Cork on a Fork Fest – 20x7.5m Stretch Tent for the VQ Shared Table on MacCurtain Street
- Aug 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 17
We recently completed a unique city-centre stretch tent installation for Cork on a Fork Fest, providing a 20x7.5m stretch tent for the drinks reception at the VQ Shared Table on MacCurtain Street, directly outside The Metropole Hotel.
Sponsored by Birra Moretti, the VQ Shared Table brought hundreds of guests together for one of Cork On A Fork Fest's standout dining experiences.
For this installation, our 20x7.5m stretch tent was installed on blocks to create a striking covered drinks reception area while integrating with the wider event setup.
The project also saw us working alongside some great local event suppliers, with TS Events providing tables, chairs and catering support, Red Penguin looking after sound and BMG Sound providing LED screens.
A Stretch Tent in the Heart of Cork City
Installing a large stretch tent in the middle of a busy city street is very different from working in an open field or private venue.
The MacCurtain Street location required a setup that worked around the existing streetscape while creating sufficient covered space for the drinks reception.
For this project, the 20x7.5m stretch tent was installed on blocks, allowing us to install out tent without damaging the street required for the event while making effective use of the available footprint.
The result was a distinctive covered reception area that retained the open feel of the street and became part of the overall VQ Shared Table experience.
Weatherproofing One of Cork on a Fork Fest's Standout Events
Outdoor dining and hospitality events are fantastic when the weather cooperates, but Irish event planning means organisers need to be prepared for changing conditions.
A stretch tent provides protection while allowing an event to retain the atmosphere of being outdoors.
For a city-centre event like the VQ Shared Table, this means guests can enjoy the character and energy of MacCurtain Street while still having a dedicated covered hospitality space.
Stretch tents are particularly effective for:
Drinks receptions
Street festivals
Outdoor dining
Corporate hospitality
Festival bars
Guest reception areas
Food and drink events
Creating the Birra Moretti Drinks Reception
The 20x7.5m structure was used as the drinks reception area for the Birra Moretti-sponsored VQ Shared Table.
For branded hospitality events, the structure itself needs to do more than simply provide shelter.
It needs to create a space that feels like part of the event.
The clean lines and open design of a stretch tent provide an excellent environment for branded bars, drinks receptions and corporate hospitality while still allowing guests to see and experience the wider event around them.
This makes stretch tents particularly suited to brand activations, food festivals and outdoor hospitality events where appearance and guest experience are just as important as weather protection.
Working Alongside Cork Event Suppliers
Large events work best when experienced suppliers collaborate closely.
For the VQ Shared Table installation, we worked alongside:
Bringing structures, furniture, catering, audio and visual production together helped transform MacCurtain Street into a complete outdoor hospitality environment.
It's also a good example of the depth of event production expertise available locally in Cork.
Stretch Tents for Food Festivals & Outdoor Hospitality
Food festivals present an interesting challenge for event organisers.
Guests need comfortable spaces to eat, drink and socialise, while traders, bars and hospitality teams need practical structures that can handle high footfall throughout the event.
Stretch tents can be configured for:
Outdoor restaurants
Festival bars
Long-table dinners
Drinks receptions
Chef demonstrations
VIP hospitality
Food markets
Covered seating areas
Their flexibility means the same type of structure can work in everything from a city street to a hotel garden, private estate or festival field.
Lighting, Sound & Production for Outdoor Events
The best outdoor event spaces bring multiple elements together.
Alongside stretch tent structures, events can incorporate professional sound, LED screens, flooring and lighting to completely transform a temporary location.
At Stretch Tents Ireland, we also provide lighting solutions including festoon lighting and atmospheric event lighting for weddings, festivals and hospitality installations.
Stretch Tent Hire in Cork
Cork is one of our busiest areas for stretch tent installations, with projects ranging from private weddings and hospitality venues to major festivals and city-centre events.
Our Cork work includes weddings, festivals, permanent hospitality installations, schools, restaurants and outdoor event spaces throughout the county.
The VQ Shared Table demonstrates something particularly important about stretch tents – they aren't restricted to fields and gardens.
With the right planning and installation, they can be adapted to challenging urban environments and help transform streets, courtyards and existing hospitality spaces into distinctive event venues.
Stretch Tent Hire & Sales Across Ireland
At Stretch Tents Ireland, we provide both temporary hire and stretch tent sales for clients throughout Ireland.
Our work includes:
Festivals and cultural events
Corporate hospitality
Brand activations
Weddings
Hotels
Pubs and restaurants
Schools
Permanent and semi-permanent outdoor spaces
For businesses and venues that regularly require covered outdoor space, purchasing a stretch tent can also provide a flexible long-term solution.
Planning a Festival or Outdoor Event?
From a single hospitality structure to multiple tents across an entire festival site, our team can help design an installation around your venue, audience and event requirements.
Our recent festival work across Ireland has included everything from intimate independent events to major music, arts, food and cultural festivals.
If you're planning an outdoor event, getting the structure, layout and supporting infrastructure organised early gives you much greater flexibility.
Final Thoughts
Our 20x7.5m installation for the VQ Shared Table at Cork on a Fork Fest is a great example of what can be achieved with stretch tents in an urban environment.
Installed on blocks directly on MacCurtain Street outside The Metropole Hotel, the structure created a dedicated drinks reception for the Birra Moretti-sponsored event while working alongside furniture, catering, sound and LED production from some fantastic Cork suppliers.
From city-centre food festivals to weddings, major festivals and corporate events, the flexibility of stretch tents allows us to create covered spaces in locations where conventional event structures may not offer the same freedom.
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