Queen's Club sold in £35m deal

The Lawn Tennis Association yesterday reached an agreement to sell The Queen's Club to members for a reduced price of £35million, in order to avoid a potentially costly High Court battle.

The fee is £10m less than the deal agreed between the respective parties earlier in the year, but it ensures a swift end to legal action over the ownership of the club.

The LTA put the club — home to the prestigious annual Stella Artois Championships — up for sale prior to a move to the new National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

But a number of Queen's members had objected to the plan, claiming the club — which the LTA intended to sell on a 120-year lease — was not theirs to sell, and initiated court proceedings.

Following the out of court settlement reached yesterday, LTA president Stuart Smith said: "We are delighted that we have reached this agreement, which allows us to concentrate on the real job of developing tennis in this country.

"As was always our priority, we are also ensuring that the prestigious Stella Artois Tournament remains at The Queen's Club.

"The proceeds from the sale will be used to further invest in the development of the sport, particularly at the community level."

The deal delighted members, with Queen's Club chairman Alexander Anton saying: "This is the best outcome for members - ownership of the Club for significantly less financial outlay than we had initially anticipated.

We look forward to working with members to ensure the traditions of the Club, and its broad sporting heritage, are protected and flourish in years to come."