A MAN has revealed how he makes £2,000 with his Wimbledon side hustle – adding that he’d rather sit at home and make cash than go to the championships.
Rafi Ahmad, 60, rents out spaces on his driveway to tennis lovers desperately looking for somewhere to park their cars.
Rafi Ahmad makes £2,000 every summer renting out parking space to tennis fans
A neighbour packed dozens of visitors’ cars onto their driveway
He told SE: “It’s an easy way to make money.
“I rent out four or five spaces for £30 each every day, for all fourteen days of the tournament.
“I’ve made £2,000 doing it every summer for years – and it’s getting more and more popular.
“I’ve never actually been to the tournament myself, the queues are too long.
“I’d rather stay at home and make money while watching The Ashes.”
Parking space is a precious commodity during the Wimbledon Championships, with the roads around the All England Tennis Club lined with visitors’ cars.
Neighbour Andrew said: “Parking is an absolute nightmare during the tournament.
“So many people come for the tennis and some even leave the cars along my street overnight.
“I wish I had enough space to even think about renting it out – I’ve had to park one of my cars two miles away.
“When I drive the other to pick up my kids from school this afternoon I guarantee you someone will take the space I leave on the kerb.
“I would watch the tennis but I spend more time watching the street to see if a space comes free.”
“I’m surviving but I won’t miss this when the tournament is over.”
A worker outside one home said: “I’m just being paid to stand out here and sort out the people parking in the owner’s driveway.
“It’s the easiest gig I’ve ever done, I’ve even got my own drinks stand – I’ve got Coke, Fanta, Oasis.
“I think the owner’s gone away, I haven’t seen them today.
“The parking and traffic here is crazy, we’re charging £50 a day. People are paying to keep a space overnight.
“We just got the Tube here.”
PARKING MAD
Other locals said they haven’t noticed any difference from the rest of the year.
Mubarak Chaudhry, 71, said: “My son tried renting out our driveway last year but most days there weren’t any takers.
“I didn’t realise that it was still listed on YourParkingSpace – it’s no different from any other time of the year up here.
“For some people it might be too busy but I’ve lived here for twenty years, I’m used to it.
“People who live near the tennis club and complain about queues and parking during the tournament – what did they expect when they moved here?
“It’s the one thing anyone knows about Wimbledon – although I don’t actually like tennis, I prefer playing volleyball.”
Ewa Solgala-Kaz, 69, said: “I’ve got my over-65 bus pass so the parking isn’t my problem. I love it during the tournament.
“I was going to go to Dorset to see my friend but I decided today to stay here – the atmosphere is great.
“I went down to enjoy it this morning. I saw Stefanos Tsitsipas but I was too slow, another lady pushed in front of me and had her photo taken.
“He was with his girlfriend anyway – I was out of luck.
“So I ended up asking five police officers if I could pose for photos with them, it was such a passionate atmosphere.
She added: “I go down to the Rose & Crown sometimes, if the players have a party I don’t need an invite – I’ll invite myself.
“I don’t mind if it’s noisy or busy – it’s two weeks every year, we should catch the light in this life while it still shines. I think it’s lovely.
“If it gets too much I won’t complain, I’ll go to Covent Garden for some peace and quiet.
“I’ve lived in Wimbledon for 41 years. It’s a secret forest in the heart of London.
“For two weeks every year we let the whole world come and enjoy it.”
WHAT A RACKET
The world’s best tennis players can sometimes be found celebrating or drowning their sorrows at The Rose and Crown pub.
A group of American pilots staying overnight in London were among those waiting for the likes of Novak Djokovic on the pub’s terrace.
David, from New York, said: “We flew in yesterday evening and had time to kill today. We’re in London for just 30 hours.
“I love tennis, I’ve been playing it since I was in college – so we decided to come down and try our luck at Wimbledon.
“The hi-vis people told us we might have a chance so we joined the queue, it was the longest I’ve seen for anything.
“We didn’t have a chance, no one in front of us got in either. It was so busy, there were people from all over the world.
“So we just came down to this pub, we’re trying the Guinness.
“I heard some players come to this pub when they get knocked out, we’ll see who turns up today.
“It’s a shame Nick Kyrgios is injured.”
Co-pilot Tanner, from North Carolina, said: “We landed and David said he wanted to go to Wimbledon – I thought why the hell not.
“I don’t know that much about tennis, I just watch the final of every sport. But it was so busy here, I couldn’t believe the queues.
“I knew Wimbledon was big but I didn’t know it was big big.
“David said the players come here, how about it? We’ll have to wait and see who comes.”
Ewa Solgala-Kaz says she’ll invite herself to players’ parties
Rafi says he would rather watch The Ashes than Wimbledon
Another homeowner offers tennis fans 24/7 parking spaces
A parking attendant has started selling drinks as a side hustle
Tennis stars flock to the Rose and Crown – as well as jet-lagged pilots
