The Boodles: This Garden Party is Actually a Tennis Tournament
Watch some of the world's top players warm up for Wimbledon
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The Boodles, from 26-30 June at Stoke Park, is the luxury tennis event to whet your appetite until Wimbledon.
Known for its garden party atmosphere (how could it not be with champagne on ice at sumptuous Stoke?), The Boodles invites guests in close to watch the tennis. The five-day, non-competitive tournament is an opportunity to watch male tennis players from around the world.
The Boodles: This Garden Party is Actually a Tennis Tournament
The Players
The Boodles has announced its ‘Class of 2018’ – a strong line-up including Alexander Zverev, Juan Martin del Potro, Nick Kyrgios, Kevin Anderson, Pablo Carreno Busta, Sam Querrey, Fabio Fognini, Roberto Bautista Agut, Borna Coric, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Benoit Paire.
Particularly exciting among the athletes is Alexander Zverev, one of tennis’ brightest stars right now. He heads to The Boodles fresh from reaching the quarter-finals of Roland Garros and moving into the top 5 rankings, still aged only 21 years. Juan Martin Del Potro is also an exciting one: a former US Open champion and 2016 Olympic silver medallist who only narrowly missed out on the gold to Andy Murray in their epic Rio finale. Australia’s Nick Kyrgios boasts a powerful forehand with a bit of rockstar attitude that is an ever entertaining performance on the court.
Ways to Watch
The Stadium Pass starts at £79 , while the Premium Box Pass starts at £125. While guests cannot bring their own picnic due to the fact that Stoke Park is a private members club, a variety of eating and drinking options are available including brunch, lunch and afternoon tea.
The Players Enclosure is the most lavish way to enjoy the day at The Boodles, but it is, at the same time, both intimate and relaxed. The day starts with a glass or two of Perrier-Jouët Champagne while browsing the exclusive jewels on display in the Boodles Gallery, followed by a sumptuous gourmet lunch and entertaining interviews with the tennis stars before they take to the court. From £396 per person.
The Legends Enclosure offers guests the chance to dine in Stoke Park’s historic Palladian Mansion at the heart of the estate prior to commencement of the day’s play. Guests will enjoy fine food and wine prepared by Stoke Park’s Executive Chef Chris Wheeler and can take a stroll through the fabulous gardens to a reserved courtside seat. Afternoon tea at the mansion will replenish after the match. From £220 per person.
Wimbledon 2018: Where to Eat & Drink Nearby
Order of Play
The order of play is released each evening before the next day’s tennis at boodles.com and via Twitter (@TheBoodles). The schedule for tomorrow 26, June is as follows:
12:30pm Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v Andrea Petkovic (GER)
2:30pm Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
followed by Kevin Anderson (RSA) v Fabio Fognini (ITA)
not before 5 pm Benoit Paire (FRA) v Liam Broady (GBR)
Where to Stay
Stoke Park itself is an ace in the hole option for accommodation. If you don’t know it, privately owned Stoke Park provides one delightful surprise after another. First of all, it’s an historic house, built in the 1790s by James Wyatt for soldier, scholar and poet John Penn. Secondly, it’s set in 300 acres, including beautiful water-filled grounds designed by Humphry Repton, featuring a romantic bridge, just 40 minutes from central London. Thirdly, it’s where the famous golf match from Goldfinger and the mini-break in Bridget Jones were filmed. Fourthly, it’s two hotels, not one: choose from splendid traditional bedrooms in the Mansion or contemporary ones in the newly built Pavilion. Fifthly, it comes with a championship golf course, amazing tennis facilities (the pre-Wimbledon Boodles Challenge is played here annually) and a quite wonderful spa. And last but not least, the staff are very welcoming and the food excellent. Stoke Park became Britain’s first country club in 1908; now it is open to all. And the church of Gray’s Elegy fame is just a stroll away. Doubles from £250.
The Boodles is located at Stoke Park, Country Club, Spa and Hotel, Park Road, Stoke Poges SL2 4PG.
