An interview with Tim Henman

"I can't quite believe that it's been 16 years since I stopped playing tennis," Tim exclaims, but, never one to take his foot off the pedal, he has had more than enough to keep him busy. Whether at home with his wife and three daughters, on the board of Wimbledon, his television work or partnering with brands such as Rolex and Jaguar. "My foundation is my big passion at the moment," he adds.

"With Henmanfoundation.org, we look to give opportunities in education and sport to disadvantaged young people. Recently, I played tennis for 24 hours in Wimbledon to raise funds. It's been so rewarding and something that I'll continue to spend a lot of time supporting."

Managing what can be a hectic schedule, it's paramount to carve out time to relax and rejuvenate in the lap of luxury and, throughout his career, Tim has had some amazing travel opportunities. "I did a lot of travelling as a professional tennis player," he explains. "I was probably away 35 weeks of the year, but I absolutely loved it."

"For me life is all about experiencing amazing holidays and creating amazing memories. With our children growing up quickly, it's always so much fun to get everyone together and The Hideaways Club gives us lots of opportunities to do so. We spend quality time together as well as exploring different places around the world."

Henman and his family were aiming to feed this shared love of travel when Tim stepped away from competing by purchasing their own slice of paradise holiday home. However, they soon came across a common conundrum - where do you put down holiday home roots? "We initially looked into buying in a sunny destination," Tim continues. "But, as I retired from tennis I was now allowed to ski, so we thought it would also be good for our children to learn to ski."

Luckily, whilst deliberating the choices with good friend and former professional golfer, Chris Moody, an innovative solution presented itself, when Chris introduced Tim to The Hideaways Club and invited the family to La Retraite, one of the Club's properties in the south of France.

Built from honey-coloured stone in the style of a Provençal mas, La Retraite is a 4-bedroom villa with beautiful terraces, a swimming pool, large windows with traditional shutters and elegant Provençal-style furniture. "We loved the villa and got what the Club could offer and decided it would be perfect for us," Tim reminisces. "That was back in 2008, that's almost 16 years ago and we're still Members and we absolutely love it."

The basic premise of The Hideaways Club is that investors buy a share of a diverse portfolio of villas, chalets and apartments, allowing four to six weeks' annual usage, meaning members essentially have holiday homes across the globe. Paying annual service charges to cover everything from property maintenance to concierge service in every property, investors can enjoy hassle-free holidays with their loved ones, in a home away from home.

Joining the Club has opened so many opportunities for the Henman family, allowing Tim to spread his family wings, and enjoy a multitude of experiences and cultures. They've also found some new favourite destinations.

"Casa Cielo in Sardinia and Chalet Lumiere in Morzine are filled with wonderful times for us, even adding New Year's 2024 to the memory books," Tim says. "We love how spacious the chalet is and the location is quiet yet very accessible to ski lift s and the town. We love that home away from home feel we get every time we visit. "

One of the benefi ts of retiring from competitive sport is that it has allowed Tim and his family to explore and experience far-off lands. "We went to Baan Metta in Koh Samui with another family, so altogether there were 4 adults and 6 children. The property took our breath away," Tim smiles.

"The staff at the villa were incredible and sitting on the water, it was the perfect escape to winter sun, away from all the rain and cold of the UK. It's one of our fondest family memories."

Not only did this tick another box on the must-visit list, but it sparked a new love for Far-Eastern adventuring. As Tim explains: "I would love to explore the villa in Bali and the chalet in Niseko, Japan. I've heard from friends and other members of The Hideaways Club, that it's incredible and I can't wait to take my family to experience it."

The family's wanderlust for travel has been fanned by joining the Hideaways Club. Owning over 30 properties and with a membership that allows access to many more properties through their reciprocal partners, the Club set-up gives a sense of adventure and the opportunity to explore.

"There's a unique beauty of fractional ownership, to have been to 17 Club homes and there's still plenty we haven't been to yet."

As Tim highlights, unlocking the secrets of becoming a member of The Hideaways Club, has given him and his family countless benefits.

"First and foremost, the property portfolio. There's great variety, whether you're looking for a villa in the sun or a day in the snow, it really does tick all the boxes. Secondly, the lack of hassle that goes with owning a holiday home. If there's something that needs fi xing, that's all taken care of. Finally, the service that goes with it. The concierge team is excellent. They can help you plan your trip. For example, organise your ski trips, with all ski gear and passes for ski lift s booked for you in advance. Th ey can arrange for a private chef to be at the villa, transportation and car hire or even just off er general knowledge about the local area. We found that extremely helpful."

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