One of the most popular and longest-running ATP Tour events, the cinch Championships at the Queen’s Club in West Kensington is back for another year; showcasing the very best singles and doubles players of the men's game.
Following the conclusion of the French Open, the clay season undergoes a notable hiatus for the month of June, with the break allowing players to transition from clay courts to the vibrant green grass at two of London’s most prestigious clubs. The esteemed Queen’s Club, which bears the name of its first patron Queen Victoria, serves up its West Kensington located hallowed courts for the game’s top players to refine their skills in preparation for Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the year.
An oasis of calm near the centre of London, invitation to play on one of the 28 outdoor lawn tennis courts at The Queen’s Club is a rare treat and probably second only to one: the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC). Playing is thrilling but do you also like to watch? The All Court Tennis Club will be there to watch this thrilling ATP 500 tournament under what we’re sure will be, the glorious London sun! We will be in attendance on several days of the tournament, which runs from Monday 19th to Sunday 25th June. If you’re heading the West London borough to watch the tennis or you’re looking to play, make sure to drop shot us your email. We always love meeting members.
PLAY
For nearly 135 years, spectators have been flocking to The Queen’s Club in West Kensington to see some of the best in men’s tennis. While initially held at Stamford Bridge — home of the Chelsea football club — and originally both a men’s and women’s singles event, the ‘London Grass Court Championships’ ran continuously as both a WTA and ATP event until 1973. In 2015, it was upgraded from an ATP World 250 to an ATP Tour 500.
There is no doubting that players love Queen’s. Since 1979, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Lleyton Hewitt, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray (twice) have bagged the trophy and Wimbledon in the same year. Some impressive achievements!
During the 2004 singles tournament, fan favourite Andy Roddick set the world record for the fastest serve at 153 mph (246.2 km/h) during a straight-set victory over Thailand’s Paradon Srichaphan in the quarterfinals.
In a surprise turn of events, Italy’s Matteo Berrettini (ATP No. 20) won the cinch Championships in 2021 and successfully defended his title with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Filip Krajinovic in 2022. That line-up included no fewer than nine British standouts, including Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Jack Draper and Joe Salisbury — the home crowd was more than (politely) thrilled. So far for 2023, cinch has signed up British favourites Norrie (ATP No. 13), Evans (ATP No. 25) and Sir Andy (ATP No. 41). Also on the rota are American upstart Ben Shelton (ATP No. 36), the son of veteran player Brian Shelton and returning Canadian pro Milos Raonic.
MUST DO IN LONDON
Portobello Road, Notting Hill
We recommend spending a Saturday morning on Portobello Road in Notting Hill, taking in the charming neighbourhood atmosphere and browsing the market stalls selling all sorts. Your first stop? If you’re looking for a knock-your-socks-off strong Colombian brew and a warm welcome from a friendly team of staff, make it Hermanos. A coffee for take-away is our recommendation here as there is plenty to see among the vintage treasures, exotic spices, eclectic textiles, and tantalising street food. You won’t need much direction thereafter; you’ll be guided by the sure-bet bustle on the famed street. What better way to spend a few hours? Especially if the warm weather remains. And, while we enjoy tasting the casual cuisine that the market stalls offer in abundance, we will often opt for a table at Gold if meeting with a group of friends. You’ll be well served for tasty food, attentive service and super strong cocktails!
Hyde Park
Take a lime bike on the hop and set off through Hyde Park for an afternoon outdoors and a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city. We recommend planning your route with one final destination in mind: The Cow, one of the city’s best pubs in our eyes. A few others in the area draw a close second though: The Churchill Arms, The Windsor Castle, The Ladbroke Arms or The Hillgate.
EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY
The River Café: Located on the north bank of the Thames in Hammersmith, The River Café specialise in Italian cuisine with signature dishes being the wild mushroom risotto, Dover sole and John Dory smoked in the restaurant’s own wood stove. They also have an impressive array of rich Italian desserts, including lemon almond cake and the chocolate “Nemesis” cake. The River Café is still run by one of the original owners, and is said to be a personal favourite of Elton John’s.
The Chancellor & Crisp W6: For a more casual and cost-effective Italian option, check out this pub and pizza love-affair in the Fulham/Hammersmith area. A brief scroll of their Instagram account and you’ll quickly understand why this spot has absolutely blown up over the past two months. They run an interesting booking system whereby you give them a text ahead of time 07515930582 and they’ll keep a dough for you! Rock up, grab a pint and let them know you’ve arrived. Your pizza will follow shortly thereafter. We assure you (following*extensive* testing) that the burrata and honey pie is the one to go for here.
Dishoom: If you haven’t heard of Dishoom yet, chances are you will soon. Dishoom have a few locations across London, but if you’re hanging out West for the tennis, pop by their Kensington High St. spot. The restaurant pays homage to the Irani cafés of Bombay, the first places in the former Commonwealth city where people of any culture, class or religion could take cool refuge from the street with a cup of chai, a simple snack or a hearty meal. With parents hailing from Punjab and Rajasthan, Chef Rishi Anand has created black dhal, fiery-crusted lamb chops, yoghurt raita for dipping and ‘Ruby Murray’ with floppy roti bread, drink fruity lassi, exotic ‘coolers’, a bottle of London Fields IPA or something from the modest wine list while taking in the décor of an Indian train station. They run a smooth and efficient table allocation system. No booking necessary. Just show up, and they’ll pop you on the list for a call back, usually around 15-30 minutes later.
SLEEP
St. James Hotel & Club: Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac in the prestigious Mayfair, London, close to Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace, this 5-star boutique hotel is the ideal location for both business and leisure. With fabulous penthouse suites and some of the best guest room terraces in London, this hotel boasts stylish, and sleek interiors. Enjoy the award winning, Michelin starred restaurant, Seven Park Place, as well as their new 1857 The Bar – home to the widest selection of vintage port wine in London.
All Court Tennis Club members can benefit from a generous 15% discount on all rooms and suites between January-April and September-December and a 10% discount from May-August, as well as a complimentary continental breakfast.
Lime Tree Hotel: From the roots up, Lime Tree feels like a rustic inn for cosy conviviality rather than a swanky urban retreat. The 28 rooms sit within two grade II listed townhouses and among exuberantly carpeted corridors adorned with stacked books wrapped in twine. Some of the larger bedrooms have high, corniced ceilings, French doors and little street-side balconies. When not at the tennis, take in the garden, the restaurant, or even Buckingham Palace, less than a mile away.
NoMad London: In the heart of Covent Garden, NoMad has taken over the historic, grade II former Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station. A collaboration with New York-based interior design studio Roman and Williams, the transformation of the storied 19th century building draws inspiration from its history, as well as the artistic and cultural connection between London and New York. Rooms feature hardwood floors, modern décor, Argan bath amenities by Côté Bastide, as well as a nightly turndown service and complimentary newspaper delivery to check the scores from SW19.