Delivery & Collection

Learn how Swans Lane delivery and customer pickup works, including our standard hire period, timing, access requirements and what to expect.Yep. Paste this whole thing straight into the Content box.
Delivery & Collection
Everything you need to know about getting your hire items to and from your event.
Once your booking is confirmed, we’ll work with you to organise the delivery or customer collection arrangements that suit your event, venue and booking.
For most weekend events, our hire period is designed to give you enough time to set up properly, enjoy the event and pack down afterwards without feeling rushed.
How our standard hire period works
Our hire pricing is not charged as a daily rate.
For most weekend events, our standard hire period is Friday delivery and Monday collection, with no additional hire charge for having the items across the weekend.
During particularly busy periods, some deliveries may begin on Thursday and some collections may extend to Tuesday.
This gives you time to receive the hire items, set everything up, enjoy your event and have everything ready for collection afterwards.
Your exact delivery and collection timing will depend on:
- your event location
- venue access
- our delivery schedule
- the type and quantity of hire items
- any setup or installation requirements
We’ll confirm the final arrangements with you before your event.
Delivery to your venue or property
If you choose delivery, we’ll bring the hire items to the agreed location and arrange collection after the event.
When requesting your quote, please provide the most accurate delivery address possible along with any information that may affect access.
This helps us plan the delivery properly and avoid delays.
Things we need to know
Please let us know in advance if there are:
- stairs
- lifts
- long carrying distances
- narrow access points
- gravel or uneven ground
- restricted vehicle access
- loading dock requirements
- locked gates
- venue access times
- specific delivery or collection windows
If access is significantly different from what was originally advised, additional charges may apply where extra time or labour is required.
Venue access times
Many venues have specific times when suppliers are allowed to enter the property.
If your venue has restricted access, please let us know as early as possible.
For example, some venues may only allow delivery after another event has finished, or may require all hire items to be removed by a particular time after your event.
The more information we have in advance, the easier it is for us to plan around those requirements.
Good to know: If your venue has a short delivery or collection window, please tell us before confirming your booking so we can make sure it can be accommodated.
High-rise & apartment deliveries
Deliveries to apartment buildings and high-rise venues can require a little more planning than a standard delivery.
If your event is being held in an apartment building, rooftop space, function room or high-rise venue, please let us know when requesting your quote.
Where possible, please provide details about:
- loading dock access
- vehicle height restrictions
- lift access
- whether a service lift needs to be booked
- building management requirements
- permitted delivery and collection times
- parking or loading restrictions
- access cards, keys or security procedures
- the distance from the loading area to the event space
Some buildings require delivery times to be booked in advance or only allow furniture to be moved through designated service lifts.
If a lift booking is required, we recommend arranging this with building management as early as possible and allowing enough time for both delivery and collection.
If access involves long carrying distances, multiple lift trips, restricted loading areas or additional waiting time, extra delivery or labour charges may apply.
The more information we have before the event, the more accurately we can plan the delivery and avoid surprises on the day.
From our experience: High-rise deliveries usually run smoothly when the loading dock, lift and access times have been organised in advance. A quick conversation with your building manager early in the planning process can save a lot of time on delivery day.
Do you provide setup?
Some hire items require installation or setup by our team, while others are delivered for the customer or venue to position themselves.
The requirements will depend on the products included in your booking.
Where setup or installation is included or required, this will be shown on your quote or discussed with you before the event.
For standard furniture deliveries, items may be delivered to an agreed accessible location rather than individually positioned throughout the venue unless setup has specifically been arranged.
If you’re unsure whether an item includes setup, just ask us when reviewing your quote.
Preparing for delivery
Before we arrive, please make sure the agreed delivery area is:
- accessible
- clear of vehicles or obstacles
- safe for our team to enter
- ready to receive the hire items
If we are delivering to a venue, please make sure the venue knows we are coming and that someone can provide access if required.
For private properties, please let us know about gates, access codes or anything else we may need before arrival.
Collection after your event
After the event, hire items should be ready for collection from the agreed location.
Where possible, please return furniture and equipment to the same accessible area where it was delivered unless another arrangement has been made.
This helps us collect efficiently and reduces the chance of anything being missed.
Please also make sure:
- all hire items are together
- personal belongings and decorations have been removed
- furniture is accessible
- venue gates or access points are open
- any required contact person is available if needed
Customer collection and return
Some bookings may be suitable for customer collection from Swans Lane.
If customer collection is arranged, your quote or booking confirmation will include the agreed collection and return details.
Please make sure your vehicle is suitable for safely transporting the items you have hired.
Some furniture and equipment can be bulky or heavy, so if you are unsure whether everything will fit, please ask before collection.
We’d much rather help you work out the right vehicle in advance than have you arrive and discover the items won’t fit safely.
What if my timing changes?
Event schedules can move, and venue access times sometimes change.
If your delivery or collection requirements change, please let us know as soon as possible.
We’ll always do our best to accommodate changes, but availability may be limited once delivery runs and staffing have been finalised.
Changes requested close to the event may not always be possible.
A typical Saturday event
Thursday: Some deliveries may begin during busy periods.
Friday: Our standard delivery day for weekend events.
Saturday: Your event.
Sunday: Pack-down and venue access where applicable.
Monday: Our standard collection day.
Tuesday: Some collections may extend to Tuesday during particularly busy periods.
Your exact timing may vary depending on your location, venue requirements and our delivery schedule, but this gives you an idea of how our standard weekend hire period usually works.
A few things worth remembering
Our pricing is not a daily hire rate. For most weekend events, your hire period covers the agreed delivery and collection window rather than charging you for each individual day.
Tell us about access early. Stairs, long carries, restricted access and short venue windows can all affect the delivery plan.
Make sure someone can let us in. If the venue or property requires a gate code, key or contact person, please arrange this before delivery.
Have everything ready for collection. Keeping all hire items together and accessible helps collection run smoothly.
Ask if you’re unsure. If you’re not sure how delivery, setup or collection will work for your venue, send us the details and we can talk you through it.
A little planning around access and timing makes a big difference. Once we know what the venue requires, we can organise the hire side so everything arrives and leaves as smoothly as possible.