Food and drink

Eating together is central to College life at Magdalen. The kitchen staff are keen to cook food, as far as possible, to meet all students’ dietary needs. In addition to meat and fish options, there is always a cooked vegetarian option available at breakfast, lunch and dinner. During the day, the Old Kitchen Bar also serves a wide range of snacks so that students can choose whatever baguettes, panini, salads, soup, jacket potatoes or cakes appeal. Information about the allergen content of prepared food is made available in advance. College is also able to provide meals for students who require vegan, allergen-free, kosher or halal food- please just let the chefs know your needs in advance when booking, or by emailing kitchen@magd.ox.ac.uk

We welcome all Student Members and look forward to you using and enjoying the Catering services we have to offer.

Most students eat in Hall or the Old Kitchen Snack Bar once or twice a day, and cook the other meal or meals for themselves. Between £10 and £12 per day for three College meals is average, thus the cost of meals only for a 59-night term would be approximately £600; around £680 including the fixed charge. There are also kitchen facilities throughout College accommodation.

There is a termly fixed charge for catering. The 2022-23 rate for students living in College accommodation is £81.10 per term. The 2022-23 rate for students not living in College accommodation is £40.50 per term.

The OKB and Terrace (The Old Kitchen Bar)

The Snack Bar is open 6 days a week Monday to Saturday from 10:00am until 6:00pm offering a selection of light snacks, made to order.

Pizzas are available 7 days a week 2:00pm until 5:00pm and 7:00pm until 9:00pm

The Bar is open 7 days a week 6:00pm until 11:30pm, last orders 11:00pm

There is no need to pre-book to dine or take away snacks served in the OKB.

Buttery Meals – ‘Dine in Hall’ or for ‘Takeaway’

Meals MUST be pre-booked or cancelled in advance of the booking cut off times in order to assist the kitchen to plan ahead.   This reserves a space only at time of booking and actual payment is taken against your University Card linked to your UPay account at the till.  It is important to have sufficient funds loaded to your Upay account in advance of coming to the Buttery for meals, to prevent any delays.   Alternatively you can pay by contactless debit card but we do not accept cash.

If you arrive without a booking, you will be turned away to the end of the service to ensure the kitchen do not run out of food for those who have pre-booked.

If you pre-book but do not show for a meal, we will have  catered for you and a charge of £6.13 will be made against your UPay account, the average spend of a two course meal with bottled water.

MEAL SERVICECUT-OFF TIME FOR BOOKINGS AND CANCELLATIONSAVAILABLE
All Buttery services are for  ‘Dine in Hall’ or ‘Takeaway’ Pre-booked Buttery Breakfast: 08:00 to 09:30 Pre-booked Buttery Lunch:                     12:00 to 13:30 Pre-booked Buttery Dinner:             18:00 to 19:00    19:30 the evening before  10:00 on the day  Midday on the day Monday to SaturdayMidday Saturday for Sunday   Monday to Saturday  Monday to Saturday   Sunday to Saturday 

Menus/Allergen templates are uploaded to the on line meal booking system two weekly for event bookings.

We endeavour to produce the menu as advertised but advise dishes may be subject to change at short notice as a result of supply or delivery issues of some products due to the Covid-19 pandemic.   We can cater for specific food allergies with advance notice.   When you book on line, please enter details in the box   “Enter your special requirements here …..”

Contact Numbers:  Buttery 01865 (2)76018                         Kitchen (01865 (2)76032

Formal Hall – Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday plus Special Formal Halls

Reservations can be booked, edited or cancelled up until the booking time closure.

13:00 Friday for Sunday – 13:00 Tuesday for Wednesday – 13:00 Wednesday for Thursday

13.00 – Thursday for Friday and 13:00 Thursday for Saturday Special Formal Hall Events

Money is deducted at time of booking for members and their guests from your UPay account.

Whilst all Catering offers are back to the normal, pre-Covid services, we would encourage you to please continue to wear face coverings whilst moving or queueing in congested catering areas.  Once seated, face masks can be removed.   Perspex screens remain in place in the Buttery, OKB Snack and bar servery areas. The catering staff have been requested to continue to wear face coverings and gloves for both Food Safety/Health and Safety controls, minimising any potential risks of cross contamination whilst serving our members.  These Covid safety measures will be kept under ongoing review and may be adjusted to ensure the welfare of all College members.

Catering Office:  Monday to Friday 7:30am until 2:30pm TEL: 76049 Email: catering@magd.ox.ac.uk

Out of hours, please contact: kitchen@magd.ox.ac.uk    buttery@magd.ox.ac.uk   butler@magd.ox.ac.uk

Students with a disability
The College has a lift to the dining hall with a capacity of 600kg. The OKB is level, going from the Cloisters, and has plenty of room for wheelchairs. It is regretted however that the riverside terrace is not accessible being down three steps.