Dining is an important part of College life.
Our Dining Hall provides a daily-changing menu of hot and cold dishes at both lunch and dinner time. We serve a traditional cooked English breakfast on Wednesdays, brunch on Saturdays, and offer vegetarian and plant-based options at every meal.
Our dining experience reflects our international community, which is why we provide monthly globally inspired menus, including Chinese, Greek, Indian and Mexican.
- Lunch is served Sunday to Friday (12.30pm to 1.30pm)
- Dinner is served Monday to Friday (6.30pm to 7.45pm)
- Cooked breakfast is served on Wednesdays (8.00am to 9.30am)
- Brunch is served on Saturdays (11.00am to 12.30pm)
“I like to eat in the Dining Hall all the time. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. It is one of the best places to meet people.”
Formal Halls
Formal Halls are an ancient Cambridge tradition.
Fellows at most Cambridge colleges dine at a “high table” (separately from the students); however, St Edmund’s has no such division, and students and Fellows are actively encouraged to sit with each other.
The College holds optional Formal Halls twice a week, on most Tuesdays and Fridays, providing an opportunity for students and Fellows to socialise over a three-course dinner.
The dress code for Formals depends on the event, but for most dinners during the week it is business attire, with an academic gown.
Themed nights
The College hosts regular themed nights, including Hallowe’en, Green (plant based) Formals, and Burns Night. The Burns Supper celebrates the life and poetry of Scottish poet Robert Burns, so expect plenty of haggis, whisky and bagpipes!
BBQs and free recipe tasting events
Thanks to our partnership with caterers Thomas Franks, we’re also able to host free recipe tasting and new product sampling events throughout the academic year. Recently, we hosted a Tex-Mex BBQ street food event and a Barista coffee and cake event in our Millennium Garden.
Who wants
coffee?
Edspresso, our on-site coffee shop serves barista coffee, iced lattes, salads, deli sandwiches, fresh pastries and cakes, as well as a range of soft drinks and snacks. For coffee lovers, we offer coffee of the month, coffee and cake deals, and access to a loyalty scheme.
Edspresso is open weekdays, Monday to Friday (8.00am to 6.00pm) and on Saturdays (11.00am to 3.00pm)
Sustainability is at the heart of our cooking
Sustainability is incredibly important to us, which is why we use seasonal fruit and vegetables where possible. Our coffee is supplied by Mozzo coffee, a ‘fairtrade’ company that invests in the Community2Community fund. Through its mission of equity, education and environment, it ensures farmers receive a fair wage, and coffee is farmed sustainably.
