High Table

Please make a provisional booking online if you would like to dine at High Table on one of the specified dates available to alumni.

We ask the following on the booking form:

• Date you would like to dine
• Your name
• The name of any guests
• If you or your guests have any dietary requirements
• If you would like us to invite a particular Fellow to dine with you on the evening
• You will receive an email from the Alumni Office that you have been added to the list to dine.

High Table will not be held unless there is a presiding Fellow and sufficient diners. For this reason, confirmation that the dinner is going ahead may not be received until a few days before the date of the dinner.

• Undergraduate alumni are eligible for High Table dining privileges when they achieve their MA status, which is six years and one term after matriculation (provided that they are at least 24 years old), or have completed a higher degree at the University of Cambridge. (So in 2023, 2016 alumni become eligible.)
• Postgraduate alumni will continue to be eligible for High Table dining rights once they cease to be a student at Churchill College and have achieved their degree
• The minimum age requirement to dine at High Table is 17.

• Alumni dining privileges are for dining at High Table with the Fellowship.
• Dining privileges may also be used for special celebrations and subject dinners.
• Special Menu evenings and Feasts are by invitation only.
• Dining privileges cannot be used to ‘dine below’ (e.g. at a ‘formal’ with current students).

• Alumni are entitled to dine at High Table four times per calendar year at College expense.
• This can be allocated as four separate dinners by the individual or as two dinners by the individual and guest.
• It is possible, in exceptional circumstances, to bring up to three guests to High Table at your expense, but permission must be given by the President of the Senior Common Room (SCR).
• Alumni are welcome to dine at High Table more than four times, but will be charged for dinner after they use their allocation.

• There is currently no cost for dinner until alumni have dined four times per calendar year.

• You should meet in the SCR at 19:15 for drinks before dinner and introduce yourself, and guests, to the presiding Fellow.
• Dinner will begin promptly at 19:30.
• If invited by a Fellow to join the company after dinner you will be guided to the SCR for drinks, which must be signed for by writing your name on the list.
• When the Fellow retires you are kindly asked to vacate the SCR and are welcome to continue your evening in the Buttery.
• Large groups of alumni dining on special occasions (MA Graduation and Reunion Dinner, for example) will be expected to follow formal protocols for dining in Hall.

• The dress code is lounge suit/smart businesswear or equivalent.
• Gowns are not required for alumni but may be worn if wished.

The High Table booking system for alumni is not running during the summer vacation, as High Table cannot be guaranteed during this period. However, should you wish to dine at High Table with a Fellow, please do contact them directly.