Strawberries and cream have become synonymous with Wimbledon because the tournament was established in the heart of the British strawberry season.
When The Championships were first held in July 1877, strawberries were at their peak, fresh, seasonal and already associated with the English summer.
That is why the tradition has endured. It was not created as a modern marketing idea. It grew naturally from the timing of the tournament and the rhythms of the British summer.
Why strawberries and cream became a Wimbledon tradition
The first Wimbledon tournament took place at what was then the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in July 1877.
Back then, strawberries were a seasonal delicacy, available for a short window in June and July. That window happened to coincide with Wimbledon.
That overlap is the clearest explanation for why the tradition began. The fruit was in season, it suited the summer setting, and the tournament gave spectators another reason to enjoy it.
The exact origin is harder to pin down. All England Club historian Robert McNicol has said that nobody is really sure when they were first served at Wimbledon.
He has also explained that the custom may have started informally, with spectators bringing their own strawberries before it gradually became part of the event’s wider culture.
That is an important distinction. It was not something Wimbledon introduced on one specific date.
It grew out of season, habit and repetition. Over time, strawberries and cream became woven into the identity of the tournament.
How Wimbledon keeps the tradition alive today
Today, keeping the tradition alive involves a much larger operation. Wimbledon’s strawberries are supplied by Hugh Lowe Farms in Kent, in Mereworth, around 31.5 miles from the All England Club.
The berries are picked each morning and delivered by 9am. They are then inspected, hulled and served fresh on the same day.
The numbers show how big the tradition has become. In 2024, Wimbledon served more than 55 tons of strawberries.
That included over 2.5 million individual strawberries, along with 13,241 litres of cream and 251,405 portions across The Championships.
BBC Bitesize reported that the price of a portion had stayed at £2.50 for many years, with reports of a rise to £2.70 in 2025.
The appeal is still clear. Strawberries and cream are simple, seasonal and unmistakably linked to Wimbledon.
That is why the tradition endures. It offers a direct link to the tournament’s Victorian roots and gives fans a taste of summer that feels uniquely British.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
