, you need prompt and effective communication, but this wasn't prompt and it wasn't effective. In fact at times we were made to feel like we were more of a hinderance asking for updates and final details. Anyway, we managed to get an installation date agreed with a week or so to spare.
The installation team arrived on what was the hottest day of the year (40 degrees), we appreciated that they didn't postpone the installation, but in hindsight, maybe that would've been a good idea, here's why:
The installation team were great, couldn't have wished for better guys to come and install the tent, the issue was, they were sent 3 hours down the country with nothing more than a sledgehammer to drive the metre long stakes into the ground, in 40 degree heat. It doesn't take a genius to plan ahead and realise that this is a bad idea. When Ben (the MD/ owner of SMC) came to do a site visit (which was appreciated), he told us that these stakes can be driven through concrete, so it doesn't matter what lays under the grass, it'll go through. That would've been true, if they had brought the correct machine to drive them in with. As you can probably guess, the stakes didn't go in and the poor installation team then told me that the machine they use to drive the pegs in had gone to a different job... now why on earth do they have one of these machines if it is a critical part of installing a tent? The team had to drive back to Leeds that day to collect the correct machinery to come back the following day where they successfully installed the tent (well, successfully for around 24 hours before it fell apart). Oh and when we complained about this lack of planning they blamed us for having concrete under the grass (which we warned Ben about when he visited and he told us that they can drive the pegs through concrete) and that we were lucky that they didn't charge us £500 for the additional travel costs!! Again, I almost fell off my chair with disbelief that their customer services would blame the customer for their lack of planning, unbelievable.
Day of the wedding the tent was great, and it remained structurally sound. The following day we had a smaller function with 40 guests and the tables were laid for a lunch. While the guests were stood under the tent, the central 4 metre pole came loose and crashed down onto one of the tables, breaking the crockery. Thankfully no-one was sat at this table or we might've had a very different story, it doesn't really bear thinking about because the day before at that very place we had a child sat there. We moved the tables all inside and had the lunch there instead.
When we complained about this we were told that because we used the tent after our contracted hire day (even though they weren't planning on removing it for another 3 days...) that they were not responsible for what happened. Again, I nearly fell off my chair.
How on earth can a company claim that because it was being sat under for a few hours longer than the contractual hire date, that it is okay for the tent to now become unsafe. It is quite frankly a joke.
As you can probably guess, communication has all gone quiet their end. Their tents are not safe, avoid. -
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![Alexandria]()
Alexandria P. Sent on 10/04/2021Outstanding
Toni and Ben have been outstanding during this process. Truly helped me in all areas! The Swanky Marquee Company is not just a Marquee Hire company. They gave me advice on caterers and venues and florists and so much more! Thankyou! -
![carriem@me.com]()
Caroline R. Sent on 10/08/2021Fantastic addition to our day
We ordered a last minute stretch tent fearing bad weather... in the event it provided vital shade on the hottest day of the year! It looked good during the day and fantastic during the evening with the lighting. Professional company to deal with. Highly recommended. -
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