What to do in Wimbledon this Easter
Plus: An update on the AELTC's proposed expansion plans
Good morning, Wimblers — I hope that everyone is enjoying their week thus far.
Easter Sunday is upon us very soon, so this week we’re rounding up The Wimble’s top picks for the holiday weekend. Scroll down to find out about the best family activities, the perfect spots for lunch and all the great activities throughout the Easter period.
Don’t worry, we also have your usual recommendations for the coming days, a one-of-a-kind property of the week and this edition’s news snippets.
Call-out: we’re still searching for readers who are running the London Marathon. Do get in touch and tell us who you’re running for, if you’ve taken part in the marathon before (or any marathon) and what your training schedule looks like. Email zak@thewimble.com.
Happy reading!
News snippets 🗞
🎾 The AELTC’s £200m expansion plans have cleared a major hurdle after the High Court’s judgement last week. The plans aim to treble the size of the site of the Championships by developing a former golf course to include 39 new courts. The campaign group Save Wimbledon Park argued that the land is actually subject to a statutory public recreation trust and thus must be preserved for public recreation. The AELTC argued that the land had never been used for such purposes. Following a hearing in January, Judge Nicholas Thompsell sided with the AELTC.
But the story doesn’t end there. SWP has announced it will apply to the Court of Appeal following last week’s judgement. SWP’s co-director Jeremy Hudson said, “We love tennis but we continue the fight after this news because there is a strong case for protecting this precious open space from development. Wimbledon promised they would never build on this land.”
Whilst last week’s judgement was a victory for AELTC, it would seem both sides have a long way to go before any clear resolution is made. Click here for a very thorough breakdown of recent events and here for a short summary on last week’s ruling.
🏎 Wimbledon High School has launched the Goblin Car Project, a 17-week all-girls engineering project giving students the opportunity to design and build a real electric car. The project, which brings together girls from Granard, Sacred Heart and West Wimbledon Primary School, will see the students construct a battery-powered Goblin car, which they will race at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in June. Wimbledon High School said the project was about more than engineering, with the scheme aiming to connect classroom learning with real-world challenges. Click here to read more.
🎥 Video review technology will be introduced at the Championships for the first time this year. This means that players will be able to challenge decisions made by umpires, something that they can already do at the US Open and the Australian Open. The players will not be able to challenge the accuracy of the recently introduced electronic line calling system, but they will be able to ask the umpire to review certain calls. A review will also be allowed at the end of a point if a player feels their opponent may be guilty of hindrance. Check out the full story here.
Property of the week 🏡
This house is utterly ridiculous. In fact, I don’t even want to call it a house. It feels more like a mini estate. Click the link further down and take a look at that floor plan if you don’t believe me. And how chic is that hut at the back of the garden? But, as you might have guessed, this property is not cheap. More specifically, it will set you back £3.75m. Click here to salivate over more pictures.
The Wimble’s to-do list
📚 Waterstones monthly book club: This month’s book is Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object by Laurie Colwin. The novel follows twenty-one-year-old Olly. She meets Sam Bax: fearless, goofy and risk-taking, he arrives in her life on the back of a huge motorcycle. By the end of the day, the pair are kissing in an apple orchard. A year later, they are married. Five years later, Olly is a widow and left to grieve her husband alone. Head down this evening if you’ve read the book to discuss the intricacies of Colwin’s 1975 novel, and keep your eyes peeled on their Instagram for next month’s book.
Where: Waterstones, Wimbledon
When: Thursday 26 March, 7–8pm
👗 Sample sale in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support: Find one-off clothing items for ladies at this sale of Danish brands Pulz Jeans & b.young. 10% of all sales profits will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support in Merton for the latest fundraising project at Kingston Hospital. The Macmillan team is also collecting unwanted foreign cash to convert into sterling and would welcome any contributions.
Where: The Coach House at the Dog & Fox, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 27 March, 10am–3pm
🎻 St John’s lunchtime recital: St John’s church concerts are back again this month with another free lunchtime recital. This performance will feature Romana Szczepaniak on violin and should make for a lovely Friday afternoon. This event is free and no booking is required.
Where: St John the Baptist
When: Friday 27 March, 1pm (snacks at 12.30pm)
🏎 Southside Hustle Classic Car Meet: This informal meeting of classic car owners in Wimbledon (and the surrounding areas) features a stunning array of cars — some of which are extremely rare. If you’re a petrolhead, or you just like the idea of a bunch of classic cars in one place, then head up to Wimbledon Village next Sunday.
Where: Wimbledon Common Southside near the farmers’ market.
When: Sunday 5 April, 8–11am
🎶 The Making Of ABBA: The Story Of The Band’s 1975 Breakthrough Album: Author Joe Matera is at Wimbledon Library, sharing the story of ABBA’s self-titled 1975 classic, from writing to global commercial breakthrough. The event is free but you’ll need to book a highly sought after spot here.
Where: Wimbledon Library
When: Tuesday 28 April, 7.30pm
This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️
The weather has been strange these past few weeks. Rain. Sun. Hail. Sun. Rain. Clouds. You get the point. With this sort of capricious weather, it makes sense to book an activity inside. Enter Caddi Club. If indoor golf sounds like your jam, then this is the place for you. And even if it doesn’t, you can still pop in for a bite to eat and something to drink (kids are also welcome!). Just click the button below to learn more and book your table or bay.
