Quintessential British summer traditions such as croquet, punting and wearing tennis whites are in danger of dying out
Croquet, punting and jam-making have been revealed as just some of the Great British summer pastimes which appear to be at risk, with huge swathes of the nation revealing they have never tried these traditions.
New research commissioned by Pimm’s Cider Cup shows, despite being popular for generations, we are perilously close to losing some quintessentially British summer staples, with only small percentages of the population keeping them alive. It may be a tennis tradition, but nine in 10 (90%) Brits say they no longer wear whites for a game, and the dreamy delights of punting down a waterway are lost on seven-eighths of the population (88%).
The top ten British summer traditions we’re most in danger of losing (and the percentage of people who have never tried them)
- Renting beach huts – 94%
- Painting an outdoor scene in the countryside – 90%
- Tennis whites – 90%
- Punting – 88%
- Making lemonade – 83%
- Homemade jam – 76%
- Lawn bowls – 75%
- Croquet – 71%
- Maypole dancing – 70%
- Morris dancing – 70%
Even the concept of croquet stumped the nation, with more than half (57%) of 18 to 34 year olds believing that croquet is in fact a fried potato roll! While the noble game used to be more popular with Brits than tennis in the mid-19th century, the survey suggests the joy of the classic sport is being lost on successive generations. While more than a third (35%) of over 55s have played, the figure for 25 to 34-year-olds is 22% and for 18 to 24s it is just 19%.
To halt this decline, Pimm’s Cider Cup today responded by issuing a rallying cry to the British public to embrace one of the quirks that make British summers so special by reinvigorating the game of croquet. To take the beautiful game away from the manicured lawns of Britain’s stately homes and on to more challenging, unexpected – even extreme – lawns, while staying true to the long-established rules of the game, the drinks brand has launched the Pimm’s Cider Extreme Croquet Cup.
A series of matches has been played on the downhill slopes of The White Cliffs of Dover, a rocking boat deck on The Thames and at jaw-dropping heights at The View from the Shard, in a year that sees croquet and Pimm’s celebrate their 165th anniversaries.
To launch the cup, Joe Jaques (the great-great-grandson of the founder of modern croquet, John Jaques) and comedian and croquet-fan Alexander Armstrong signed up for the series of unique croquet matches played across Britain.
Joe Jaques said: “This year marks 165 years since my great-great-grandfather invented croquet and – amazingly – 165 years since Pimm’s was first produced too. Back then, croquet was one of the most popular British sports, and I’m so pleased to be involved in encouraging more of the public to try it out!”
Alexander Armstrong said: “We’ve got to make sure that Britain doesn’t lose croquet entirely. I love the game – there couldn’t be a better summer’s day in my mind than pitching up to play croquet, cider in hand, at the local park or your garden!”
Elly Martin, Senior Brand Manager for Pimm’s Cider Cup, said: “Just as we’re reinvigorating the beautiful game of croquet, we’re also adding some Pimm’s magic to another British classic, cider. We’re so pleased to celebrate both of them in our take on Extreme Croquet this summer, as well as hosting a croquet lawn at The View From The Shard for the public to try their hand at a match.”
From Monday 25th July 2016, the public will be able to book a game at the UK’s Highest Croquet Lawn at The View from the Shard – 800ft above the streets of London.
Other frightfully British summer pastimes at risk of being lost, which just missed out on the top ten, include pressing flowers, with seven in 10 (70%) Brits having never done this, and attending a village fete (65% have not done so).
Traditions we would most miss if they were to die out:
- Playing conkers
- Morris dancing
- Maypole dancing
- Donkey rides at the beach
- Village fetes
- Country dancing
- Croquet
- Pressing wild-flowers
- Making daisy chains
- Jam-making
For the facts about alcohol visit drinkaware.co.uk