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ISSUE 26 – The Spring Update 🌸

May 8, 2025

Dear Member,

Spring has sprung! The most whimsical of seasons, when daffodils emerge, lambs frolic, and the sound of freshly restrung rackets and passive-aggressive compliments (“Lovely backhand, Charles—does your coach have a drinking problem or are you self-taught?”) can be heard slicing through the air. The courts are freshly rolled, the croquet mallets re-lacquered, and the pickleball set begrudgingly unearthed for the more adventurous members who’ve decided it’s time to “see what the staff have been going on about”. Easter is a time for rebirth, reinvention, and reminding everyone that restraint is for accountants. In this issue, we get to work on decoding racket sports (because there’s more than just tennis, you know), updating our wardrobes (both on and off court), and rounding up with some of our favourite things to watch, listen, and eat!

Decoding Racket Sports

 

Tennis reigns supreme, but if you want to get started in racket sports, padel is easier to get the hang of quickly. Pickleball, however, is really becoming popular in the US, and there are even two films about pickleball in post-production, due to launch later this year, called Pickleheads and The Dink, starring Ben Stiller. 

Tennis – the one you know and love. In a post Challengers world, tennis remains elegant, hard to master and endlessly appealing. 

Padel – a smaller court, with the same scoring system as tennis. The main difference is that you can play off the wall after the first bounce in padel. You also serve underarm, and due to the smaller court, the effort and skill required to succeed is much easier. The movements and shots are simplified with shorter takebacks and follow-throughs than you see in tennis, and the answer to successful play isn’t always the fastest / strongest strikes on the ball. Touch and softness help to neutralise points and make it harder for opponents to generate speed. In the UK, padel is becoming more and more popular. 

Pickleball – the smallest court, with a different scoring method (points to 11), using a different plastic ball with many holes to create softer shots. The front of the court features a “kitchen” no volley zone, which, when attacking, players are up onto the kitchen, but they do not enter. The best shots in pickleball are called “dinks” (a sort of drop shot in tennis), while lobs can also be effective. However, the shot motion of “dinks” is much more simplified in pickleball, with very compressed take back and no follow through on shots. Much like in Padel, the serve is underarm. You continue serving until you lose the point, and you can only win points on your serve. Once you lose a point, your partner (in doubles) continues serving until they lose a point. Then the serve goes to your opponent. If you want to see a recent pickle convert – Angela Pham @phamgela is your girl. 

Our Favourite Places To Play

Padel in London

Rocket Padel – best for a premium experience – indoor panoramic courts of the River Thames, located next to the Battersea Power Station. With only four courts, this is an intimate club with a pro shop and great club facilities.
Padel Yard – located in Wandsworth, this club has been created to help create a community among Padel and pickleball fans, with a space that creates a welcoming ambience with comfortable seating to encourage a friendly, social experience. Please note the bar and smoothies for post-match recovery and chats; they are much appreciated.
Padel Social Club – this social-oriented club combines padel and wellness with cold water plunges and sauna experiences to add to your weekly padel game. They also have a popup location at Babington House in Somerset.

What We’re Wearing

  • If you’d like to wear the same socks as Jannik Sinner (who among us…) now you can. Nike socks, ÂŁ16. 
  • If they are good enough for our beloved Roger, they are good enough for us, The Roger Pro 2, ÂŁ190. 
  • Super lightweight, super chic cap from On, ÂŁ40. 
  • A polarizing colour, yes, but on Flavio Cobolli and Ben Shelton it works and therefore we’re in. Court Jacket, ÂŁ140. 
  • If you fancy cosplaying for Sharapova in a tennis dress, this FP Movement one is for you, ÂŁ108.
  • A classic colourway – Adidas, ÂŁ85.
  • New from the freshly launched US brand, Spence, are these unisex shorts set to replace the Patagonia baggies in your wardrobe, $158.
  • A chic overgrip for those inclined… Sporty & Rich £16.
  • A chic white tennis skort with a ruffle flair, £175 Tory Sport. 
  • A retro polo to wear on court, £155, Tory Sport. 
  • A British racing green tennis skirt from Lacoste we love, ÂŁ115.
  •  The “Warm Up” sweatshirt from Spence does what it says on the tin. It helps keep you warm to and from the court, as well as during the warm up, and looks retro in a minimal, chic way, $178.

Tennis Courts

 

The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club – the easiest way to gain membership is to win Wimbledon, better get training… In the meantime, we will have to settle for some slightly more accessible options.

