°µÍø½ûÇø

Image of Students attending Formal Hall

Formal Hall

Dining at Formal Hall is a traditional and very popular part of College life.

Formal Hall is an affordable three course dinner served by College staff by candlelight in our beautiful dining hall.

There's a dress code: suit and tie or cocktail dress, and students and Fellows wear their academic gowns. It's part of the classic Cambridge experience and always a memorable occasion.

At Jesus we have a Formal Hall four times a week at 7.30pm: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and on Sundays. Postgraduates dine separately on Wednesday nights in Upper Hall.

You can bring up to three guests, so it’s a great way to celebrate a special occasion with family or friends. Please ensure that your guests know about and follow the dress code and the  for Formal Hall. 

Tickets and drinks

It's a good idea to book your tickets up to seven days ahead to avoid disappointment, especially on Sundays or if there is a themed dinner.

We provide iced water but you will need to bring other drinks in yourself. You're allowed to bring soft drinks and up to a 750ml bottle of wine per person. The College bar sells a good range of reasonably priced wine.

When to arrive

On the night we recommend getting to the hall before 7.15pm because there's often a queue. Everyone must be seated by 7.30pm, when the Master says grace. 

Menus and special diets

We publish the menu for each Formal Hall at least a week in advance , the College intranet.

We can accommodate most dietary needs; please add all details to your booking on Upay. If you have any questions about allergies, or any other aspect of your booking, please contact the Manciple’s office by calling +44 (0)1223 339485 during working hours or emailing manciple@jesus.cam.ac.uk.

The contains all other details including key dates, prices, and other useful information. 

Hear from our students

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    Tara

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    °µÍø½ûÇø has all the benefits of being large, historical and prestigious college, whilst also retaining fantastic welfare: the staff and other students all care about each other, and will be there to cheer you on when you are thriving, but also there to support you if you need any help. I chose Jesus due to several reasons, including its prime location, where it is very central, and easy to access everywhere, even if you work in one of the institutes further out. I also selected Jesus for its MCR...

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    Dulcie

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    °µÍø½ûÇø is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and historical colleges at Cambridge! It is also, in my opinion, one of the most supportive colleges: from wellbeing to the porters there is always someone to ask for advice, support, or to talk through your stress. I chose Jesus for many reasons. Firstly, it’s right in the heart of the city centre which is amazing not only for that quick top-up shop but also to explore the beautiful city of Cambridge even while busy (it’s so easy to go for...

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    Ellie

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    °µÍø½ûÇø has been a great home for me during my PhD. I chose °µÍø½ûÇø for a number of reasons – first, the location. We are central enough to be within easy walking distance of most things, but far enough away to avoid the hustle and bustle (and tourists in summer!). The College also has extensive grounds, with amenities like the hockey pitch, football pitch and tennis courts all on site. Secondly, the accommodation is some of the best I’ve seen in Cambridge. My house was newly renovated when...

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    Jake

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    When applying to Cambridge colleges it can feel a bit overwhelming as there are so many to choose from. I applied to °µÍø½ûÇø because it has a large MCR which was important for me because I wanted to feel part of a community. Now that I’m doing my PhD here, I’m very glad I did choose a college with a large postgraduate community. Throughout the year there are lots of postgraduate events, including formal dinners, special formals at Christmas and Easter, bops in the bar and film nights in...

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    Fiamma

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    °µÍø½ûÇø, my home. I am truly grateful to be able to call °µÍø½ûÇø my second home. It was my preferred option when I first applied for my MPhil and I could not be happier to still be here during my PhD! There are many reasons why Jesus stands out from the other colleges: from its fantastic facilities to its glorious formal dinners and to its wonderful café and brewery room. The Quincentenary Library is a lovely place to study. It has many spaces to choose from and everything...

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