A base for
event and party hire

Ideas and how to set them up

Party furniture hire

Folding chairs, trestle tables, chair covers and dance-floor-friendly furniture for weddings, christenings and garden parties. Stackable furniture takes less room than you might think, so a 180 sq ft unit holds a good stock for a small hire business. As bookings grow, you can add an adjoining unit rather than moving everything, subject to availability.

Best unit

180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week or 300 sq ft · two storeys with upstairs office · £130 a week

Layout

Stack chairs on wheeled dollies in rows along the back wall and stand tables on their sides in racks. Keep a clear lane from the shutter so a whole order can be wheeled out in one run.

Good to know

Count every item out and back in on a simple checklist for each booking. Damage and shortfalls are much easier to charge for when you spot them on the day.

Bouncy castle and soft play hire

Inflatables, blowers, groundsheets, crash mats and soft play blocks for children's parties and community fun days. A dry unit protects vinyl from damp between bookings, which helps it last. Separate sets of mats and blocks by age group so the right kit goes to the right party.

Best unit

180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week or 300 sq ft · two storeys with upstairs office · £130 a week

Layout

Rolled inflatables on low pallets or heavy-duty shelving, blowers and extension leads on a shelf above, and soft play pieces stacked by colour or set. Leave floor space near the shutter for drying and checking returns.

Good to know

Make sure an inflatable is fully dry before it goes back in storage, or it can mould. Look up the HSE guidance on inflatables and the PIPA testing scheme so your kit is inspected and safe to hire.

Photo booth and selfie mirror hire

Enclosed booths, magic mirrors, printers, props boxes and backdrops for weddings, proms and corporate events. The 160 sq ft unit with a security door suits this compact, high-value kit. Software, card readers and templates can all be prepared at the unit on the Wi-Fi.

Best unit

150 sq ft · roller shutter · £65 a week or 160 sq ft · security door · £69 a week

Layout

Booths in flight cases or on trolleys along one wall, a bench with power and Wi-Fi for updating software and templates, and props sorted into themed boxes. Keep spare printer paper and ink sealed on a shelf.

Good to know

Test each booth and its printer in the unit before it goes out. A quick check the day before saves a panicked fix in front of a wedding party.

DJ, sound and lighting hire

PA speakers, mixers, microphones, LED uplighters, dance floor lighting and stands for DJs, bands and events that hire their own production kit. Store everything in flight cases and you can stack it safely to the ceiling. Keeping kit in one place also makes it easier to PAT test and log your hire stock.

Best unit

150 sq ft · roller shutter · £65 a week or 180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week

Layout

Flight cases on low shelving with heavy speakers at the bottom, cables coiled and labelled in crates, and a test bench with plenty of sockets. Keep a shelf for kit waiting to be checked or repaired.

Good to know

Standard single-phase power is fine for testing PA and lighting kit. Do not store smoke or haze machine fluid in bulk, and ask us before bringing in anything flammable.

Marquee and gazebo hire

Pop-up gazebos, frame marquees, sidewalls, weights, flooring and pegs for garden parties, markets and outdoor events. Poles and canvas are low-risk, and a roller-shutter unit makes long frames easy to load. Many outdoor event businesses pair marquees with furniture hire from the same unit.

Best unit

180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week or 300 sq ft · two storeys with upstairs office · £130 a week

Layout

Poles and frames in long racks against one wall, canvas and sidewalls folded and bagged on shelving, and weights and pegs in crates at floor level. Label every bag with the size of marquee it belongs to.

Good to know

Dry canvas fully before storing it, even if that means spreading it out on the unit floor for an evening. Patio heaters that run on gas cylinders are not allowed in the unit.

Garden games and giant games hire

Giant Jenga, Connect 4, quoits, croquet sets, lawn bowls and table football for weddings, pub events and summer fetes. Wooden games are light, low-risk and easy to stack in labelled boxes. They are also an easy add-on to sell alongside furniture or marquee bookings.

Best unit

150 sq ft · roller shutter · £65 a week or 180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week

Layout

Games in labelled crates on shelving, bigger frames such as giant Connect 4 standing upright, and a packing table for counting pieces. Keep a box of spare blocks and pegs for quick swaps.

Good to know

Count pieces back in after each hire and sand or replace damaged wooden blocks straight away. A tidy set looks better in photos and earns repeat bookings.

Why our units suit event & party hire

• Most hire kit is wood, metal, fabric, vinyl and boxed electronics: bulky but low-risk, which is exactly what our units are set up for.
• Roller-shutter access on the 150, 180 and 300 sq ft units means stacked chairs, trolleys and rolled inflatables go straight from the van to the shelf.
• Weddings, parties and corporate events run early and finish late, so 24-hour access means you never wait for someone to open up after a midnight pack-down. Everything in one place also makes stocktakes and insurance lists far simpler.
• Lighting, standard single-phase electricity and Wi-Fi are already connected in every unit (there is no three-phase power), with 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities.

Start-up checklist

1. Decide which unit suits your stock, machines and how you will load and unload.
2. Message us with what your business does, so we can approve the use before you commit.
3. Register your business with HMRC as a sole trader or limited company if you have not already.
4. Speak to an insurance broker about public liability, contents and stock cover, and employers' liability if you have staff.
5. Ask us whether business rates apply, and check Small Business Rate Relief on GOV.UK.
6. Plan your layout: shelving up the walls, benches near sockets, and a clear route to the door.
7. Arrange one month's rent, the deposit, photo ID and a Direct Debit mandate for move-in day.

Questions

Prices are subject to availability. Minimum rental term: one month, then one month’s notice to leave. Swap to a bigger or smaller unit any time, subject to availability. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or tax advice.

More business ideas

All business ideas · Online sellers & e-commerce · Textiles, leather & sewing · Makers & creative studios · Tech & repair workshops · Trades & business storage · Market & fair traders · Furniture upcycling · Gardening & landscaping · Clubs & community groups · Mobile service businesses · Dry goods & botanicals