Planning a Large Outdoor Event – Start with the Ground Up
When people imagine a large outdoor event, they usually picture the atmosphere, a bustling crowd, a main stage, food trucks, flags fluttering in the wind. But for those of us behind the scenes, we know that before the branding, the ticketing, and the VIP list comes something far more important: infrastructure.
If you’re planning a large-scale outdoor event anywhere in Scotland or the north of England, you’re not just dealing with marquees and fencing, you’re designing a functioning site. One that needs to support logistics, safety, access, branding, and, yes, the Scottish weather.
At Purvis Marquee Hire, we’ve been building large temporary event structures for decades. We’ve supported everything from Royal Garden Parties to the Turriff Show, and in this series, we’re sharing what every organiser should know before breaking ground.
Start with Purpose, Not Just the Plan
Every successful infrastructure plan begins with a clear purpose. Is your event about visibility? Sales? Community engagement? Footfall? Answering this up front defines the layout and infrastructure decisions you’ll need to make.
A corporate product launch in Central Scotland might need a high-spec clearspan marquee with full branding and AV capability. A community show in Argyll might need modular tents, livestock enclosures, and soft-ground flooring. The infrastructure isn’t just the skeleton — it’s the shape of the experience.
Map the Site – With Reality in Mind
We always say: a flat field on paper is never a flat field in real life.
The best outdoor events start with a site visit. We work with you to:
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Walk the full site
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Assess access points for vehicles and pedestrians
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Identify slopes, soft ground, and drainage challenges
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Confirm power, water, and waste options
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Evaluate prevailing wind direction (crucial in Scotland!)
This real-world insight helps us determine where to position marquees, toilets, ticketing, emergency exits, and more, all in line with safety and local authority compliance.
Infrastructure Is More Than a Marquee
We’re best known for our bespoke marquees, but the real value we bring is in comprehensive infrastructure delivery. That includes:
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Flooring and staging – from basic platforms to high-load-bearing event flooring
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Power access and lighting design
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Internal layout planning – for flow, brand experience, and emergency access
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Accessibility solutions – especially important for council and NHS events
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Compliance documentation – method statements, risk assessments, wind load calculations, build schedules
We’re not here to rent a tent and vanish. We’re a partner in delivery.
Plan for What You Can’t See
We’ve worked enough events to know that things change. The weather turns. A delivery gets rerouted. A sponsor wants their logo moved two metres to the left. That’s why our infrastructure plans are built with flexibility, and plenty of cable ties.
Planning for resilience means:
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Having extra ballast and storm kit available
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Building in additional time for load-in and de-rig
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Creating zones that can scale up or down
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Knowing the site well enough to pivot quickly if needed
Our team has over 170 years of combined experience. That matters when you’re standing in a field with a deadline and a fast-approaching weather front.
Let’s Get Planning
If you’re organising an outdoor event, whether it’s a festival in Inverness, a corporate celebration in Stirling, or a public gathering in Carlisle, don’t start with the style. Start with the site. Then build outwards with purpose, experience, and a team that’s done it all before.
At Purvis, we don’t just deliver marquees, we plan, build, and support entire events with the infrastructure that makes everything else possible.
Contact us to discuss your event plans, book a site visit, or learn more about how we can help.
Next in the Series:
Coming soon → Temporary Structures vs Permanent Venues: What’s Right for Your Event?
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