Yahoo Finance Wimbledon’s quiet room should not be used for sex, couples warned
A Wimbledon quiet room meant for prayer and meditation should not be used by couples wanting to be intimate, tournament bosses have warned.
Last year, amorous couples were reported to have been using the secluded space near Court 12 for their own personal enjoyment to the horror of some visitors.
Now Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, has said the “sanctuary” remained an important space, and urged people to respect it.
Speaking on the first day of the tournament, she said: “It’s a really important space. So, we will be retaining it and we’ll be making sure that people are using it the right way.
“If people need space to go to pray, it’s the quiet space for that. There is an opportunity to breastfeed in there. But, we are looking for it to be used in the right way.”
In 2022, spectators reported seeing “sheepish” looking couples emerging from the rooms at the rear of court 12. One eye witness told how he saw a man and woman leaving the room with “big grins” on their faces.
“She was in a long flowing summer dress and there was no doubt as to what they had been up to,” he said.
‘Sounds of intimacy’
Another visitor reported hearing “sounds of intimacy” coming from one of the two rooms created as “safe spaces” for those wanting to escape the crowds at the tournament.
At the time, Wimbledon officials urged visitors to respect the area, intended seclusion for prayer, meditation, breastfeeding or even as a way to escape the sun.
The discovery that it was being used by overly affectionate couples prompted one official to describe it as the “Wimbledon high club”, as opposed to the “mile high club” associated with those who become intimate on aeroplanes.
Wimbledon’s official access guide for 2023 says: “Located in the Southern Village, this sanctuary offers guests a peaceful space to pray, meditate or just be present in the moment.”
