The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has named the Wimbledon Village branch of Knight Frank as the overall winner of the Wimbledon Window Dressing Competition, following a record year in which more than 110 local businesses transformed their shopfronts and windows in celebration of The Championships.
For the first time, the long-running competition expanded beyond Wimbledon Village to include businesses in Wimbledon Town Centre and Southfields, with each location crowning its own winner before the AELTC selected an overall champion.
Starting as an initiative in the Village and now in its 13th year, the competition is a much-loved local tradition, encouraging businessesto celebrate Wimbledon through creative window displays inspired by tennis and The Championships. Entries were judged on creativity, how successfully they incorporated tennis into the business’s identity, and the overall visual impact.
This year’s expansion reflects Wimbledon’s continued commitment to supporting and celebrating the local community and the role that each location plays in welcoming guests making their way to The Championships. By bringing together businesses from Wimbledon Village, Wimbledon Town Centre and Southfields, the competition helps create a vibrant atmosphere across the local area throughout The Championships, while encouraging visitors and residents alike to explore and support local high streets.
Ulrika Hogberg, Head of Community Strategy at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said:
“The Window Competition is a wonderful celebration of the creativity, pride and community spirit that surrounds The Championships every summer.
Expanding the competition this year has also allowed more local businesses to take part, showcasing their imagination while helping create a fantastic atmosphere for our guests.
The Championships are part of the fabric of the local community, and it has been fantastic to see so many businesses embracing that and playing their part in making this such a special time of year.”
Ross Jordan, Head of Wimbledon Sales at Knight Frank commented:
“We are absolutely delighted and incredibly proud to have been selected as the overall winner of the Wimbledon Window Dressing Competition. To receive this recognition amongst so many imaginative and beautifully designed displays across Wimbledon is a tremendous honour.
One of the most rewarding aspects has been watching members of the local community, visitors, and tennis fans stop to admire and engage with our ‘Tennis in Wonderland’ window display. The display has sparked conversations and a real sense of excitement as anticipation builds for The Championships.
This unique concept was brought to life by our exceptionally talented Operations Coordinator, Mia Taylor, whose creativity and vision formed the heart of the display, while the stunning artwork was expertly painted by the brilliant Sam Temple-Milnes. We are grateful for the recognition and thrilled to have shared in such a wonderful local tradition.”
The Window Dressing Competition forms part of the AELTC’s wider community engagement across The Championships: in partnership with Merton Council it has serving up two big screens in Merton for anyone to come and enjoy the tennis in Wandle Park and at Canons House; Wimbledon’s Learning programme, supported by Barclays and celebrating 25 years this year, is going out to local schools over the Fortnight to host school assemblies, inspiring pupils and unveiling to story behind wheelchair tennis as a sport, which celebrates 50 years this year; and hosting local refugee groups who support those displaced by conflicts around the world and who have made London their home, to enjoy a day at The Championships.
Economic impact research carried out by Sheffield Hallam University shows that Wimbledon’s direct economic impact across Merton and Wandsworth amounts to £100m a year, with local businesses and services sharing in that benefit with over 500,000 guests and over 1,000 players taking part in the Qualifying Competition and the singles, doubles, wheelchair and junior competitions staged across the Fortnight, coming to SW19 and surroundings.
