As Wimbledon fortnight kicks off, the usually quiet London suburb of Wimbledon Village is buzzing with activity. Businesses are preparing for a surge in customers, with many relying on the tournament for a significant portion of their annual revenue. The event is estimated to inject £74 million into the local economy across Merton and neighbouring Wandsworth, according to deputy leader of Merton Council, Councillor Eleanor Stringer.
Competition Heats Up Off the Court
While the world's top tennis players battle on the grass courts, a friendly rivalry is unfolding in Wimbledon Village. For 12 years, local businesses have competed in an annual tennis window competition, decorating their shopfronts with creative tennis-themed displays. Restaurant owner Adrian Mills, who runs Thai Tho with his wife Nicky, jokes that the competition is "now more competitive than actually what's going on down the road."
Adrian, 69, a former presenter on the BBC's That's Life programme, said the tournament is vital for the "really suffering" hospitality industry. He estimates that businesses see a 30-40% increase in revenue over the two weeks. "This is the most important two weeks for businesses to make money, to keep themselves above water," he said.
Pubs and Restaurants Gear Up for Influx
Nicky Green, landlady of the Rose & Crown pub and hotel, is preparing for her 22nd Wimbledon championship. "I can't wait," she said. "It's the best time of the year, it makes or breaks my year." The pub has been fully booked since January and Nicky has roughly doubled her staff count to 120 to cope with demand. New additions include a marquee in the car park, outdoor bars, and a limited edition strawberry and cream beer from Stella Artois.
Across the road, the Dog & Fox pub is also busy preparing. Manager Phil Daley, 49, noted that the pub is a favourite of tennis star Nick Kyrgios. "He frequents us a fair bit normally during the evenings," Daley said. The pub has added four new bars, an outside cooking station, and a display of 1,100 flowers in Wimbledon's purple and white colours.
Players' Favourite Spots
Maison St Cassien, a Mediterranean and Lebanese restaurant, is reportedly a regular haunt for players including Sir Andy Murray. Team member Zak Brahma proudly displays a signed photo of Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov, with the inscription: 'Nobody comes in the way of me and my chicken wrap!!!' Zak, 38, said new items have been added to the menu for Wimbledon 2026. "It's challenging, putting out a long shift but I love it," he said.
Local Residents Embrace the Atmosphere
Residents also enjoy the buzz. Bronwyn Reed, 43, a tennis fan who moved from New Zealand over a decade ago, said the championship is key to Wimbledon's "special uniqueness." Grandfather Eric Furber, 84, said he enjoys the atmosphere in the Village, adding that he has bumped into stars like Andy Murray and Serena Williams over the years.
Mandy Amer, 66, a 40-year resident, acknowledged the drawbacks: "Moving your car around, parking and getting into roads is probably problematic. But Wimbledon is about the tennis, so it's great and for the three weeks we just put up with it."
Council Prepares for Smooth Running
Councillor Eleanor Stringer said the council has worked "year-round" with organisers on parking, security, and preventing counterfeit goods. "To have all eyes in our local authority on SW19 over this week, some of the leading athletes in the whole world coming and playing just metres away from us is really inspirational for our residents," she said.
With almost 550,000 visitors last year, Wimbledon Village is ready to welcome the world once again. As Phil Daley put it: "It's a very sleepy little village, hard to believe that we're still in London and then all of a sudden when Wimbledon kicks off, the place comes alive."
