Societies and clubs at Newnham College, Cambridge

Formal dinners are private events and a Newnham host must be present. Under the ticket policy, updated 5 May 2026 (opens in a new tab), an undergraduate may buy three tickets including their own (two guests), or four (three guests) at the Friday hall held normally once a term. A postgraduate may buy four tickets including their own (three guests) for postgraduate halls, which only postgraduates may book. Bookings open at 17:00 on the Monday one week before, and tickets are charged to the College bill. Arrive in Hall by 19:15 to check in; gowns are worn; each person may bring half a bottle of wine, with no corkage. Matriculation Feast, Half-Way Hall and Subject Formal Halls are by named invitation and cannot be passed on, sold or swapped. JCR or MCR swaps are allowed when organised through the committee and agreed with the Catering Operations Manager (catman@newn.cam.ac.uk) before the start of term, usually for up to 15-20 (JCR) or 30 (MCR) places.

The College's food and drink page (opens in a new tab) (undated) says bookings close at 22:00 on the Wednesday of the week before, dinner starts at 19:30, every guest must be accompanied by their host, and lists £19.90 member / £24.90 non-member. The student eating page (opens in a new tab) adds that doors close at 19:30, guests cannot enter late or without their host, groups wanting to sit together should arrive by 19:00, drinking games are banned, and guests cannot attend Subject Formal Halls. The MCR page (opens in a new tab) says regular formals are typically held once or twice a week, graduate formals every other Tuesday, and that students from other subjects may sign up for a subject hall with guests if space allows; this conflicts with the College page, so follow the College rule. Booking is through the members-only meal portal (opens in a new tab).

Practical assessment: you need a Newnham member to book you and attend, or a place on a JCR/MCR swap; caps are two or three guests per host and booking closes the week before the hall.