Wimbledon residents have expressed their frustration at receiving multiple food deliveries every evening as queue attendees order their dinner to nearby properties while they wait to get tickets to the tournament
Wimbledon residents have expressed their frustration at receiving multiple food deliveries every evening as queue attendees order their dinner to nearby properties while they wait to get tickets to the tournament.
One local said her door was knocked on around six times a day in the first week of the Championships, with “puzzled” drivers unable to locate who actually put in the order.
The code of conduct for the Wimbledon queue states that “any takeaway food deliveries must be arranged for collection at the Wimbledon Park Road gate only, and must arrive before 10pm”.
But local campaign group Save Wimbledon Park said the rules are not being followed, with some residents reporting receiving a knock at the door as early as 3.15am with a delivery.
Sarah Harris, 63, said queue goers have no postcode to order to, so put in her address instead.
The accountant said in the first week of the tournament, she received up to six an evening.
She said: “It happened last year, but way more this year… I don’t think I’m the only house.”
Ms Harris added: “It’s annoying, but you know, everything about it is obviously busy, and I’m a great supporter of the tennis – we go a couple of times, so it’s not really anti-tennis or anything like that. It’s just, it’s a hassle.”
Andrew Harper, 60, said in the first week of the tournament, he received one to two knocks a day from delivery drivers, usually at night between 9pm to 11pm.
The architect said the situation frustrates him “greatly”, adding there’s “no point” contacting the AELTC for help.
He added: “They never do anything for us whatsoever, we don’t exist as far as they’re concerned.”
Another neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said she finds the situation “shocking” as she receives deliveries “consistently”.
Penny, who did not wish to give her surname, said that while there are gates for queue attendees to order food to, in some instances, delivery drivers are not able to locate the individual and end up ringing doorbells.
The Southfields resident said it is “really annoying” for those living nearby, adding one local told her that her doorbell rang as early as 3am with a food delivery she had not ordered.
“It’s a small story but what it indicates is the infrastructure doesn’t work and it’s the wrong place for this,” she added.
Penny said it is a “structural operational issue” due to the lack of a central delivery point.
She added that the queue and tournament has become increasingly popular, with social media influencers painting an “attractive” picture of attending the event.
The resident said it is “wonderful” that the tennis is becoming popular, but added: “It becomes a festival vibe and it’s not a festival.”
One house has a sign reading “no food deliveries to this address” attached to their gate.
The AELTC has been approached for comment.
