Food and drink

The Linacre Dining Hall is open throughout the year except, although there may be a reduced service during some short periods. Announcements will be made when this is the case.

Normal meal service is cafeteria (self-service) style, and the College attempts to cater for as wide a range of diets and preferences as is possible. By showing your University card at the till you will be entitled to student subsidised prices. Meals will be charged to your battels account.  The dining-hall also accepts payment by debit/credit card but this will not entitle you to subsidised prices.  Non-Reuben members pay by debit/credit card.

The standard pattern is of breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday-Friday. There are no meals on weekends and Bank Holidays. The cost varies according to what is eaten. Students may take as many or as few meals as they wish. Opening times are:

During Term Time

Monday and Friday

Breakfast: 7:30 – 9:00
Lunch: 12:00 – 13:30
Dinner: 18:30 – 19:30

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday:

Breakfast: 7:30 – 9:00
Lunch: 12:00 – 13:30
Dinner: 18:00 – 18:30 (Take away only)

Out of Term Time

Monday - Friday
Breakfast: 7:30 – 9:00
Lunch: 12:00 – 13:30
Dinner: 18:30 – 19:30

Students are encouraged to bring in guests and no signing-up is required for normal everyday meals. Only Reuben student members are entitled to the subsidised student prices. All guests and other members (e.g. ‘continuing members’), are charged nearer the full economic price for a meal; Value Added Tax (VAT) is chargeable on all non-student meals.

Formal Halls

There will be a Reuben Formal Hall dinner on Wednesday evenings (Weeks 3 - 8 in MT22) at 7.30 p.m. (preceded by an early takeaway evening meal from 6.00 - 6.30 p.m).

Sign-up sheets, menus and prices are on the Linacre website, and meals are to be booked online by 9am of the Monday before the Formal Hall.

Guests are limited to three per member and you are required to add the full name and dietary requirements of your guest at the time of booking. Week 4’s formal hall is known as Halfway Hall.  Instead of the usual 3 course meal, a 4 course meal would be served on that evening. 

Linacre College holds Linacre-only guest nights every Tuesday and Thursday in term. This means there will only be an early evening meal service on these nights.

Notes to Remember

• If you wish you sit near your guests, please arrive in plenty of time and secure a seat. Most spaces are allocated on a first come, first served basis. For some formal hall, a seating plan is prepared.
• You must add your guests’ full name and dietary requirements at the time of booking. Any entries that are not filled correctly may not be accepted.
• If you have stated a dietary requirement, please make yourself known to a member of the team to issue you a meal card to be placed in front of your when seated. Late dietary requests may not be accommodated.
• If you are not able to attend once you have signed up then please cancel before the closing date. Any changes after this date may still be charged.
• Wine is not included. Bring your own wine or alcohol.

Dining with Dinosaurs

In recognition that Reuben currently lacks its own dining spaces, and to promote intellectual exchange, Reuben students are being invited to dine on Thursday nights in term-time at the University’s Natural History Museum. These meals are available to Reuben students who attend the prior lecture, free of charge, with the expectation that diners will engage in discussion flowing from that lecture, during the meal, often with particular questions given by the speakers to be considered there. You must sign up for Dining with Dinosaurs through InkPath by midnight on the previous Monday. From Week 3 of Michaelmas Term, Reuben students can bring up to two guests at a cost of  £30 per guest (with the exception of Week 9, which is a student and fellows only event). Please note that guest tickets are limited and you may not always be able to bring guests. 

Cancellations, menu changes and changes to dietary requirements cannot be made after the booking deadline. If you are unable to attend after booking, you can transfer your place to another Reuben student, but please be aware that we cannot change the menu choice you made. If you have booked a guest and your guest cancels after the deadline, no refunds can be made.  You are welcome to find someone else, with the same dietary requirements to replace your guest.  Please let us know (president-pa@reuben.ox.ac.uk) know of any changes to your guests, and find the full terms and conditions here (2022/23).

College Bar

Reuben College will be using the bar at Linacre College until our buildings open. It is open from 12.00 noon to 2.00 p.m. and from 6.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. on weekdays and 7.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. at weekends. The bar is “Members Only” with drinks charged via the University card. Only on larger social events can non-members purchase drinks for cash.