A. The MCR can be found on Staircase 35.

A. All MCR members should be able to access the MCR by using their Bod Card. The Porters (at the Lodge) will be happy to ensure the permissions on your bod card are correct.

A. The MCR is open and accessible 24/7, though you are asked to be quiet after 10pm. (Note, however, that the gate onto the island site from Oriel St. closes at midnight, after which the site is accessible via the tunnel between the second and third quads.)

A. Yes, guests are always welcome! If you’re bringing more than 5, though, you need permission from the MCR President and the Deans. (A friendly e-mail is all you need.) Further, per the Standing Orders, only 2 JCR guests are permitted without prior approval by the President.

A. It is the duty of all MCR members to help wash-up their own dishes and cups, as well as run the dishwasher when it is full.

A. Nothing! The MCR provides coffee, tea & refreshments free of charge to all of its members. We ask that members use this fairly. (If the coffee or tea isn’t to your liking, try sending an e-mail to the MCR Manager.)

A. Scream. Or, if something in the MCR has run out, please let the MCR Manager know by e-mail, and it will be replenished. Likewise, if you notice damage to, or a maintenance issue with something in the MCR, send a message to the MCR Manager. In the absence of an MCR Manager, send an email to the Vice-President.

A. Yes. For WiFi, both the Oriel College members connection, and OWL/Eduroam are available in the MCR.

A. 😉 There are 3 radiators in the main room of the MCR, one in every corner except by the door. You can turn them off easily and also open the windows (though do remember to shut them when you leave).

A. The Bar is open at the leisure of the MCR Bar Manager, normally a maximum of 3 days per week. One of those days is always Sunday, for Second Desserts (after Formal Hall, see below); Friday and Tuesday nights are also common. The usual opening hours are 8pm-Midnight.

A. The MCR Bar accepts both cash and cards. MCR Members can also charge drinks to their College Battels via their Bod Cards.

A. Yes, if you are having guests and would like to have the bar open, you’ll need the consent of the President and Bar Manager (but you were going to contact the President anyway, since you’re bringing guests).

A. Yes! Just e-mail the Bar Manager. We can’t guarantee every request will be filled, of course, but we’ll try our best.

A. After every Sunday Formal Hall, the MCR hosts Second Desserts in the MCR (usually circa 20:30). The Bar is open, and members are treated to a varied assortment of fruit, cheese, and cakes.

You are not required to attend Formal Hall in order to come to Second Desserts!

A. Exchange Dinners, organised by the MCR Social Secretaries, are dinners with other Oxford Colleges, featuring both an “away” and “return” leg. During the “away” dinner, a group of us travels to another College, where we have pre-dinner drinks, formal dinner in their Hall, and have drinks afterwards in their bar. The “return” dinner, usually about a week later, consists of us inviting them back to Oriel, where we treat them to a similar evening.

A. Once per term, usually around 6th week, the MCR invites its members and guests to a lavish night in College on a Friday evening. The evening starts with pre-dinner champagne in Champney’s Room, which continues on to a five-course (formal) meal in Hall.

Finally, a particularly indulgent Second Desserts is held in the MCR Study Room (above the MCR), with the Bar open and serving drinks.

A. All meals but Formal Hall (Dinner) are casual. Formal Hall requires jacket and tie Monday through Fridays, and a suit and tie on Sundays, with similarly appropriate attire for women. Members of Oriel College are also required to wear a gown to Formal Hall. Guest Night is black tie.

A. Hall dinners, both formal and informal, must be booked in advance (with bookings opening two weeks in advance, and closing at 11:00am on the day), as must Sunday brunch. Lunch and breakfast (except Sunday, as mentioned) need not be booked.
The booking system is linked in the “Current Students” section in the right-hand column, on the Oriel College website, and right here. You need to have registered as an Oxford University student, and have your University of Oxford Single Sign-On (SSO) username and password, to use the meal booking system.

A. Breakfasts and Sunday Brunch are the same each day; however, lunch and dinner menus change each week. The menu is linked from the meal booking system.