7 Things everyone should know about Wimbledon
The annual Wimbledon tournament is just around the corner, kicking off on the 3rd July for 14 action packed days of Tennis. It has become one of the most iconic British traditions of Summer in London, and is attended by hundreds of fans of every year. Here at The Rembrandt we can’t wait for the prestigious competition to kick off in 2017, but until then, we’ve dug up some little known facts about The Championships:
140 Years of Wimbledon
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world! The tradition started in 1877 and is considered the most prestigious out of the four Grand Slams. It is also the only major still played on a grass court.
Dress Code
There is a very strict dress code for players. They must wear all white with the rules stating that “no solid mass of colouring; little or no dark or bold colours… all other items of clothing including hats, socks and shoes to be almost entirely white.”. The organisers are so strict on these rules that they once pulled up Roger Federer for having orange soles on his shoes.
WWII Bomb Survivor
The Centre Court survived a War World II bombing in 1940. The bombing destroyed 1,200 seats and couldn’t be repaired until 1947. The 1946 championships went ahead anyway despite the damage.
Sponsorships
Unlike many other sporting grounds, Wimbledon does not feature any sponsored advertising around the courts. The reason behind this decision was to retain the unique image and character of The Championships. Wimbledon has had many famous sponsors over the years, including Robinsons Squash which was born at The Championships in 1935 with the invention of their Lemon Barley Water to quench the player’s thirst.
Day of Rest
The middle Sunday of the Wimbledon fortnight is always a ‘day of rest’, and provides a much needed day off for the Wimbledon players, staff and supporters!
Strawberries and Cream
A very well-known tradition of Wimbledon is the delicious combo of strawberries and cream, which has been delicacy at the competition since the 19th century. Each year, tennis fans consume more than 28,000kg of strawberries and 7,000 litres of cream.
The Art of Queuing
Wimbledon is also unique in the fact that it is the only Grand Slam where fans can turn up without tickets and still have a chance of a seat. They can join ‘The Queue’ and receive a queue card for standby seats. You would have to be a very dedicated tennis fan as many often queue overnight to secure their seats. Wimbledon has even released its own Guide to Queuing which outlines the appropriate etiquette for ‘The Queue’.
Pigeon-Free Zone
Since 2000 Wimbledon has had a resident ‘Bird Scarer’ in the form of a Hawk. The position is currently held by Rufus the Hawk, who will sweep the area to scare away pigeons so they don’t interfere with the games.
If you are heading to Wimbledon 2017, or if you are going to try your luck by joining ‘The Queue’, then book a room at The Rembrandt to be just 25 minutes away from the action. With direct access to Wimbledon on the District line, the Rembrandt is an ideal base for your trip to The Championships this July. Our 194 bedrooms all feature luxurious beds, a free smart phone for use during your stay, and free full English breakfast to set you up for a busy day ahead.
Book online now, or call us on 020 3740 7145 or email [email protected].
Back to all posts