OVER half of the general admission tickets for this summer’s Ilkley Trophy tournament have already been sold.

Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club are hosting a $125,000 ATP Challenger event and a $100,000 ITF Women’s World Tour event from June 12-19 as players warm up for Wimbledon two weeks later.

All this adds to the impact of the town, which was recently voted the best place to live in the UK by The Times and the Sunday Times.

The Ilkley Trophy will be the sixth biggest tennis tournament in the country this summer, but the most prominent in the North of England.

Not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, the sixth edition of the trophy certainly seems to have captured the imagination of the public in what is a superb setting, nestling alongside the River Wharfe with views of the iconic Cow and Calf rocks on Ilkley Moor.

And it is not only general admission tickets that have been selling fast, as there are only a limited number of hospitality packages available, which offer local businesses and groups a day out for up to 10 people, including classy food and drink, in addition to prime Centre Court seats to watch top-class tennis.

Among the food available, just to get punters in the mood for Wimbledon, will be Tattinger champagne and strawberries and cream, provided by award-winning caterers Shoot The Bull.

General admission ticket holders won’t be left out either as there will be a Street Food Festival every day to link in with the special-themed days, with Wagu burgers, gourmet fish and chips, hand-stretched sourdough pizzas and Indian street food on the menu.

Daily general admission tickets start from £12 per adult and £6 for children, and play will begin at 11am most days.

Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club chairman Rik Smith said: “A day at the tennis in Ilkley is such a special day out for the whole family.

“At Ilkley, we’ve got one of the most picturesque locations on the whole tennis tour and people are guaranteed a lovely Yorkshire welcome, thanks to our friendly volunteers, plus fantastic food and drink to suit every taste.

“There’s no better place to be on a sunny summer’s day!”

The themed days are as follows:

Sunday, June 12: Family Day, including barbecue and family fun

Monday, June 13: Silver Day, aimed at more mature visitors

Tuesday, June 14: Ilkley Day, celebrating the town itself

Wednesday, June 15: Yorkshire Business Day

Thursday, June 16: Ladies’ Day

Friday, June 17: Quarter-finals Day

Saturday, June 18: Semi-finals Day

Sunday, June 19: Patrons’ Day and Finals Day

Tickets for the Ilkley Trophy are available from: https://www.lta.org.uk/fan-zone/international/ilkley-trophy/tickets/

More information on hospitality packages is available from: Nicola@iltsc.co.uk