Strawberries and cream are an integral - and unmissable - part of the whole Wimbledon experience
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Historians refer to the first Wimbledon as nothing more than a "garden party". Needless to say, much has changed at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The facilities now house thousands of spectators, and include 20 grass courts, five red shale courts, a host of both clay and indoor surfaces, plus a small museum and six restaurants. But one quintessential Wimbledon treat has remained constant throughout – fresh strawberries and Devonshire cream.
King George V started the tradition, and thanks to the trendsetting monarch, the All England Club now sells 59,400lbs of strawberries over the fortnight, topped off with 77,000 gallons of cream. And while one can now find such down-market imports as pizza on sale, the original afternoon refreshment still reigns supreme.
On the west Tea Lawn, next to a statue of British tennis great Fred Perry, is a strawberries and cream stand. Here, in the impeccably manicured setting, fans relax and sip champagne – 12,000 bottles of it – as they enjoy their fruit. Some may opt for a glass of Pimms and a Bath bun instead, but the truly authentic option remains strawberries and cream.
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