HAVE A TENNIS CHRISTMAS AT THE WIMBLEDON SHOP
By Sarah Edworthy
Christmas Shopping fever is upon us. Time to deck the halls and fill the present cupboard! While merry-spirited lifestyle gurus exhort us to pick a ‘theme’ for stylish tree dressing or table decorations or wrapping paper, we suggest extending that idea to the gifts you give as well. Why not serve up a Tennis Christmas for all the family, courtesy of the Wimbledon Shop?
For that hardcore tennis fan of a husband, for example, you could pick a luxurious Ettinger leather wallet, £45, or a practical Net Measure, £16, a Crystal paperweight, £32, or Wimbledon 2011: The Grandest of Slams, the definitive story on DVD of the 125th Anniversary of The Championships.
The sister you avidly attend Wimbledon with each year would love the Tipperary wine glass set at £65 – to toast the memory of watching Djokovic’s victory again - and the Crystal tea light collection, £39, or a Ralph Lauren candle, £20, to keep the flame of tennis worship burning.
Even those most difficult-to-satisfy creatures, aka teenagers, are easy to thrill: what girl would not appreciate a Links of London green/purple Friendship Bracelet, £150? And what boy would not rate the ‘cool’ factor in a 2012 cap, £20, Crossed Racket T-shirt, £26, or All England Backpack, £30?
You can find divinely cute items for younger kids. Go for dressing gowns and sun hats as fun wardrobe-fillers or have fun wrapping up a 5-inch midi ball (available in pink and yellow) or pick up a cuddly teddy bear for only £14. As for babies, you can never start too young at tennis… Check out the adorable Babygrows, £16, Strawberry motif or ‘Future Wimbledon Champion’ bibs, £4 each, and the sweetest Fila Crib shoes at £15.
For your best friend and doubles partner, why not adopt the cunning tactic of buying her a Links of London Strawberry Sweetie bracelet, £175, on condition she buys you one? High five time! That’s what we call teamwork!
For Grandpa - who still boasts a mean forehand - the book Wimbledon: Visions of the Championships plus bookmark, £2, will be a resonant prompt to consider the magic that is Wimbledon Fortnight; while a Wimbledon tie, £42, will kit him out nattily for the round of festive drinks parties.
A his’n’her pair of Men’s and Ladies’ Championship towels, £28 each, make a colourful present for the couple with whom you go on regular summer tennis-and-pool holidays.
The Shop is also a treasure trove of beautiful and practical items that conjure garden party atmosphere rather than a racket sport. Fairweather tennis fans will love the Sophie Allport china range of strawberry-adorned milk jug, £14, mugs, £10 and Tea for One Set, £25. Her range also includes very pretty Table Cloth, Tea Towel and Oven Gloves. You can never have too many House of Dorchester Assortment Chocolate Boxes, £10, or Preserve Sets (five jars at £5) to bring along for the hosts and hostesses of festive parties.
The trophy element of a traditional Christmas is, of course, the Stocking and the Shop has stocking fillers galore – socks (twin pack at £14, or a strawberry logo pair at £8), jumbo wristbands, £6, keyrings (a variety to choose from ranging from £4 to £8), playing cards (twin pack, £10) plus novel magnets in the form of an aerial view of the All England club, £3 and Crossed Racket motif, £4.
These are some ideas, but do come in to browse or play Santa online.
The Wimbledon Shop – open daily from 10am – 5pm (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day). Entrance to the Shop is free and there is parking available via Gate 5 (the main entrance to the AELTC’s grounds on Church Road), or there is additional parking on Somerset Road. Click here for full details about the Wimbledon Shop
