Edgbaston Priory Club celebrates 150 years of tennis heritage

Just a short hop from Birmingham city centre, Edgbaston Priory Club spreads across 14 green acres off Sir Harrys Road, and it has been celebrating 150 years of heritage. The club's story goes back to Priory Lawn Tennis Club, founded in 1875.

Today's club was formed in 1964 when the Priory joined forces with Edgbaston Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club, founded in 1878. The merger came after a fire destroyed the Priory's clubhouse in April 1963, and the combined club has gone from strength to strength ever since. A £12 million redevelopment in 2012 and 2013 added a new clubhouse around twice the size of the old one.

For racket sports fans it is a remarkable place. There are 31 tennis courts, 23 outdoor on grass, tarmac and clay and eight indoors, along with ten squash courts, three new outdoor padel courts and pickleball. Members can also enjoy a gym, classes, a pool and spa. The club is a Lawn Tennis Association High Performance Centre and offers coaching pathways for players with professional ambitions.

Every summer, ahead of Wimbledon, the Priory welcomes the world. The club has hosted a pre-Wimbledon women's grass-court tournament since 1982, first known as the Edgbaston Cup and now played as the Lexus Birmingham Open. Since 2025 it has been staged as a WTA 125 and ATP Challenger 125 event, bringing both women's and men's professional tennis to Edgbaston. The 2026 women's singles title went to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines after a thrilling three-set final against Nikola Bartůňková, while Bu Yunchaokete won the men's singles.

The tournament is played on the Ann Jones Centre Court, which can seat 2,500 spectators. The club has also staged a Davis Cup tie against West Germany in 1969 and goalball at the IBSA World Games in 2023.

For many members it is a family affair, with some families involved for generations. That mix of history, community and modern facilities is what makes the club such a cherished part of Edgbaston life.

Membership information, opening hours and details of coaching are available on the Edgbaston Priory Club website.