Anyone for a Wimbledon luxury picnic ... by the TV?
CROWDS huddled on Henman Hill in the sunshine watching matches on the big screen with a bowl of strawberries and cream has been a Wimbledon staple for decades.
The 2021 Championships are set to look and feel very different, with social distancing rules and the usually irrepressibly animated courtside spectators potentially being limited to just 25 per cent capacity.
However, to ensure fans still enjoy the magic of the sport’s most prestigious tournament, a champagne company has created a luxury “Wimbledon at home” hamper. It is billed as the “perfect accompaniment” to watching tennis titans do battle on court from home.
The £125 picnic basket by Champagne Lanson, enough for two people, contains delicacies including British strawberries with Estate Dairy pouring cream, hot smoked salmon with sourdough crumpets and caviar butter, and a “Henman Hill” sweet onion and smoked cheese tart.
Champagne flutes and a limited edition bottle of Le Black Label Brut are also part of the “decadent” feast, designed to be enjoyed in front of the television or in the garden. Founded in 1760, Lanson is one of the oldest Champagne houses and remains an official supplier to the Royal family. Lanson has partnered with Wimbledon since 1977 and became the official champagne at the tournament in 2001.
The unveiling of the Wimbledon hamper comes after the scaling down of the tournament was announced by the All England Club in April.
However, the new tournament restrictions could be relaxed if there is some easing of lockdown rules before its June 28 start date – a week after the last remaining Covid-19 measures were set to be lifted. It is now thought to be unlikely the Prime Minister will stick to this deadline, which is expected to be extended by at least a month.
Asked whether the club was being overly conservative in its approach, All England chief executive Sally Bolton argued that prudence is essential.
“It would be reckless for us to plan a tournament based on the best possible outcome,” she said. “What we have been focused on is planning a tournament with a set of guidance that we understand today, but also planning for how we are able to adjust to changes in those conditions.”