The Wimble’s guide to Easter 🐣
For the kids 🚸
Bach to Baby: The critically acclaimed concert for babies, toddlers and their parents or guardians comes to Wimbledon this Easter. Enjoy outstanding musicians and performances designed for the whole family. Tickets are £17.70 and can be bought here.
Where: Trinity United Reformed Church
When: Saturday 28 March, 3–3.45pm
Self-guided Easter egg hunt: Wimbledon Quarter is hosting a free family-friendly Easter egg hunt this year. All you have to do is pop into Wimbledon Quarter between 10.30am–4.30pm, head to the ground floor via the M&S or Boots entrance to collect your map, and then just follow the clues. This event is for children aged 3–12 years old (children must be accompanied by an adult to take part).
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 28 March, 10.30am–4.30pm
Free Easter craft workshops: Community markets, crafting activities, hatching chicks workshop, egg painting and Easter colouring, meeting the Easter Bunny and so much more! Over Easter weekend, the Quarter is hosting a variety of activities for you and the family. The only event that isn’t free is ‘Meet the Easter Bunny’ — as an A List name, there’s a price tag attached (tickets are £10 per child, which you can grab here).
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 28 March – Sunday 12 April
Puppet-making workshop: Wimbledon Museum and Habitats and Heritage are teaming up to host a puppet-making workshop this Easter. The children will get the chance to make a likeness of Sir Joseph Bazalgette, the famed (and local) 19th Century civil engineer. Punch and Judys just don’t cut it any more . Spaces are £5 per child and can be booked here.
Where: Wimbledon Museum
When: Friday 10 – Saturday 11 April, 10.30am–12.30pm / 1.30–3.30pm
Easter dance camp: Are you wondering how to keep your little ones entertained for the Easter holidays? No problem: these two days of dancing fun are suitable for children aged 3–12 years old. The camp costs £132 per child (so not the cheapest of Easter activities), but it promises to create some great memories, both for kids and relieved parents who can pack them off for a 48 hour stretch! Book here.
Where: St Mary’s Church Garden Hall
When: Thursday 9 – Friday 10 April, 10am–4pm
Best spots for some Easter grub 🍖
The Black Lamb: Break your Lenten fast at The Black Lamb this Easter. Their four-course Easter set menu comes in at a rather reasonable £54 per person. Expect mushroom Marmite eclairs, Sussex lamb saddle, wild fallow croquettes and a dark chocolate mousse pudding. Book your table here.
Hotel du Vin, Cannizaro House: Pop in to Wimbledon’s only Rosette-awarded restaurant and indulge in a spot of afternoon tea. Included are a selection of elegant finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes, seasonal desserts and some complimentary Easter eggs for the little ones. It’s £29.95 per person – book a table here.
The Alexandra: No list would be complete without local favourite The Alex. If you’re looking for a classic slap-up roast, then this is the place. Come for the roast, stay for the atmosphere. Book your table here.
Orion: The new and very charming Orion is offering its own unique Sunday menu this Easter. Alex Webb’s latest venture has been receiving rave reviews, and for good reason. Check out their Sunday menu here to get yourself in the Easter mood, and book a table through their website (tables go fast, so I’d suggest booking soon).
Best of the rest 🎈
Love Wimbledon Easter market: Each market brings fresh finds and seasonal favourites, with new traders joining regularly. Whatever it is that you fancy, this market has it: from Bombay Delight’s award-winning curries to secondhand vinyl classics courtesy of So Pop Vinyl. This Easter, the market will also include origami making with Polka Theatre (Friday) and Easter wreath-making (Saturday).
Where: The Piazza, Wimbledon
When: Friday 3 – Saturday 4 April, 11am – 6pm
Easter holiday workshops at Polka Theatre: Holiday programmes include one-off workshops where children of different ages are invited to discover and explore creative art forms ranging from musical theatre through to puppetry and storytelling. This Easter, Polka’s workshops are inspired by the childhood classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. This playful music and storytelling workshop invites children and their grown-ups on an adventure filled with rhymes, sensory play and imagination. Tickets are £13 (each ticket is for both an adult and a child).
Where: Polka Theatre
When: Tuesday 31 March, start times vary
The Princess and the Pea: We all know the story. It’s a classic for a reason. But this production brings us the Let’s All Dance Ballet Company’s signature tight narrative, fantastic dancing, beautiful costumes and lovely music to tell the fairytale in a new and exciting way. Book your tickets via this link.
Where: New Wimbledon Theatre
When: Wednesday 1 – Tuesday 2 April
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: Separate from Polka’s Easter workshops, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt returns to Wimbledon after a hugely successful spring run in 2022. Little Angel Theatre brings Michael Rosen’s thrilling and funny adventure to life in this entrancing puppetry production directed by Peter Glanville and with music and lyrics by renowned singer-songwriter Barb Jungr. Book your tickets here.
Where: Polka Theatre
When: Wednesday 25 March – Sunday 12 April
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I asked you when the first game at the new Plough Lane (Cherry Reds Record Stadium) played. The answer: 2020.
Q: Which of these films shot scenes locally?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you’ve enjoyed our suggestions for Easter and that you get yourself along to one of them. Do keep getting in touch with ideas for features, interviews and events. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.