History & Traditions
Wimbledon is the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament, starting in 1877 and taking place annually at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. It is quintessentially British, a combination of sportsmanship and style, the sartorial and skill.
In 1937, Wimbledon was the first sporting event in history to be televised live by the BBC and has ceaselessly grown in popularity ever since. In 2017, the BBC streamed the Championships to over 24.1 million viewers, with over 470,000 spectators attending over 13 days.
The Wimbledon Championships are nothing if not steeped in tradition. Originating as lawn tennis and since the first Wimbledon Championship over 140 years ago, it remains the only major to be played on outdoor grass courts.
The grass courts aren’t the only Wimbledon tradition – spectators also enjoy the iconic British summer treat of strawberries and cream every year, (served since the very first Championships in 1877), with over 34,000 kg of the fruit and 10,000 litres of dairy cream used to cater the event. Pimm’s is also famously associated with Wimbledon and has been served to attendees since 1971, with over 320,000 glasses of Pimm’s cocktails served each year.
The Dress Code
Wimbledon embodies ‘tennis whites’ and all players must adhere to a strict dress code. Off-white and cream shades are strictly prohibited for the competitors – only a single trim of colour is permitted on clothing and must be no wider than one centimetre.
For spectators, the Wimbledon dress code is suitably more relaxed. Suits, lightweight blazers and tailored shorts are advisable for men, whereas women can showcase simple, classic looks such as dresses or co-ordinates.
There are still exceptions of course – torn jeans, running vests, dirty trainers, sports shorts and logos/offensive slogans are banned and clothing that errs on the side of uncomfortably tight or short should be avoided. These rules are especially crucial for debenture ticket holders (one of the more luxurious options within Wimbledon hospitality.)
The Championships & Venue
In 1922, the Championships moved to their current home on Church Road in south west London. This venue boasts an impressive 55 courts, including 18 grass courts for the competitive matches, 22 for training/warm-ups and an additional eight clay courts, five indoor courts and two hard courts.
The Centre Court is equipped with a retractable roof, as unveiled in April 2009, to avoid disruption from rain. The roof takes ten minutes to close, during which time play is suspended. Wimbledon has been famously chequered with the unpredictable UK weather. Over 30 days have been rained off since the tournament began, with 1985 seeing an inch of rain falling in 20 minutes.
Wimbledon 2018
The 2018 Wimbledon Championships will run from 2nd-15th July, with two matches each day on the Centre court and No.1 Court, usually commencing at 1pm. This year will see some of the world’s best tennis players take to the court, including Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
The players will compete for a share of Wimbledon’s prize money, which in 2017 totalled £31,600,000.
For those pursuing the ultimate experience at this renowned event, a selection of Wimbledon hospitality packages can be purchased from official provider Keith Prowse. Each package has been tailored to provide a truly memorable experience placing you in the heart of the unique, unrivalled atmosphere that makes Wimbledon so iconic.
