Wimbledon starts this week and the whole nation can’t wait to watch Andy Murray and the rest do what they do best – play tennis. However, if you haven’t managed to get a ticket or you can’t make your way to “Murray Mound” this year then why not throw a Wimbledon watching party and bring the excitement of the championship home instead?
Just imagine it, friends and family breathlessly watching the matches, nibbling on the delicious food, joking, laughing and generally having a fabulous time at this unique and fun-filled party. Fit for every age group too may we add (just keep the kiddies away from any alcohol!)
Sounds good right? Of course it does! But if you’re not sure about where to start or if you just need some ideas – then fear not! Because we want to help you throw the perfect Wimbledon themed party!
Food
Everybody will be watching the matches on T.V. so we suggest not cooking/preparing anything that’s fiddly, tricky to eat or sticky. People need to be able to eat the food without having to drag their eyes away from the screen and they certainly don’t need to be putting too much thought into it. Making finger food the perfect solution for this food conundrum! We suggest going with a British theme (it is Wimbledon after all!) so think cucumber sandwiches, tiny sausage rolls, mini quiches and cheese twists. For dessert? Keep it simple by going with tennis themed cupcakes (buy or bake yourself) and/or small cups of strawberries with cream (just like they offer at the event!)
Drinks
Pimms, No Wimbledon party should be without it: the drink has been synonymous with the tennis championship since the first Pimm’s Bar opened at Wimbledon in 1971. So make sure you have cucumber, mint, orange slices, strawberry slices and lemonade ready! It’d also be worth having something sparkly like champagne for guests to enjoy as well, maybe as an aperitif or as a welcome drink?
Alternatively you could make Wimbledon themed cocktails. Our favourite is the Strawberry Wimbledon Cocktail aka the “Magic Murray.” You’ll need 75g hulled strawberries, 50ml vodka, 30ml Bottlegreen strawberry & elderflower cordial, Bottlegreen elderflower pressé (chilled) and ice cubes. All you have to do is put the fruit into a clear jug, add the vodka and Bottlegreen strawberry & elderflower cordial. Using a stick blender, blend until smooth. Then pour the blended mixture into tall glasses with two or three ice cubes in each glass and top up with bottle green elderflower pressé. “Magic Murray’s” are served – cheers!
Fancy Dress
It wouldn’t be a Wimbledon party without tennis whites, so get everybody in on the theme and into the spirit! The more enthusiasm the better! Think white tennis gear, sweat bands, rackets and tennis shoes (or just trainers.) If other people can think of more creative Wimbledon fancy dress then encourage it (a dress made out of tennis balls a la Bethanie Mattek-Sands maybe?) Besides, nothing gets everybody in a party mood faster than fancy dress!
Decorations
Lots of green, yellow and (of course) tennis balls! These can be bought cheaply off the internet and are incredibly versatile as a decorating item. Put them in glass vases instead of water then put flowers on top. Remember the flowers should be yellow or white and while you’re at it, why not add some green and white streamers, banners or balloons around the room? Plus if you want to go all out, you could event put up tennis themed signing, posters and even buy little trophies to put up/place around the room as an extra touch!
Games
Finally, if you want to play a game at your Wimbledon party then why not buy a tennis ball piñata? Or if you’re feeling creative you could even make one yourself! That way, during a break (or at the end of the party) guests can enjoy hitting the piñata (best to do this outside) with an old tennis racket till the sweets come out! Trust us this game goes down a treat and everybody gets to reap the delicious rewards!
Looking for other party ideas for your office or company this year? Why not take a look at the amazing variety available on Fizzbox? With a top choice of both Christmas parties and summer party options, there's something for everyone!
