As the oldest and most prestigious grand slam event in tennis approaches, it’s not just residents of Wimbledon who are eagerly anticipating the tournament. Tennis aficionados across the UK are being inspired to improve their racquet skills and interest in homes with tennis courts is reaching fever pitch, as James Wyatt, Partner of leading estate agency Barton Wyatt, explains,

“Luxury homes with tennis courts are always popular, but particularly so as the Wimbledon Championships approach. Homes near tennis clubs are also in demand at this time of year, both with parents who enjoy the game and families who want their children to have access to top class facilities.”

One such home is Strawberry Fields, located on the exclusive Wentworth Estate in Surrey and just minutes from the Clubhouse which features golf and spa facilities as well as 13 tennis courts with a range of surfaces and year-round coaching for all ages. Strawberry Fields, on the market at £2,995,000, combines contemporary living with traditional character. It offers the latest in technology, appliances and interior design, while the landscaped garden is perfect for entertaining. A double award nominated property, Strawberry Fields is a six bedroom home complete with games room, cinema room, numerous ultra-modern bathrooms and a magnificent kitchen/breakfast/family room that opens onto the garden.

For those who require their own on-site tennis court, Barton Wyatt recommends Surrey’s Eastry House, for sale at £4,750,000. As well as a tennis court, the property boasts a swimming pool within its 4.4 acres of parkland style grounds. The five bedroom house comes with four en-suite dressing and bathrooms, five reception rooms, a well-appointed kitchen/breakfast room and a conservatory, providing plenty of space for family living and entertaining.

British house builder Millgate has also noticed the rising interest in homes with tennis courts in the run up to Wimbledon. Jonathan Cranley, Millgate’s Sales and Marketing Director, commented,

“Major sporting events tend to spur buyers’ interest in related properties, as the events reignite their passion for their particular sport. For tennis fans, now is the perfect time of year to buy a home with a court, ready to enjoy it throughout the warm summer months.”

Millgate’s current recommendation for those looking to pursue their love of tennis with their own court is Highview Manor, in the south Oxfordshire village of Boars Hill. With commanding southward views over ancient woodland, the Georgian style mansion enjoys a truly splendid location. Set in nearly two acres of grounds, the house combines traditional country living with modern elegance, all for £5,950,000.

As well as five ensuite bedrooms, the house comprises a drawing room, dining room, study, kitchen, family room, orangery/breakfast room and games room. Sports-wise it includes an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, leisure zone and all weather tennis court and pavilion. A two bedroom, detached cottage in the grounds provides further living space as part of this delightful property.

However it’s not just homes in the UK with tennis courts that are attracting interest – Spain is also a prize location for such properties, which is fitting given that it was an English/Spanish duo who were credited with the birth of lawn tennis in the mid-1800s.

Taylor Wimpey España, which offers properties for sale across Spain and the Balearic Islands, has noted particular interest in its Los Altos development at Port Andratx, Mallorca. The two bedroom Mediterranean townhouses come complete with coloured façades, verandas, spacious terraces, gardens and three communal swimming pools. They benefit from spectacular sea views and are located near to Port Andratx, as well as being a stone’s throw from Andratx’s impressive golf course. Mallorca’s rich tennis history includes the island being the birth and training place of Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players of all time and currently ranked number 4 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals (as at May 2013).

In Italy, fractional ownership company Appassionata has found that the all-weather tennis court at its five bedroom/five bathroom Casa Leopardi is a key attraction for families looking to own their dream holiday home in Le Marche. The property also features a basketball court, swimming pool and easy beach access, with three blue flag beaches within 10km. Fractions are currently available for the special price of £185,000, which includes five weeks’ exclusive use of the property, as well as a share in the organic produce from the estate’s vineyards, olive groves, lavender plantation and truffle orchard. Appassionata’s Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs comments,

“The outdoor lifestyle is an essential part of Italian living. Our owners can spend healthy, active time with their families on the tennis court and in the pool during the day, then cool off on one of Casa Leopardi’s terraces in the evenings while enjoying fresh, locally sourced meals and wine from the estate.”

