Wimbledon season, served the Athenaeum way

There are certain moments that signal the arrival of summer in London. The first strawberries of the season. Tables spilling onto terraces. A glass of Pimm's enjoyed in the afternoon sunshine. And, of course, the start of Wimbledon. For two weeks each year, the Championships become part of the city's rhythm. Conversations drift towards Centre Court. White becomes the unofficial colour of summer. The city feels lighter, more relaxed, and eager to spend as much time outdoors as possible. 

At the Athenaeum Hotel & Residences, Wimbledon season has always felt particularly special. This year, the celebrations begin before you've even stepped through our doors. Our iconic bicycle sculpture outside the hotel has been dressed for the Championships, bringing a touch of Wimbledon to the corner of Piccadilly and reminding guests that one of London's favourite summer traditions has arrived once again.  

Perhaps it's our position beside Green Park, where London already feels at its greenest. Or perhaps it's the way a day at the Championships slips so naturally into an evening spent back in Mayfair. The journey from the Athenaeum to Wimbledon is refreshingly simple, making it easy to spend the day immersed in the atmosphere of SW19 before returning to the calm of Green Park.

One moment you're watching play unfold on the grass courts. A few hours later, you're back on the Terrace, looking out towards the park with a drink in hand as the city settles into the evening. That transition, from the excitement of Centre Court to the slower pace of Mayfair, is one of our favourite parts of Wimbledon fortnight.

It also inspired this year's seasonal menu.

No Wimbledon tradition feels quite as iconic as strawberries. They're as much a part of the Championships as the tennis itself. 

This season, we're celebrating with our classic Strawberry Trifle, paired with a glass of Gusbourne Brut English Sparkling Wine. For those who prefer the traditional route, fresh strawberries and cream served alongside a glass of Pimm's offer a familiar taste of a British summer. Both are served on the Terrace, which feels especially inviting at this time of year. 

With the Royal Park opposite providing the inspiration for our Living Wall, this leafy setting is the perfect place to extend a Wimbledon afternoon long after the final point has been played. Because the beauty of Wimbledon has never been confined to the courts. It's found in the rituals that surround it. The strawberries. The sparkling wine. The conversations that continue into the evening. The feeling of making the most of a London summer. 

And for us, that is exactly what Wimbledon season at the Athenaeum is all about.