At select Formal Halls, there will be an Alumni Club Table in Cripps Dining Hall (in Old Hall during the vacation period or other exceptional circumstances). This is in addition to MA Dining on High Table. Alumni can bring three guests and enjoy a three-course meal at the College.
Tickets are a set price of £35 each. Please note that booking will only open two weeks prior to each dinner.
*Please note that some Alumni Club Dates in 2023 have been amended.*
Alumni can book for the following dates:
Long Vacation
- Monday 3rd July
- Saturday 5th August
- Saturday 12th August
- Monday 25th September
Note: During vacations period, the JCR bar will not be open to buy alcohol so please plan in advance.
Payment and Tickets
To register send your name and email to conferences@queens.cam.ac.uk and the College will create your account with UPay. Once you receive a confirmation email, follow the link to book your ticket(s). Once the booking has gone through, you will see a confirmation page in the events tab. Please print this page and bring it with you as this will act as your entry ticket.
Payments are made by Debit or Credit card payment and will be taken at the time of booking. No payments can be taken on the night.
Bookings open two weeks prior to each dinner and must be made 72 hours in advance to ensure staff is aware of numbers.
Dietary Requirements
You can select all dietary requirements at the time of booking. The options are:
- Standard Meal – (This ticket means you have no dietary requirements)
- Vegetarian Meal
- Vegan Meal
- Halal Meal
- Meal without any Gluten ingredients added
- No Pork
- Nut allergy
- No Dairy
- No Fish
- Other Diet
If you have any other dietary requirements or allergies, then please specify in the additional information section on UPay.
Attending the Dinner
Arrive at the Porters' Lodge and make your way to Cripps Hall ten minutes early so that you may be seated by 7:30PM. During term time, the College bar will be open before and after Formal Hall where you may enjoy a pre-dinner drink if you wish. Please note that drinks are not served at the dinner; you may bring your own bottle of wine or purchase one in the bar to take into the Hall with you.
FAQs:
Q: Can I bring a guest?
A: Alumni can each bring up to three guests with them.
Q: When and where should I arrive?
A: Please arrive 10 minutes early and enter via the main entrance. Make sure you have your prepaid ticket(s) ready at the door.
Q: What if I arrive late?
A: You must enter by 7.30pm. If you arrive after this time, you and your guest will not be permitted to join the Formal Hall and entry will be refused. Please note that your tickets will be non-refundable if you arrive after 7.30pm.
Q: Will I need to wear a gown?
A: Gowns are not required but can be worn if you wish to do so. The College is unable to supply gowns.
Q: Is there a seating plan?
A: There will be a table specifically set up for alumni but there is no seating plan.
Q: How many spaces are allocated?
A: There is a maximum of 10 per table so we will work on a first-come-first-served basis.
Q: What about drinks?
A: Drinks can be enjoyed beforehand and afterwards in the JCR bar. Please be aware that this is a cashless bar. Alumni and their guests are also welcome to bring drinks to the dinner but the College is unable to serve alcohol. The JCR bar is not open during the vacation period to buy alcohol so please plan accordingly.
Q: What is the cancellation policy?
A: Tickets can be cancelled at least 48 hours in an advance for a full refund. Any cancellations made less than 48 hours before the event will not be refunded.
Q: Will I be refunded if the College cancels my event?
A: If there is an instance where the College must cancel Formal Hall, then you will be refunded the price of the ticket(s).
Q: Can I stay the night in College following the dinner?
A: In order to check availability and book a room in College, please contact Donna Wilson at guestrooms@queens.cam.ac.uk. Please note that accommodation in College is often limited due to student residency in term and large conferences in the vacations.
Q: What is the difference between Alumni Club Table and MA Dining rights on high table?
A: Alumni may bring guests to Alumni Club Table at formal and pay to attend on any of the given dates (above). In contrast, alumni may attend MA Dining for a maximum of once per term after they have received their MA and may not bring guests. MA Dining may be cancelled if no Fellow plans to attend the formal. Enquiries about both should be directed to conferences@queens.cam.ac.uk.