Magdalene Food & Drink

Magdalene catering options range from famous candle-lit dinners to informal cafeteria meals.

Formal Hall

Magdalene boasts one the best formal hall experiences in all of Cambridge, hosting stunning candle-lit dinners in the 16th century dining hall. Formal dinners consist of a three-course meal served by waiter enjoyed amongst your fellow college students. Formal dinners are not compulsory but are a great socialising experience that many students enjoy. Formal dinners are available for students on most days of the week, with an exclusive “BA dinner” happening on Fridays, which are exclusively for MCR students. These MCR-only formal dinners have the added benefit of served drinks before and after the dinner, which acts as a great opportunity to catch up with other MCR members. As the name suggests, formal hall requires students to dress in formal attire and gowns are usually worn.

Formal hall offers great value for money, costing £16.00 for BA dinners and £11.00 for any other day (as of 2024). Every student is allowed to book on an additional two guests to join them for the formal dining experience. There are also many themed formal dinners throughout the year, such as Lunar New Year or Women’s Day dinners, where the hall is wonderfully decorated and the catering team curate matching themed menus! Further, the MCR host one themed ‘banquet’ per term, which involve amazing decorations and fun games.

Ramsay Hall

Ramsay Hall hosts the informal cafeteria-style catering options, available throughout the year. Ramsay Hall caters lunch and dinner everyday of the week, with a fantastic brunch option replacing the lunches on Saturday and Sunday. Ramsay always offers a vegetarian option and can cater for any dietary requirements.

Ramsay hall offers an affordable and convenient food option for any student. It also acts as a great social hub amongst students, allowing them to catch up after a long day. An average meal costs ~£4.60 (as of 2024, for a main and two sides).

Self-Catering

Dining at either of the catered halls is, of course, not compulsory for any student. All postgraduate housing will have close access to kitchen facilities where students can prepare their own simple meals. Many housing options may also come with larger kitchens allowing for informal gatherings of students for meals.