Discreetly tucked away in the heart of Royal Leamington Spa is a members’ tennis club with a history reaching back more than 165 years. Established in 1846, Leamington Tennis Court Club took inspiration from London clubs such as Whites, Boodles and the Reform. Its creation enabled Warwickshire gentry and the officers of Cavalry Regiments based nearby to meet, dine, drink and engage in a variety of sports and pastimes. The Cavalry Regiments are no more but the World's oldest tennis club continues to flourish: membership is burgeoning, the court is busy and the social diary lively. LTCC members play Real Tennis: a high-strategy racket sport, played indoors and essentially unchanged since the middle ages. A game which shaped Europe’s history, tennis can trace back the longest line of consecutive World champions of any sport on Earth. A word to the wise: the World might call the game different things – ‘real’ tennis in Britain, ‘court’ tennis in the US, ‘Royal’ tennis in Australia and ‘court paume’ in France – to players, it’s simply ‘tennis’. The ‘other’ game, meanwhile, is ‘lawn tennis’ – even when it’s not played on grass! The World over, tennis is enjoyed by players who have been ascribed a ‘handicap’ – a number rating which denotes their playing ability. The handicap system itself was devised and formalised at Leamington, to ‘level the playing field’ for the Silver Racket, an open tournament. The net effect of the handicap system is that players of dramatically different standards can enjoy a close match. Tennis is enjoyed by players of differing abilities and ages: from fleet-footed young bucks to ‘silver foxes’ - less lithe, certainly, but rich in guile. It’s the Sport of Kings – and King of Sports.

Nice building! Not very accessible to everyone its obviously a bit of a club, but it's nice inside and you can have drinks the real tennis court reminds me of the 3 musketeers film and it also has a squash court

A great venue for my wifes birthday party. Food was lovely, staff great and even got to watch a bit of tennis.

Simply the best Tennis Club I ever been a member to! The new bar for players to have social drinks after a game is the cherry on the cake! :)

One of the original real tennis clubs, great court and excellent for private dining. Food is also excellent.

Really historic and authentic Real Tennis Club that offers Social membership.

I'm not a member, but attended an organised Lunch. The food and service was second to none.

Brilliant real tennis court for playing the sport of Kings

We went there for a Freemasonry social get together. We watched a game of real tennis, had a few drinks in the bar and then had a fantastic two course meal in one of their dining areas which accommodates 24 People. Could not fault the two course meal and service. Even the vegetarian meals were well complemented on how good they were. For us meat eaters it was roast beef and all the trimmings. Will definitely go again.

Attended a meeting.Wonderful step into a little known world