In London, the best other options are community gardens in Chelsea, Mayfair or Notting Hill if you can get access…

Chelsea Barracks Court – most luxurious courts in London.

Barbican Lawn Tennis Club, owned by City of London School for Girls. Membership is only available to residents of The Barbican estate.

Across the pond, you can’t beat the Monte Carlo Tennis Club for the best clay courts and views over the sea.

Rye Lawn Tennis Club (East Sussex) – further afield is the Rye Lawn Tennis Club which has eight grass tennis courts, three all weather tennis courts.

La Cavalerie Club (Paris) – nestled near the Tour Eiffel, this vast wooden structure houses one of the most beautiful courts in the world. The court is located on the seventh floor of an Art-Deco Building built in 1924.

Astor Courts (Rhinebeck, New York): PBDW Architects recently refurbished the Astor Courts, restoring them to their original 1902 beauty.

The Tennis Court at Il San Pietro di Positano (Amalfi Coast, Italy) – part of the iconic Il San Pietro, Positano hotel, the court is nestled in between the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, down some steps from the sports club.

Lauterbrunnen (Swiss Alps) – one clay court at the Swiss Tourism sports centre, under the Jungfrau.

Or venture to Perthshire to visit The Cromlix Hotel (Scotland), with its beautiful hard court created by Andy Murray.

See you on the courts.

Spring Style Update

We are loving sunshine yellow hues, preppy stripes and voluminous layers. Structured but battered loafers, crisp classic tote bags and cotton caps. Cotton knits, softest silk and crisp poplin.

Vintage Car Coat

Soeur Shirting and Poplin Trousers

Ralph Lauren Cap

Donni Cotton Knit

& Daughter Cricket Knit.

Donni complete looks featuring LL Bean Boat Totes

The Silk Pant, The Eco Terry Crewneck

Celine Loafers

Notes From The Clubhouse

What we’re listening to:

What we’re watching:

  • The Residence – a witty and intriguing murder mystery that’s Knives Out meets Agatha Christie from the genius mind of Shonda Rhimes.
  • Sinners – officially released on April 18th, Sinners is a supernatural horror (actually, a ‘vampire Western’ would be more accurate) with a stacked cast. Michael B. Jordan even plays twins a la Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap…but that’s as far as the similarities go.
  • Black Mirror (S7) – Hesitations aside, this season of Black Mirror features Paul Giamatti and Emma Corrin, so that’s good enough for us!
  • Marcel The Shell With The Shoes On – Oscar-nominated for a reason; this film is the perfect heartwarming antidote to a world that currently feels very chaotic and scary. The film is shot documentary style, following Marcel, a shell who lives with his grandmother, Connie. After posting a short film online, Marcel gains a legion of passionate fans who want to help him connect with his long-lost family.

Where we’re eating:

Canteen, Notting Hill – from the team behind The Pelican, Canteen is a walk in only restaurant that’s exactly what you’d expect. Intimate, cosy, and low-key serving unfussy dishes with an Italian twist. Make sure you save room for pudding because the olive oil chocolate mousse is a must!

Nina, Marylebone – from the team behind Zephyr and Bottarga, Nina is a new Italian restaurant focusing on storytelling, delicious sharing plates, and relaxed glamour. Go for the tuna e melone, yellowtail crudo, the classic spaghetti, and the chicken milanese.

Florencio, Marylebone – a small, friendly, old-school pizzeria; Florencio has some of the best pizzas we’ve had in a while (with an assortment of very important crust dips to go alongside). We recommend getting the seasonal tomatoes with burrata to start as well as some spicy honey dip for your pizza. Each bite is seasoned to perfection!

Don’t Tell Dad, Queen’s Park – The neighbourhood bakery and restaurant that seems to be on everyone’s Instagram stories, their ethos is simple: inspired by two mischievous siblings who know how to savour life’s moments with the belief that a little trouble makes everything taste better. The menu changes frequently and seasonally, but it’s hard to go wrong here…if you don’t have time for a sit-down meal, be sure to swing by the bakery and grab a pastry or three to go.

Upcoming Events:

The Met Gala – this year, the event takes place on 5th May, so we are starting to get excited and speculate on the exhibition, event and attendees.

London Marathon 27th April – for anyone taking on this epic challenge, best of luck. We’ll toast to your efforts while we enjoy a relaxing Sunday morning bloody mary.

Jannik Sinner’s return to tennis is coming up, and we can’t wait for his return to the Rome Masters. He can start training again professionally from 13th April.