Societies and clubs at Downing College, Cambridge

The Catering page (opens in a new tab) describes Formal Hall as an occasion for junior members to bring in students from other colleges and other visitors as guests. It also says Formal Hall charges are lower for College members than for guests, but gives no figure.

Formal Hall booking (opens in a new tab): Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings in term only, 19:30–21:00. A Downing student books themselves and up to four guests (five in total) through Upay. The cut-off is 11:00 two days before the dinner, and the same cut-off applies to changes and cancellations. Arrive by 19:15 for the 19:30 seating; latecomers are not admitted and are not refunded. Each person may bring one bottle of wine, with no corkage fee. Groups of up to 20 can ask catering@dow.cam.ac.uk to be seated together by the same deadline, giving the full names of all group members; the host still waits for all guests to arrive before going in. Downing groups larger than 20 contact the Internal Events team about a private Formal Hall, non-Downing students are directed to the Conference Office rather than a private formal, and society or external university groups discuss bookings with Internal Events. No route for a non-member to book independently is published.

Dress and conduct (opens in a new tab): gowns must be worn throughout dinner by members of the College and their guests from other colleges. Dress must be smart: collared shirts with a tie or cravat (collarless shirts allowed as cultural dress), smart shoes, no trainers or shorts; clean jeans are acceptable. No drinking games or drinking fines, no electronic devices once dinner begins, and photographs only after the Fellows leave. Staff may ask disruptive or drunk diners to leave, and hosts are responsible for their guests.

The MCR Social Membership Scheme (opens in a new tab) is for selected postdocs and visiting postgraduate students who are not already members of another Cambridge college; social members may bring only one guest. It is not a route for students of other colleges.

Practical assessment: four weekly sittings and four guest places give a Downing host plenty of options; the host must book by 11:00 two days ahead, and guests need a gown. No measured sell-out data.