Queens’ Formal Dinners

Queens' has an excellent reputation among Cambridge colleges for providing an amazing dining experience and the MCR Committee hopes you will make the most of it during your time here! Below you will find everything you need to know about Queens' formal dining. If you have any questions, please contact our Formal Steward on mcr-steward@queens.cam.ac.uk.

  • Queens' College hosts MCR-only dinners on alternating Thursdays or Fridays during term-time, providing graduate students with private dining experiences ideal for regular attendance or occasional celebrations. Additionally, JCR Formal Halls are held on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, welcoming graduate students despite their title.

    The dinners take place at Cripps Hall (Dining Hall), with doors closing promptly at 19:30, so punctuality is crucial. Dress code mandates suits and ties for gentlemen and appropriate equivalents for ladies, with gowns mandatory for Queens' members. Beverages include water, coffee, and tea, with the option to bring one bottle of wine per person without corkage fees.

    Reservations for oneself and a guest can be made via Upay, with bookings opening one week before the event and closing at lunchtime the day before.

  • Guest nights, held in the elegant Old Hall, providing an exquisite dining experience perfect for inviting guests. Scheduled 2 or 3 times per term, with specific dates advertised, they include special evenings dedicated to Scottish poet Robert Burns during Lent Term.

    The event begins at 19:30, preceded by pre-drinks served at 19:00 in the Old Kitchen. Dress code entails black tie and gowns for Queens' members, while guests without dinner jackets are encouraged to wear other dark formal attire. Attendees are requested to bring their own wine (BYOB), with port served at the conclusion.

    Due to limited seating, interested participants must complete an application form, with ticket allocation determined by a random ballot. Preference is given to students who have not previously attended a Guest Night.

  • The Feasts, held once per term in the illustrious Old Hall, stand as the pinnacle events showcasing Queens' finest cuisine and elegant ambiance, exclusively for graduate students. Each Feast commemorates notable figures from College history, beginning with a champagne reception and group photo, followed by a sumptuous five-course meal.

    The Woodville Feast in Michaelmas Term honors Elizabeth Woodville, while the Boar's Feast in Lent Term commemorates King Richard III, and the Machin Feast in Easter Term pays tribute to Kenneth Ewart Machin.

    Additionally, the Barbels and Boar Feast in Easter Term, exclusively for graduating graduate students, celebrates the culmination of their studies at the college.

    Pre-drinks typically commence at 19:00 in the MCR Woodville Room or Old Kitchen, with a black-tie dress code and no gowns required. Drinks are provided for each course, with port served after dinner. To attend, students must submit an online application, with ticket allocation determined by a random ballot, favoring those who have not previously attended a Feast.