Food & Drink
Food and drink is taken seriously at Peterhouse which is why there is a position on the JCR known as the Bar and Buttery Officer (or Beer and Battery Officer as some people call me.) After all, you can’t work hard and play hard on an empty stomach!
Peterhouse is fully catered, so all meals except for Sunday breakfast and lunch can be provided by the college kitchens and eaten in the hall (the oldest university building in Cambridge, we’re told). Meals are served via a canteen-style arrangement and paid for using your swipe-card which puts the cost of what you eat onto your college bill at the end of term. The quality of food is generally good but you do get off days. Drawbacks are that you have to pay about £117 ‘kitchen fixed charge’ per term for the upkeep of the college kitchens and gyp rooms which are small, very basic kitchens in your accommodation area. They usually consist of a couple of electric rings, kettle, microwave, toaster, fridge and sandwich toaster. The ‘KFC’ as it’s known is paid by students at virtually all the Cambridge colleges and therefore not a drawback specific to Peterhouse. However, Peterhouse also stipulate that you must have a number of dinners in hall per term. Put very simply, if you eat 35 dinners in hall per 70 day term then you’re fine, but if you have more than 35 dinners out of hall in a term then you are charged £3.50 for every meal you miss. A bit of a pain but providing you eat every other dinner in hall, you won’t be charged. Provisions for students with special dietary requirements are made and are especially good for vegetarians. For those observing Kosher and Halal rules, there are separate fridges and kitchens to cater for you. However, the canteen itself is not geared up for this unfortunately.
Formal hall is a second sitting for dinner at 7.30pm again in the hall, every night of the week. It’s a 3 course waited dinner and costs just £4.50 at the moment. Gowns must be worn and wine must be bought from the college bar, but it really is enjoyable. We’re lucky at Peterhouse because it’s available every night whereas at other colleges it’s as infrequent as once a week. You’re also allowed to bring guests.
A few times a term, ‘super halls’ are organised which are a better version of formal hall. They’re more expensive but the food it more interesting (often themed, for example Burns night etc.) and better quality. Black tie is encouraged. These are very popular and always fully booked.
The college bar is relatively cheap when compared to pubs in Cambridge. A bitter costs £1.80 and lager costs £2 a pint. There’s a fair range of wines for formal hall (or just to drink in the bar) starting at £4 a bottle. The college bar is not the biggest in Cambridge but has a good atmosphere and is very friendly. It’s certainly a good starting point for getting to know everybody. Drinks in the bar can also be charged to the college bill with your swipe-card if you wish, which is useful if you’re out of cash. The bar opens at 6pm and last orders are normally at 11pm unless on a Sunday when it’s 10.30pm. Late night opening does not look like it will find its way to Peterhouse and unfortunately the bar is closed on a Monday night at the moment. This could soon change, however.
All in all, Peterhouse is a great place to eat and drink in! In all seriousness though, we are the envy of many other colleges and a formal at Peterhouse is something which is highly sought-after.
John Dalton
Bar and Buttery Officer 2005-2006
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