Watch Wimbledon Free at Harvey Nichols: Fifth Floor Screenings
Most Wimbledon fans will never queue overnight in SW19, and this year Knightsbridge has a better idea. For the whole of the Championships, from Monday 29 June to Sunday 12 July, Harvey Nichols is screening the tennis live on its Fifth Floor, and it costs nothing to watch. There is no booking, no ballot and no queue at the gates: just turn up during store hours, find a spot and follow the action with a drink in hand. As the first week reaches its busiest days, here is how to make the most of it.
How the screenings work
The screenings run every day of the tournament for as long as the store is open: 10am to 8pm from Monday to Saturday, and 11.30am to 6pm on Sundays. Matches are shown live, and because the order of play depends on the draw and the weather, the store confirms what is on screen each day rather than in advance. Check the order of play on the official Wimbledon website the evening before if you want to catch a particular player, and arrive early for the big names.
The screenings are part of the store's Great British Summer campaign, and they make the Fifth Floor one of the few places in central London where you can watch the tennis in comfort without a pub crowd. Entry is free, and the Knightsbridge Partnership's announcement confirms that no booking is needed.
Strawberries, Champagne and afternoon tea
No Wimbledon is complete without strawberries, and the Fifth Floor Restaurant and Champagne Bar stay open throughout the screenings. The tennis menu includes a trio of strawberry desserts served with a glass of Champagne PIAFF, and there is also a full afternoon tea, with finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and seasonal pâtisserie. Prices have not been published, so ask when you sit down.
If the sun is out, the Fifth Floor terrace has reopened with a refreshed look this summer, and it makes an easy place to retreat between sets. The terrace menu leans towards long, light lunches, from crab linguine to burrata, which suits a day that may stretch into a five-set epic.
Planning your day
The second week brings the biggest matches. The women's final falls on Saturday 11 July and the men's on Sunday 12 July, when the store's shorter Sunday hours apply, so plan accordingly and arrive in good time. Before then, weekday afternoons in the middle of the fortnight offer plenty of matches and a calmer room, and they pair well with an afternoon of shopping on the floors below.
Harvey Nichols sits at 109 to 125 Knightsbridge, right beside Knightsbridge station on the Piccadilly line, with an exit that brings you out almost at the door. Take the dedicated lift to the Fifth Floor, and if you would rather stay for dinner when play ends, book a table on the floor before you settle in for the afternoon session.
Lead image: Su--May via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
