Wimbledon has returned for another year, and the cost of food and drink at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is once again turning heads.
The 2026 Championships are being held from 29 June to 12 July, and thousands of tennis supporters from across the UK and overseas have once again entered the ballot in the hope of securing tickets to Centre Court.
Those who miss out often spend hours in the queue for a chance to get in. Meanwhile, plenty of others settle on Henman Hill, also known as Murray Mount, to follow the matches on the giant screen outside the courts.
Fans lucky enough to get tickets can stay at their allocated court throughout the day, so it is only natural that they will want something to eat and drink. But anyone hoping to tuck into the traditional strawberries and cream or sip on a Pimm’s may find the bill surprisingly steep.
According to Wimbledon’s 2026 food and drink menus, a serving of Wimbledon strawberries and cream costs £2.85, while a reusable glass of Pimm’s No.1 Summer Cup is priced at £13.45.
Other drinks are just as eye-watering. A pint of Stella Artois is listed at £8.95, while a 20cl bottle of champagne starts at £27.90 and sparkling water costs £2.70 for 330ml.
For comparison, a 400g punnet of strawberries in a UK supermarket can still be bought for slightly less than the tournament’s famous dessert.
Judging by posts from fans on X, the portion being served appears to include only three or four strawberries in a cardboard tray, covered in cream that had started to melt.
Strawberries and cream at Wimbledon.
Not quite as imagined. pic.twitter.com/1o1DnMyfPs
— Dr Lawrence Newport (@lawrencenewport) July 4, 2026
The recent heatwave across England may explain the state of the cream, but that has done little to improve reactions from attendees.
Alongside a photo of the dessert, X user @lawrencenewport wrote:
“Strawberries and cream at Wimbledon. Not quite as I’d imagined.”
The dessert has long been associated with the tournament, dating back to its early years, when strawberries were only in season for a short period during June and July.
Wimbledon says its 2026 food offering continues to focus on British sourcing and sustainability, with biodegradable strawberry punnets and seaweed spoons introduced for strawberries and cream in recent years.
And it is not just the tournament’s best-known sweet treat that is leaving visitors paying premium prices.
As noted by My London, several of the food and drink options available at SW19 come with similarly eye-watering costs.
Anyone heading there may want to consider bringing a packed lunch.