If you’re planning an outdoor event in the UK, one thing is for sure and certain – you need to be prepared for all weather eventualities!
The good news is that you can provide top-notch, high-quality shelter very easily if you look into hiring bell tents, famed for their distinctive look (in the shape of a bell, surprisingly!) and featuring a circular floor, a central pole, door frame pole and guy ropes to hold everything in place.
They’re perfect for keeping guests warm and dry, while ensuring that your event can go off without a hitch… but if you’re still not quite sold on the idea, here are some of the more frequently asked questions that we get here at Beau & Bell to help you make up your mind.As ever, if you have any further questions or need any additional guidance or advice, just get in touch with the team and we can take it from there!
1. What to look for in a bell tent?
When hiring a bell tent, look out for:
- Size… for guest accommodation, ours are 5m as standard.
- Material quality… ours are made of polycotton canvas that’s been treated with UV colourfast and mould/rot/water repellent. As for the thickness of canvas, ours are 320-350gsm. And for thickness of groundsheet, ours are 480-540gsm. We also only use thick/strong guy ropes, at 8mm.
- Added features… ours benefit from the option to add storm pegs, securing the groundsheet to the ground, a zip to the rear for cables, a central spot for accurate location of the centre pole, 2m high doors alongside standard features like mesh windows and doors, and zippable groundsheets. Ease of assembly is also a must.
We have had our own bell tents manufactured for us for many years, adding modifications regularly to make them more functional and robust.
2. How practical are bell tents?
Bell tents provide comfort, space and durability, boasting excellent weather resistance and ventilation, with a beautifully spacious interior thanks to the central pole design.
They are suitable for large or small events, but note that they’re fairly sizable tents so you need to have access to the appropriate pitching place.
3. What are the factors to be considered in deciding where to pitch your tent?
Look out for flat, dry ground that’s free from rocks and roots, as well as taking into account wind direction so you can be sheltered from the elements. You’ll want to pitch the tent so its back is to the wind.
Don’t pitch directly under trees, as there may be birds roosting that could mess on the tent or the trees themselves could be sap producing, dropping sticky residue on the canvas.
Also make sure that there’s enough space for the guy ropes to be tied. But, of course, this is something we can advise you on – so give us a shout if you need some tips.
4. Are bell tents hard to put up?
One of the best features of bell tents is that they’re relatively easy to put up!
The design is simple and straightforward, thanks to the single central pole and A-frame… which means that even just one person can put one up in 15-20 minutes or so.
However, the larger the tent the harder the longer it may take, which is why we do set-up on behalf of our clients, taking all the stress out of this aspect of party planning.
5. Are bell tents good in bad weather?
Bell tents are specifically designed to hold up in bad weather, so they’re perfect for use in the UK. The treated canvas repels rainwater and stops it from seeping through, while the pointed top of the tent allows rain to run down the sides so there’s no chance of it pooling on the surface or leaking through.
The strong guy ropes help to keep the structure stable and stop the tent from being blown away in windy weather, as well. Our modifications have made them more robust: Thicker guy ropes and the option to pin the groundsheet with storm pegs.
6. Do bell tents leak?
Brand-new bell tents might leak when first used, as the cotton has to weather over time, where the fabric swells and knits together to become fully waterproof. Rest assured, however, that all our bell tents are fully waterproof and will keep you all nice and dry.
7. What wind speed can a bell tent withstand?
High-quality bell tents can handle wind speeds of between 30 and 35mph because of their particular shape, as long as they’re pitched and set up correctly. If winds reach 40mph and above, it’s advisable to take the tent down as a safety precaution.
8. How waterproof are bell tents?
Canvas bell tents are very waterproof and well able to handle heavy rainfall, but they do need to be pitched properly and may need to be reproofed over the years in order to continue providing high waterproofing standards.
9. Are bell tents warm at night?
You’ll find that bell tents can be very warm at night, with the thick cotton fabric providing excellent insulation and trapping heat inside the tent.
However, you will still likely need to include additional insulation and even some kind of heating like a wood stove, depending on the time of year.