America may be falling in love with football (or as they would call it, soccer) during this summer’s World Cup, but the cultural exchange goes both ways because Wimbledon’s Lawn Tennis Club, that most British of institutions, is this year playing host to The Polo Bar by Ralph Lauren at Centre Court.
The exclusive suite brings the sophisticated warmth of the original institution – the first Ralph Lauren restaurant to open in New York – to the tournament’s historic grounds for the first time.
Situated on Fifth Avenue, just a short stroll from the fashion house’s famous flagship store, the original The Polo Bar is inspired by Ralph Lauren’s longtime love of gathering around the table with family and friends. Its interiors are a classic combination of artfully-aged leather banquette seating and hunter green walls.
While the walls in New York feature polo players, the focus has been switched here to tennis, but the atmosphere is the same: casual elegance.
‘The feeling of the restaurant represents a certain kind of style that I love – a sophisticated charm, a spirit of timelessness, not oldness,’ Mr Lauren has said of the New York establishment. It’s a description that could also be used for SW19’s famous sporting venue, making this a heavenly match up.
See inside The Polo Bar suite
After all, Wimbledon and Ralph Lauren have a shared heritage of sport and sophistication. The brand has been the official outfitter of the Championships since 2006. That’s a twenty-year relationship that warrants a moment as memorable as this design. And, if you aren’t lucky enough to be invited to experience it, why not head to Summer of Sport on Sloane Square, where screenings can be enjoyed with a soft-serve ice cream or signature ice matcha latte from the Ralph’s Coffee kiosk. ralphlauren.co.uk
