Compare Formal Hall at Oxford colleges (2024)

BalliolFormal halls are usually three times a term, and the dress code is smart, with gowns. Both food and atmosphere are excellent! Balliol also hosts a special Formal Hall dinner at the beginning of each academic year, and there are also other special events like the Thanksgiving Dinner, Rowing Dinners or specific Subject Dinners.BlackfriarsStudents can book meal sittings, including Formal Hall, at Regents Park College.BrasenoseUnknownCampionUnknownChrist ChurchIt's a bit different at Christ Church, because we have a formal sitting every night (about £2.25). But it's not a big deal like at other colleges, you have to wear your gown, but you can go in trackies! Sometimes its just nice to go to a slightly later sitting for dinner. The food is generally good. We also have ''guest dinners' which are twice a term and in high demand so there's a ballot. These are four courses, and you get to invite a guest. It's about £25 a head, but its also basically Michelin star food, so definitely worth doing at least once!Corpus ChristiFormal hall takes place on FridayExeterUnknownHarris ManchesterUnknownHertfordUnknownJesusFormal hall is available five nights a week - no dress code (wear what you like!) except for Thursdays which are suit + tie (or equivalent) plus gown. Catering staff are exceptionally friendly, so formal is a great experience.KebleHall serves a formal dinner 3 times a week with our lovely choir singing at Sunday formalLincolnwe offer two sittings every night Sunday - Friday, normal dinner and then a formal! There is also Great Hall every second Thursday and a very popular Brunch sitting every Sunday.MagdalenFormal hall is three times a week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). The atmosphere is good, especially on Sundays when people dress more formally and the choir sings.MansfieldFormal hall (a three course meal) is twice a week on Wednesday and Friday. There is also a 'more formal' Formal Hall three times a term consisting of 4 courses which is hugely popular.MertonWe have formal six days per week. It costs just over £4. Attendance on most weekdays is variable - usually around 30 or so, generally people celebrating a special occasion, with visiting family or doing something pre-clubbing. Sundays and special dinners (e.g. the twice termly guest nights, once termly black tie night, or Burns night) are always sold out, and have a great atmosphere.NewFormal Dinners are three times a week throughout term time and offer the opportunity to dress up in gowns and enjoy a really nice three-course meal. Formals are usually well attended and the atmosphere is great. Guest Nights, with exceptionally delicious food and a bit of a fancier dress code (though without gowns), take place on Fridays (odd weeks for MCR, even weeks for JCR). There are lots of special dinners (some of which subsidised by College) throughout the year!OrielFormals (with gowns) take place every day except Saturday, and costs about £5.50. Sunday is particularly popular. There is also a guest night every term, which is even more formal, and includes pre dinner drinks and post dinner coffee and port. This is balloted for and costs £20-30 depending on number of courses and food.PembrokeUnknownQueen'sWe have formal every Saturday. It costs around £7 and the places sell out within minutes so you have to be ready. They're always delicious and well attended. It is an excellent social event to attend. Every day we have a more formal meal at a later time with candles, which is a nice change from the more informal earlier meal (both cost £4.19).Regent's ParkFormal hall is on Friday evenings. In addition to the cost of dinner there is also a formal hall surcharge, meaning that it costs around £10. The cost has gone up significantly over the past couple of years, without an increase in food quality which is annoying, but since we have to pay a compulsory meal charge it's a good way to spend it. It is BYOB.SomervilleWe have formal about once a week. Most people go once or twice a term - some go more, some less. It costs £9.75. Because we don't have them every day, they're a bit of an event, and everyone makes an effort to dress nicely and bring drinks. Even though it is formal hall, it's comparatively informal compared to some colleges (no gowns) which makes the atmosphere very chilled and friendly, and many people go to the college bar afterwards to hang out. The food is usually pretty good.St Anne'sUnknownSt CatzWe have formal hall every night, but at Catz they are very informal in atmosphere - no gowns needed. Great value: three courses for £3.95, and waitered. The atmosphere is vibrant because of the large hall and lamps on each table.St Hilda'sFormal hall is once a week, around £12 for some very nice food. Formal tends to be pretty packed so the atmosphere is great and the round tables encourage discussion. Guest dinners are also a lot of fun and also great value for money!St Hugh'sFormal hall takes place once a week, usually on Tuesday evening. It costs £9 to attend, though sometimes charity fundraisers or other special formals cost £1-2 more. They are well attended, though it's best if you get a group of your friends together to all go or you might be lonely. You only need to wear smart clothes, no gowns, and it's quite laid-back. Food is usually very good and slightly unusual so it's exciting to try out.St John'sUnknownSt Peter'sFormal hall nights occur on Tuesday and Thursday with BYOB and a nice three course meal for around £10.St Stephen'sUnknownTeddy HallFormal is quite popular. It takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays. The food is very good and it costs £12.75.TrinityFormal hall is Monday to Friday and it costs only around £4. At Trinity we have some of the best food in Oxford! Guest night is lovely and is usually an outstanding five course meal, costing a very reasonable £17 without wine.UnivUniv doesn't have too many formals, last year it was only one a year, so that means that when they do happen everyone values and enjoys them - the Christmas formal is hard to get into but absolutely incredible!WadhamWe don't have formal hall ever. We have Guest Dinners around twice a term - they cost around £15 for three courses and wine. The food and atmosphere is lovely and whilst people tend to dress smartly, there is no requirement to so. Nobody wears a gown!WorcesterFormal hall is four times per week and costs just over £5 - double that for guests. Formals are popular and both food and atmosphere are excellent. Worcester formals are definitely amongst the more formal college formals, as you have to wear a gown with formal clothes. Formals are especially lovely on a Sunday, when the choir sings the grace.WycliffeUnknown