Boating lake on Selfridges' roof

We get some strange calls at TESS's Bristol office. "We want to build a boating lake on the roof of Selfridges in Oxford Street, can you help us do it safely?" The caller was Harry Parr of Jellymongers (jelly makers to the recent Royal Wedding). Their company, Bompas and Parr, produce a host of off-the-wall culinary events; Voyage of Discovery was the launch of a naturally-derived food and drink sweetener.

With years of experience of temporary mega-structures, managing safety at The Festival of the Sea, Tall Ships and the Crick Boat Show, along with a liking for sweet things in general, TESS were ideally equipped to offer the safety advice needed for this bizarre nautical proposal.

Apart from the obvious question of the roof supporting the weight of a lake full of water, it was necessary to consider the issues of working 30 metres above the most crowded shopping street in central London. The event site was to be on the roof of one of the busiest department stores on the planet which must continue to function without disturbance. Add to that the press launch and that the lake would then be open to the public and we had a challenging task ahead.

Following a site visit, many hours hunched over designs and plans and the wholehearted cooperation of the Event and Safety Teams at Selfridges the roof was reinforced with several tons of steel, the lake was built, the set dressed, and the press and public were admitted to see the boats and the product well and truly launched.