"Wimbledon's long association with food dates back to its origins, when tennis emerged from the garden parties that accompanied lawn tennis matches. As tennis became professionalised, the food remained resolutely English country-fete style. That makes Wimbledon as much a social event as a sporting one - and one famous for the strawberries, of which 2.5 million are consumed every year. And most are grown within 50km of the tennis courts, so it's local food for an international sporting event."
"But it might not have always been strawberries, because in 1954, the long-standing caterer Lyons introduced the Wimpy burger to Wimbledon. It didn't last, as the regal nose disapproved of the smell of onions wafting into the Royal Box. So, back to the strawberries, cream, Pimms, and of course, Robinsons squash. The exhibition also looks at the finer details of catering, with a touchscreen showing the menus on offer over the years."
Wimbledon’s food tradition originates in garden-party origins of lawn tennis and retained English country-fete catering as the sport professionalised. The event is both social and sporting, with 2.5 million strawberries consumed annually, mostly grown within 50km of the courts. A 1954 experiment served Wimpy burgers but failed due to onion smells reaching the Royal Box. Catering history includes English Royal Box menus versus more French-influenced common menus, athlete-specific meals and post-match binges, a player missing a match due to dining, restrained commercial branding on cans, and over 100 food and drink items displayed, including match kits and heritage posters.
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