The Hanbury Tennis Club in Alassio, on the Italian Riviera in Liguria, is a historic sports institution and a living monument to the golden age of tennis and British Riviera culture. The club was founded in 1923 by Sir Daniel Hanbury, a member of the renowned English Hanbury family.
Set within a 12,000-square-metre park of pine trees, exotic palms, and lush Mediterranean flora, the Hanbury club was conceived to meet the sporting needs of the growing English community on the Riviera. Its colonial-style club house, with original furnishings and décor, evokes the Belle Époque atmosphere of the early twentieth century. Inside, antique wooden rackets, early tennis memorabilia, photos, and posters recall an era when tennis was both sport and social ritual.
From its earliest years, the club became a central hub of tennis in northern Italy. Starting in 1925, it hosted the Alassio International (Internazionale di Alassio), a prominent clay-court tournament that drew leading players of the time and was part of the Italian Riviera tennis circuit until 1940. These events helped establish the club’s reputation beyond local circles.
Throughout much of the twentieth century, Hanbury remained a beloved destination for players and enthusiasts alike. Champions and notable figures such as Hopman, Crawford, De Stefani, Cucelli, and Del Bello played on its red clay courts, blending competitive excellence with the club’s refined social culture.
In 1977, the club was acquired by the Skordis family, who have since stewarded its legacy while adapting to contemporary sporting life. Under their care, the venue expanded with additional facilities, including three modern padel courts, and sustained its warm hospitality with lounges, bar, shop and a restaurant. The centenary of the Hanbury Tennis Club in 2023 was celebrated with special tournaments, exhibitions, and community events, including the dedication of the central court to the legendary Italian journalist Gianni Clerici, who spent his youth at the club and immortalized it in his writings. These celebrations reinforced the club’s blend of athletic tradition, cultural memory, and community engagement.
Today, Hanbury remains not just a tennis club but a cherished cultural landmark, where sport and history meet amid the timeless beauty of the Ligurian Riviera.
