Hall
Hall is the Oxford name for the dining room which serves both formal and informal hall. They serve three meals a day, every day, throughout term time and beyond. Eating in hall is a perfect opportunity to socialize with fellow students and catch up with your friends.
Prices
Breakfast: pay per item, normally less than £3, cooked breakfast available daily and unlimited toast, tea and coffee
Lunch: currently a set price of £3.00 (£3.60 for guests) this includes the hot dish of the day
and dessert. Bookings close at 10am for lunch in both Hall and the Café.
Informal Dinner: set at £4.20 (£5.04 for guests) this includes the hot dish of the day and dessert. Booking closes at 11am for dinner in Hall.
Sunday Brunch: brunch dish of the day is £1.80/£2.16 - pay at the till. Booking closes at 10pm on Saturday.
You can check current prices here on the College’s official website.
Timings
Breakfast: 8.00 am – 9.00 am (9.00 am – 9.40 am on Sunday)
Lunch: 12.30 pm – 13.30 pm
Informal Dinner: 6.15 pm – 6.45 pm (6.30 pm – 7.00 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays; we advise that you arrive at the very beginning of the dinner slot, however, or risk losing out on that delicious plate of hot food to those ahead of you in the queue…)
Dietary Requirements
There will always be a vegan/vegetarian and a non-vegetarian choice at dinner, and at least two of the latter at lunch. The Catering Office is fully accommodating of all special dietary requirements, so long as you communicate with the staff. The catering team always issue a menu of meals for the week ahead by email to everyone at college, so you can plan well in advance.
Kendrew Café
Kendrew doubles-up as a popular workspace, and a great café that serves a cooked lunch every day from 12:00– 13:30. This always includes a vegan and meat option and is a real bargain for the big portions (~£3 for a main and dessert). They also provide cakes, crisps and chocolate, and smoothies which are on offer throughout the working day. A coffee-machine and vending-machine are also in operation there 24/7.
Cooking for yourself
There is no obligation to cook for yourself, but should you wish there are facilities on hand to do so. Every room in first year has access to a hob, a kettle and a toaster, as well as a personal mini fridge. A few rooms also have access to a microwave and oven (beehive) or just a microwave (TW8). This doesn’t stop budding chefs though as smaller kitchens are shared by only 4, and in beehive there’s 8 hobs and 2 ovens for more people.
TOP TIP: at the back of your fridge there will be a swiveling knob that adjusts its temperature; if your milk is freezing or going sour much too quickly, it might be worth checking for this!
Formal hall
The �?Harry Potter-esque’ Oxford experience. Rather than going to normal hall, you may sometimes want to throw on your academic gown, go to formal hall and enjoy a three-course meal with your friends. You are expected to wear your academic gown for formal hall, though it matters little what you have on underneath. Guests can also be booked in for formal hall, so it is definitely worth considering if you have friends or family over and would like to give them a nice Oxford-style experience.
Formal runs four times a week (on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays), from 19:15 onwards, usually ending around 21:00. It consists of three courses all consumed for the bargain price of £4.27 for SJC students and £4.98 for guests. Wine can also be purchased during these meals.
Guest dinners and special meals
If looking for something even fancier you can ballot for one of the guest dinners run, generally, twice per term in hall for around £30 per person. On top of the three-course meal, a pre- and post drinks reception is also included at these black-tie events. Students mingle with their peers and with friends and family alike, frequently invited from home especially for these dazzling events.
The Buttery and paying for meals
The Buttery (the little room on your right as you enter the Hall) is where you top up your Bod Card, onto which all food is charged on a pay-as-you-go basis (simply present your card to the member of catering staff on shift behind the till). Top this up before your first paid meal at college (and whenever necessary thereafter) using cash or a bank card. N.B. this can also be done at the bar, bursary or Kendrew Café. Bod cards can now also be topped up online through the meal booking system.
Formal dinner is booked online and you must make sure to be connected to University WiFi or using the VPN otherwise the website won’t load. After accessing the meal-booking system, you will be prompted to enter your details from your bod card and a password. After logging on you may select the date of your meal, its type (i.e. vegetarian, meat option, etc.), and enter any dietary requirements, as well as reserving spots for up to 5 guests.