Are Clear Roof Marquees a Good Idea?
Last edited 6th November 2025
Clear-roof marquees bring wow-factor and let in tonnes of daylight and sky views — but they also come with a few trade-offs (mainly heat and light issues) that you’ll want to plan carefully for.
If you’ve been browsing marquee designs, you’ve probably caught sight of those striking transparent roofs where the stars shine through by night and the sun floods in by day. At Abacus we love them, too — they’re dramatic, photogenic and genuinely different. But here’s the honest truth: they’re not just a “tick-the-box” upgrade. Clear‐roof marquees need the right timing, ventilation, siting and layout to work well. In this guide we’ll walk you through when they’re a great idea, when they might not be, and the questions you should ask to make sure your event looks stunning and runs smoothly.
Clear Roof marquees are quickly becoming a very popular choice for large events including weddings. They offer a more contemporary finish and give more of an outside inside feel allowing lots of natural daylight to flood inside the marquee.
They make your marquee a lot brighter with the daylight shining through, and if your marquee is situated in a beautiful area it would seem quite a good choice to go for. But one thing to bear in mind is if it’s in direct sunlight during the middle of a hot June day a clear roof marquee acts like a greenhouse. It gets extremely hot if unventilated and guests might feel uncomfortable.
Why Everyone’s Talking About Clear Roof/Transparent Marquees
Clear-roof marquees have exploded in popularity over the last few years — and it’s easy to see why. They offer a bright, contemporary finish and create that magical “outside-inside” atmosphere, where guests can enjoy the views and natural light while staying protected from the weather.
If your event site is surrounded by gardens, trees or countryside, a clear-roof marquee can look absolutely breathtaking — especially when the light changes through the day. They’re a photographer’s dream and instantly elevate the look of your event.
The Catch: Greenhouse Effect
Here’s the honest truth: clear-roof marquees get hot. Very hot.
When your marquee is in full sun — particularly between May and September — it acts much like a greenhouse. The sunlight floods in and quickly warms up the air. Without ventilation or airflow, your guests, flowers and drinks could suffer.
We usually advise against seating all your guests under a fully clear roof during the peak summer months. A beautifully bright marquee is lovely; a 35°C greenhouse with wilting flowers is not!
If you’re planning on having all your guests seated under a clear roof marquee we wouldn’t recommend to do this if your event falls between May and September. The blistering hot sun doesn’t fare well on guests flowers and drinks during these warm periods.
If you really are keen for the alfresco dining feeling, to get around this temperature issue we would recommend to roll the sides up, which will help provide some cool air flow to help maintain the interior temperature.
You could also have your marquee fitted with lining overlays which hide the metal roof beams overhead. These three foot strips of lining break up the sun, providing smaller shaded areas to help keep the marquee cooler.
Are Clear Roof Marquees a Good Idea? Lining overlays placed overhead not only hides the metal roof beams but also gives some shade protection to maintain interior temperature. You can also opt to have part of the marquee section with transparent roofs such as over the bar area
How to Keep a Clear Roof Marquee Comfortable
The good news? There are plenty of design tricks to get the look and the comfort.
- Roll the Side Walls Up
Rolling the sides up allows cool air to circulate freely. Even a gentle breeze can make a huge difference to the inside temperature.
- Add Lining Overlays
Three-foot-wide lining overlays can be installed across the roof beams. These simple strips soften the sunlight, create patches of shade and hide the metal framework overhead — all while maintaining that bright, open look.
Think of them as the marquee’s equivalent of a pair of sunglasses — less glare, same great view.
- Go Half-and-Half
A very popular compromise is the half-clear, half-lined marquee. Guests dine or relax under the lined section, where it’s cooler, while the bar and dancefloor sit under the clear roof for that “wow” factor.
It also means you can place elderly or more heat-sensitive guests in the shaded section while still enjoying that airy, modern atmosphere.
- Use Clear Roofs for Reception or Bar Areas
If you’re keen to include clear sections but worried about temperature, use them for entrance or reception zones where guests won’t spend hours seated. It still adds visual interest and natural light, without making your main space too warm.
Better still, have your guests under a lined part of the marquee and perhaps have your bar and dance area with a clear roof which is quite a popular half and half choice.
Is a Clear Roof Marquee a Good Idea? Perhaps a half lined, half clear marquee is a good compromise, and place elderly & more venerable guests under the lined part so it’s more comfortable for them.
Are clear roofs a good idea for evening events? 
You do not have to worry about temperature for evening parties if your marquee has clear roofs. Add some LED fairy lighting and they look simply stunning!
Design & Styling Tips
Lighting: Fairy lights, festoon bulbs and soft up-lighting look incredible reflected in clear roof panels at night.
Décor: Keep furniture tones light (whites, neutral tones) to prevent glare and heat absorption.
Temperature Management: If it’s a large event, perhaps a partial transparent marquee might be best. We advise to opt for the middle bar area to have a transparent section to be clear, as this section of your marquee tends to be used towards the end of the day/evening where temperature is typically cooler than the day time.
Timing: If you’re hosting a daytime summer event, plan your meal or key moments for late afternoon or evening when the sun’s lower.
A Good Compromise
The main reason why you would like clear roofs is because of the beautiful surroundings your marquee will be in. These aesthetic surroundings tend to be from the side of the marquee rather than above.
So perhaps consider having the walls and the gable ends of the marquee clear and having the roof lined is a happy medium to keep the interior temperature more controlled. This still provides a modern look, allows lots of natural daylight to come through and you do have far more control in keeping the interior temperature to a comfortable number in comparison to a fully transparent marquee.
Is a Clear Marquee a Good Idea? Having just clear side walls still provides a bright marquee, yet will keep temperature to a more maintainable number.
Having a clear roof section for a front reception area where guests won’t be spending too much time in this location if it is warm outside can be a nice compromise if you are really wanting a cear roof section. It will still make your interior a lot brighter and offers something that is a little different.
If you are hosting your event in the evening then you’ll not have the temperature issue – You won’t need to think about slowly cooking your guests! Adding lighting, such as fairy lights to a clear roof marquee for an evening party can work wonders to the look and the feel of your surroundings.
Adding LED Fairy Lighting to a clear roof looks fantastic in the evening.
A partial transparent section over the bar area is a great idea for seating events such as weddings as this is typically the section of the marquee which is used towards the evening of the event.
Are Clear Roof Marquees a Good Idea? | Key Takeaways
- Clear roof marquees give you that “outdoors indoors” feel and incredible photo opportunities — perfect when done right.
- They’re not a one-size-fits-all upgrade — you’ll want to consider sun, heat, glare, furniture and guest comfort carefully.
- A partially clear roof design often offers the best balance — letting light in while controlling temperature and glare.
- Site, season and event timing matter big-time when choosing a clear roof – evening or autumn weddings are often the sweet spot.
- Working with an experienced team means you’ll get the design compromises, shading and ventilation built-in, so you can look stunning and be comfortable.
If you really like the idea of having a clear roof marquee then give my team a call on 01462 262 011. We will happy advise you on the best decision for your event and talk through the best options for you.
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