Over in France The Villages Group also cites tennis as one of the essential elements of its offering. Le Village-Canal du Midi, in the delightful Languedoc-Roussillon area of southern France, provides an active living community for those aged 50+. In addition to tennis, activities include archery, aerobics, equestrian events, sailing, boating and swimming in the village’s outdoor and indoor pools. With house prices starting at around £200,000 and weekly maintenance of £30 covering all activities, the dream of retiring to an active community and spending days playing tennis in the sun has never been more achievable.

So as Wimbledon approaches this year, it seems that companies across Europe are bracing themselves for a flood of eager purchasers looking to live their own tennis championship dream – all on the site of their very own property.

For more information on Barton Wyatt, call 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Millgate can be contacted on 0118 934 3344 or by visiting www.millgatehomes.co.uk.

For more information on Taylor Wimpey España, call 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com.  Those residing outside of the UK can call +34 971 70 69 72.

Appassionata can be contacted on 0039 073 465 8775 or by visiting www.appassionata.com. A video tour of Casa Leopardi is also available.

For more information please contact The Villages Group on + 33 1 4007 8625, email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com.

When it was first introduced in the early 2000s, Social Media was seen by many marketing professionals as a fad. Something the ‘kids’ were doing which would fade away just as quickly as it appeared but nearly a decade later, it’s clear that Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and alike aren’t going anywhere.

The sheer scale of these social networks is rather scary – consider 750 million active Facebook accounts or the 340 million Google+ accounts which exist. And these are just a few of the more well-known Social Networks, for a more complete list visit this website which shows the true extent of Social Media.

However, whilst it’s great to be able to connect with friends and family on Facebook, tell the world what you had for breakfast on Twitter or get LinkedIn, calculating the ROI of Social Media for businesses has always been a little problematic.

James Dearsley, Founder and MD of Social Media specialists, The Digital Marketing Bureau, comments,

“A recent study by Adobe found that 88% of 750 surveyed marketing professionals felt they couldn’t accurately measure the effectiveness of their Social Media campaigns. Taking it a step further Social Media Today analysed online businesses and they state that 70% don’t even analyse ROI!

“It’s been a discussion that has dogged the market for many years now and one that worries and surprises me in equal measure. After all, how can you really tell the ROI of an advert in the paper or a series of TV adverts? The justification is that they are more tangible and business owners and more traditional marketers feel more comfortable with what they know.”


The situation is changing but it is important for companies to realise that Social Media isn’t a one trick pony and companies need to assess what it can actually do for them. Historically Social Media was thought of as solely an aid to helping sales and hence businesses wanted but struggled to justify its effectiveness – this was missing point of the social element to Social Media. Customer service is now seen as a major social media facilitator and thus a different ROI calculation is required.

Just as Google Analytics is used as a standard reporting tool, Social Media Analytics is becoming a growing market offering users a method of calculating ROI. It is now possible for companies to employ such tools to analyse both Customer Service and Sales Interactions using Social Media.

This is precisely what James Dearsley is offering his clients, he explains,

“More and more we are finding clients that are evaluating their Social Media presence and ultimately calculating what affect it’s having on the company’s bottom line. Executing a successful Social Media strategy takes time, energy, dedication and increasingly money for paid for promotion so it’s no surprise to hear people asking – is it worth it?

“In my opinion I believe that Social Media is one essential element of the marketing mix, appealing to a certain audience so should be implemented but fully in line with analytical tools so you know what is working, in what way and why. In today’s social world, it’s no longer all about selling to your client base but engaging with them, creating a relationship of trust and loyalty. Businesses should think less about the ROI of Social Media but more the ROE, the Return on Engagement.”

For more information about creating and executing successful property focused Social Media campaigns contact AB Property Marketing on +44 845 054 7524, become a Facebook fan or follow us on Twitter.

Or for more information about the Social Media Analytic tools available through The Digital Marketing Bureau, please contact James Dearsley on +44 1306 631 117 or follow him on Twitter.