Wimbledon fans have expressed outrage after Welsh cakes replaced scones on the menu at The Renshaw, the All England Club's fine-dining restaurant located on Level 2 of No 1 Court. The change, introduced by new head chef Bryn Williams, has led to complaints and forced staff to offer scones on a 'secret menu' during the first week of the tournament.
Traditional scones replaced by Welsh cakes
Previously, the restaurant served scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream as part of its afternoon tea menu, a hugely popular item among tournament-goers. At last year's Championship alone, over 83,000 portions were sold. However, scones are now absent from the main menu, replaced by Welsh cakes served with raspberry and lime jam and lemon curd.
The change comes after Denbigh-born chef Bryn Williams was appointed as the new head chef of The Renshaw. Williams said he wanted to "bring a little bit of North Wales down to Wimbledon" with a menu "inspired by [his] Welsh traditions." His afternoon tea menu also includes bara brith, while main course options for the three-course, £467.50 per head lunch menu include Porth Eiriais dressed crab and Welsh lamb.
Outrage among customers
According to The Telegraph, the switch has sparked outrage among customers. A debenture-holder told the newspaper that he asked staff: "What's all this Welsh rubbish?" when he noticed the change. Another customer argued that scones were "essential" to the Wimbledon experience, on a par with strawberries and cream. "Wimbledon just has this magic, and so much of that comes from the traditions you look forward to every single year," they said. "Take the scones with jam and cream – honestly, they’re just as essential to the whole Wimbledon vibe as a glass of Pimm’s or a bowl of strawberries and cream. It’s a shame that they weren’t easy to find this time around."
In response to the backlash, the restaurant has been serving scones on a 'secret menu' for those who request them, according to The Telegraph.
Chef defends changes
Williams has defended his inclusions, describing both the scone and Welsh cake as "British classics" and adding that they are "both in the same bracket." In an interview with BBC Radio Wales Drive, he said: "They wanted a point of difference, so, being a Welsh chef, we gave them our Welsh afternoon tea. We haven't changed anything, it just happens to be a bit different from the scones that people normally have."
However, the Welsh additions are not the only menu changes that have upset customers. The restaurant's 'coronation chickpea' dish, a vegetarian nod to coronation chicken, has reportedly also caused a stir. One patron told The Telegraph: "I get that the chefs want to change things up and try new things, but that should be extra – you don’t mess with the classics everyone loves." Another added: "They might say it’s for a change, but we only go to Wimbledon once a year."
