THE QUEENS CLUB • 10SBALLS LOVES THE FEVER-TREE • AEGON • THE STELLA ARTOIS • BUT MOSTLY THE TENNIS CLUB

Written by: Staff on 28th July 2018

THE QUEENS CLUB • 10SBALLS LOVES THE FEVER-TREE • AEGON • THE STELLA ARTOIS • BUT MOSTLY THE TENNIS CLUB |

Photo by Alejandro Gonzalez | 10sBalls.com

By April Tod For 10sBalls

Baron’s Court, a heavily residential area in South West London, is the location of the other famous British grass court tennis club. Whereas The All England Club is in a leafy London suburb – Queen’s, on the other hand is smack in the middle of a built up neighbourhood of flats and houses. One side of the road leading to the club is flanked by five story apartment blocks, and the other side a neat row of terraced houses.

The tall wrought iron gates of the Club’s main entrance stand at the end of Palliser Road running adjacent to Baron’s Court tube station. Inside this 14 acre prime site are 34 tennis courts boasting seven different surfaces including ten indoor courts. This is where each year the pre-Wimbledon ATP grass court tournament takes place, the longest running tournament on the ATP pro circuit. Pre-ATP days the tournament was simply known as Queen’s Club Championships and in the 70’s male and female players took part in the tournament. Since graduating to a 500 tournament two years ago the tournament attracts more top players ranked and a considerably larger number of spectators in the enlarged 10,000 seated stadium.

Entering the club for the first time its historic significance is evident. Originally built in 1886 as a general sports club when football, rugby and cricket were regularly played, these former pitches are now grass tennis courts. Outwardly little appears to have changed, the club’s Pavilion still overlooks the sacrosanct centre court (rarely used outside tournaments) except the terrace is now an expanded outdoor dining area.

The Club’s uniqueness is that it is the only rackets club in the world where tennis, squash, rackets and Real (Royal) tennis are all played under the same roof. There are no posh spas or swimming pools only a large well-equipped gym and small exercise room. The club has over 4,000 members and several categories of membership. For several decades the club run independently to its owners, the UK’s tennis governing body, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) who in lieu of money paid for war damage incurred during the Second World War, were given shares in the club which is how they ended up owning the club.

Much to the chagrin of members it was discovered in 2007 that the LTA proposed to sell the club ‘to the highest bidder’, hence a proactive working group consisting of members versed in legal, financial and property matters, was immediately formed and a hard fought legal hard battle ensured. Finally in 2008 the LTA agreed to sell a 125 year lease for £40 million to members at what today is regarded as a hugely inflated price!

Most of the money was raised by selling members a £7,000 share redeemable only on resignation, (currently these shares are valued at around £15,000), and £250,000 patron shares redeemable after seven years.

It took several years for the club became solvent again following several expensive modernisations and refurbishments including upgrading restaurants, bars, TV room, some of the outdoor courts and parking arrangements. These refurbishments enabled the club to meet ATP’s contractual obligations to move from a 250 graded tournament to 500 two years ago. Now 10,000 spectators can watch matches from an enlarged albeit temporary stadium but it’s the tournament’s continued success that it is voted as one of tour’s best run events.

Last March Fever-Tree, a hugely successful drinks company, signed a three year contract and judging from their many words of praise they are more than happy with the results.