Formal (university)

Formal Hall or Formal Meal is the traditional meal held at some of the older universities in the United Kingdom at which students dress in formal attire and often gowns to dine. These are held commonly in the colleges of Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews and Durham, as well as at the halls of Nottingham, Exeter and Bristol.

The nature of Formals varies widely between the colleges and halls that hold them. In some colleges, Formals may be held every night, and are simply a second sitting of hall at which gowns are worn and grace is read. In other colleges, Formals may be special events to which guests from outside the college are frequently invited, often with themes and associated ents or "bops". In between these two extremes fall the great majority of colleges.

Terminology

The full name and abbreviations to describe the formals differ. Generally, though, they are known as:
* "Formal Hall" - common at Oxford, Cambridge and Durham
* "Formal Meal" or "Formal Dinner" - are also sometimes used

Abbreviations of the above terms tend to be either "Formal" or, at Cambridge in particular, "Hall". There are other circumstances in which different names are used. For example, some larger colleges have both a large dining hall and a canteen-style dining room (often called the "Buttery"). In these cases informal evening meals are taken in the Buttery and formal meals in the hall, and the term Hall is used uniquely to refer to the latter meal. Some may call it "Second Hall" to differentiate from the earlier self-service "First Hall" or "Informal Hall".

Traditions

Some colleges/halls have elaborate traditions, while others are more relaxed. The wearing of gowns at formals is compulsory at some colleges and various other traditions are usually observed, including grace said in Latin or English. The wearing of gowns may sometimes constitute the only dress code; in other cases formal wear (for example a lounge suit for men or equivalent for women) is required in addition to, or instead of, the gown.

The tradition of pennying is long established in most Cambridge, Oxford and Durham colleges/halls, although it often carries the risk of possible expulsion from the meal by staff members. A variation of the tradition is found at University College, Durham, where corks are used instead of pennies. In some Cambridge colleges, Smarties are used as an alternative, due to the request of the Kitchen Staff (pennies apparently being a problem in dishwashers).

Almost all Durham, Oxford and Cambridge college formal halls include a High Table, exclusively for the Senior Common Room of the college and their guests, with students eating at the lower tables. The high table is often raised above the floor level of the hall. A few of the more modern colleges (for example Linacre College, Oxford, Wolfson College, Cambridge, and Wolfson College, Oxford) have discontinued (or never had) this practice, in order to promote equality between fellows and students.

There may be one or more after dinner speakers at the end of the dinner or even between courses if it is a special occasion.

See also

* Informal hall
* Gaudy