Events Under Canvas

What Events Under Canvas does

Events Under Canvas is a UK luxury marquee hire company founded in September 2013 by Jenna Ackerley, operating from Great Gilberts Farm in Capel St Mary, Suffolk. The company rents distinctive event structures — wooden-poled giant Tipis, translucent Sailcloth Tents (including the large-scale Aurora Grand Sailcloth range), flexible Stretch Tents, and a compact Nimbus Pod — primarily to couples planning weddings, alongside private parties, corporate clients, and festivals. The service covers 19 counties across the South East and East of England (East Anglia), with a fleet of approximately 25 HVO-fuelled vans handling seasonal delivery, setup, and takedown.

Revenue is generated on a per-event basis through marquee hire (typically £2,500–£15,000+ per booking, or roughly £50–£150+ per guest) supplemented by add-on rentals of furniture, lighting, firepits, dance floors, stages, service tents, and finishing touches. The company operates a sales-led go-to-market combining a self-service instant online quote calculator with a central planning team for consultations, site visits, and video calls. Marketing is driven by SEO-optimized regional landing pages, a blog/journal content library, social media, and a curated network of 40+ recommended local suppliers and venues that cross-refer customers.

Events Under Canvas Ltd is a privately held, founder-led limited company that has grown organically without external funding since inception. Operational differentiators include the 2022 conversion of the delivery fleet to HVO biofuel (cutting lifecycle CO2 by up to 90%) and a climate-positive partnership with Ecologi under which 11 trees are planted for every event. The company holds industry recognition including the 2017 Wedding Industry Awards and EADT Business Awards.

Name

Events Under Canvas

Legal name

Events Under Canvas Ltd

Website

https://eventsundercanvas.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Events Under Canvas is a UK-based luxury marquee hire company, founded in 2013 in Suffolk, renting tipis, sailcloth tents, stretch tents, and furnishings to wedding, private party, corporate, and festival clients across 19 counties in South East and East Anglia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Marquee Hire Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Tent & Canopy Rentals (HSACAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Furniture Rentals (Tables, Chairs, Lounge) (HSACAFAB), Outdoor Event Equipment Rentals (Umbrellas, Patio Heaters, Fire Pits) (HSACAFAL)

Keywords

• Luxury marquee hire
• Tipi rental services
• Sailcloth tent hire
• Event tent rental
• Wedding marquee hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Capel St Mary, Suffolk

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Marquee Hire Services: Rental of luxury marquee structures (tipis, sailcloth tents, stretch tents) including delivery, setup, and takedown services. Prices range from £2,500 to £15,000+ depending on guest numbers, location, and customization.
2. Furnishing Rentals: Additional furniture and finishing touches including flooring, tables, chairs, dance floors, bars, lighting, fire pits, catering tents, and service tents available as add-ons to marquee hire.
3. Per-Person Pricing: Typical cost per guest ranges from £50 to £150+ depending on furniture and extras selected

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Events Under Canvas is a luxury marquee hire company that rents premium outdoor event structures including Giant Tipis, Sailcloth Tents, Stretch Tents, and the Nimbus Pod, along with modular furnishings such as furniture, lighting, firepits, flooring, stages, and service tents. The service includes delivery, professional installation, and takedown, primarily for weddings, private parties, corporate functions, and festivals across East Anglia and South East England.

