Wonderful Wimbledon

Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Wimbledon has been played at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club since 1877 and is the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments to be played on grass. This tournament has a reputation for carrying on traditions: enduring rain, enforcing dress codes, and satisfying stomachs.

Enduring the rain will not be an issue this year at the tournament due to construction done to the main court, Centre Court. This is the first year that a retractable roof will be used and it should provide fans and players with a less-wet tournament than they’re used to. The translucent roof takes only ten minutes to open or close and will mostly be used to exclude rain, but possibly heat, if it becomes unbearably hot.

The dress code is simple, but strict. The tournament requires all participants to wear almost entirely white clothing, with a little bit of color allowed. Thankfully, this code only applies to players and fans have no restrictions on apparel. It is recommended that you dress comfortably and do not forget your umbrella!

Let’s get to talking about the sweet treats that lure crowds to this tournament. A staple at Wimbledon, the classic treat of strawberries and cream is always served. Last year, over 7,000 liters of dairy cream were used, not to mention the 28,000 kilograms (over 61 lbs.) of English strawberries that were consumed. To ensure the freshest product for their fans, Grade I Kent strawberries are picked the day before they are served and delivered at 5:30 am, to be inspected and divided up. According to the calculations made after the 2008 tournament, those numbers were on the smaller side of consumption compared to the number of cups of tea and coffee (300,000), the number of sandwiches (190,000), pastries and glasses of Pimm’s (150,000 each), pints of draft beer and lager (100,000), and bottles of champagne (17,000). This does not even include the amount of food needed to stabilize the staff of 1,500 that operates the tournament concessions.

There are many restaurants to consider while you are cruising around the club between matches. If you’re in the mood for hot food on the go, check out the Food Village, which offers stir-fry, fish & chips, pizza, and fried chicken options, in addition to their sandwiches and beverages. Café Pergola is great if you’d like to sit down and get waited on. They provide fans with hot and cold foods, as well as drinks from their wine bar. The Aorangi Café offers treats such as hamburgers, strawberries & cream, and light refreshments, while the Aorangi Terrace sticks to Pimm’s and ice cream. The Tea Lawn also has a variety of delights including: pizza, sandwiches, cookies, pastries, baguettes, strawberries & cream, ice cream, as well as refreshments. Looking for a place to enjoy afternoon tea, a quick lunch or supper, then you should check out the Conservatory Buffet, a self-serving dining option.

Don’t miss other classics of the Wimbledon tournament, such as the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. Open since 2006, this museum was awarded a Special Commendation at the 2008 Museum of the Year Awards held in Dublin for its imaginative and innovative presence. Some of its highlights include: a film called “The Science of Tennis” which is shown in the 200˚ cinema; a recreation of the 1980s gentlemen’s dressing room and a 3-D John McEnroe ‘ghost’ walking through it; Tim Henman’s winning outfit worn at his last ever match at Wimbledon; the legendary Championships’ trophies, a collection of traditional and contemporary tennis memorabilia, as well as interactive touch screens and audio guides in 8 different languages.

The museum was designed by Mather & Company, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, and it has only been gaining notoriety since its opening. In the 3 years of its existence, it has also been awarded the Gold Visit London Best Tourism Experience Award (2007) and the Bronze Visit London Accessible Tourism Award (2007). The history of the tournament is concealed only seconds away from the live action, so don’t miss either one!