Product overview

Events Under Canvas is a luxury marquee hire company offering a portfolio of distinct tent structures as its core products: wooden-poled giant Tipis, elegant Sailcloth Tents (including Grand Sailcloth Aurora range), flexible Stretch Tents, and the compact Nimbus Pod for intimate gatherings. The company operates a modular service model where customers select their primary structure and layer on furnishing add-ons including furniture, lighting, firepits, flooring, stages, service tents, and finishing touches. This approach allows customization from small garden parties (via the Nimbus Pod) to grand celebrations seating up to 270 guests (via the 6-pole Grand Sailcloth). The product suite is unified by the company's focus on outdoor event experiences across weddings, parties, corporate events, and festivals throughout East Anglia and South East England.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tipi Hire Wooden-poled giant tipis that create a unique, bohemian venue with warm wooden poles and dramatic peaks, suited for relaxed, festival-style weddings and events. Pricing falls within the standard marquee hire range of £2,500–£15,000+.
• Sailcloth Tent Hire Elegant sailcloth marquees with translucent fabric that glows at dusk, offering romantic, timeless elegance with natural light by day and luminous beauty by night. Suitable for weddings, parties, and corporate events.
• Stretch Tent Hire Flexible stretch tents with sculptural, flowing shapes that create contemporary, stylish spaces. Can be configured with open or enclosed sides for versatile weather adaptation.
• Nimbus Pod A compact gazebo-style marquee for smaller gatherings and intimate events, with approximately 6.2 metres diameter footprint (around 27m² covered space) and seating for up to 24 guests. Features part-clear sides that can be added in sections for flexible weather protection.
• Grand Sailcloth (Aurora Range) Large-scale Aurora range sailcloth tents available in 4-pole (18mx18m, up to 200 guests) and 6-pole (24mx18m, up to 270 guests) configurations. Features translucent side panels and elegant grandeur for grand events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Switching to HVO fuel reduces fleet emissions by up to 90%, dropping from 80.4 tonnes to approximately 8 tonnes CO2e annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EcologicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Climate partnership through which Events Under Canvas funds reforestation projects. The company plants 11 trees for every event undertaken - one tree sent to the customer to plant and ten trees planted by Ecologi on the company's behalf through global projects including Protect Earth (UK) and Eden Reforestation (worldwide).
• TentipicoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of authentic tipis used by Events Under Canvas. Listed as 'Authentic Tipis Tentipi' partner on the company website, indicating a supply relationship for their core product offering.
• Stories Event HireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurniture partnership mentioned in blog content. Events Under Canvas recommends and works with Stories Event Hire for styling and furniture that pairs with their marquee structures.
• Ivory White PhotographyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhotography partner credited in multiple blog posts for capturing events. The company received donated photography services from Ivory White Photography at their 2025 Showcase event.
• 40+ Local Businesses (Showcase 2025)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork of local small businesses including caterers, florists, photographers, entertainers, and venues who participated as exhibitors at the 2025 Showcase event at no fee, demonstrating collaborative community approach.
• Cromer Hall EstateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarting 2026, Events Under Canvas will be partnering with Cromer Hall Estate to provide luxury tents and tipis for events on their grounds from 2027 onwards. Partnership combines the estate's historic character with marquee celebrations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Marquee Company: UK marquee hire provider covering weddings, private parties and corporate functions with delivery, furniture and furnishing options. Comparable end-to-end event rental model.
• Cap Marquees: Established UK marquee hire company offering frame and traditional marquees to weddings, corporate and private clients. Comparable on broad marquee rental model and direct event customer mix.
• Stretch Tents UK: UK stretch tent hire specialist servicing weddings, parties and corporate events; closely comparable to Events Under Canvas' Stretch Tent product line and outdoor-event customer base.
• Tipis4hire: UK giant tipi hire specialist that has co-deployed with Events Under Canvas on the Rightmove Summer Party 2017 (17 tipis). Directly comparable on tipi product and luxury event positioning.
• Sperry Tents: Premium sailcloth and pole tent rental company (US-rooted, with UK operations) specialising in high-end weddings — the most comparable sailcloth-led direct competitor to Events Under Canvas' Grand Sailcloth range.
• Tentorium: UK specialist tent hire business providing tipis and stretch structures for weddings and events; comparable product set (tipis, stretch tents) and luxury positioning to Events Under Canvas.
• Big Top Marquees: UK marquee hire operator covering weddings, corporate events and festivals with traditional frame marquees. Directly comparable on regional delivery model and seasonal event mix.
• PapaKåta: Long-established UK luxury tipi and sailcloth marquee hire company serving weddings and events nationwide. Closest direct competitor to Events Under Canvas in the high-end outdoor wedding/event structure segment.
• Cruden Marquees: UK traditional pole marquee hire company focused on weddings and large private events. Comparable structural product offering and luxury wedding/corporate segment.

Broad incumbents

• GL Events UK: Global events infrastructure group providing large-scale temporary structures for festivals, corporate events and exhibitions. Broader-scale incumbent that overlaps with Events Under Canvas' festival and corporate event offerings at the upper end.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@eventsundercanvastipis/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/eventsundercanvas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/events-under-canvas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Events Under Canvas