Life at Merton: Food & Drink
Eating together is an important part of Merton’s communal life. The Hall provides a stunning setting in the city of Oxford, graduates eat alongside undergraduates, the staff are friendly, and the food is excellent as well as good value. You can even keep up with what's cooking via the Merton Kitchen Facebook page.
- Meal need to be pre booked (except breakfast) through the EPOS system a day prior by 10.30a.m., for Weekend by Friday 10.30a.m. and Monday meals by 10.30 on Saturday
- College cater for vegetarian, vegan, kosher and halal diets and for those with the 14 main food allergies. Our small range of kosher meals are prepared off site (halal meal done in College) and are frozen ready to be reheated on request.
- Optional Formal Hall occurs more frequently than in many Colleges and is very popular
- Meals are available throughout the year, with closures confined to short periods at Christmas and Easter
- Over a substantial part of the Long Vacation, the Fellows, Lecturers and graduates take meals together
- There are places for graduates at every High Table Guest Night in term
Dining Hall meals
Breakfast –a varied continental selection featuring daily specials such as croissants, pain au chocolat, bacon rolls, and more. This is accompanied by an assortment of cereals, toast, boiled eggs, porridge, fresh fruit, and homemade Greek-style yogurt, all served with your choice of tea or coffee.
Brunch - a hearty meal served on Sundays in place of breakfast and lunch.
Lunch - includes soup, a main course, salad bar, sweet treat and fruit.
Early Supper - comprises a main course and dessert.
Formal Hall - this includes three courses. All students are required to wear gowns.
Daily meal charges for 2025-26
- Breakfast: £2.60
- Lunch: £4.73
- Dinner (supper & formal Hall): £5.82
Kitchen Facilities
There are three large kitchens on the main site for student use, as well as kitchen facilities available in the Holywell Street accommodation.
Bar
The College Bar provides a relaxed and informal environment for all members of the College to socialise. It offers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Mealtimes
| Michaelmas | Term Time – week 0 | |
| Meal | Days | Times |
| Breakfast (no need to book) | Monday to Saturday | 8.30 a.m. – 9.00 a.m. |
| Lunch | Monday to Saturday | 12.15 p.m. - 1.45 p.m. |
| Sunday Brunch 12 October | 11.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. | |
| Early Supper | Monday to Saturday 06-11 October Sunday 12 October | Supper 6.00 p.m. – 7.00p.m. Supper 6.00 p.m. – 6.30p.m. |
First Formal Hall (priority for Freshers’) | Sunday 12 October | Formal Hall 7.30 p.m. |
Important: Collections | Fri 10 and 11 October Breakfast Lunch |
8.15 a.m. – 9.00 a.m. 12.45 p.m. -1.45p.m. |
Important:
| Monday, 06 October - JCR Freshers' Welcome Supper - ONLY! Tuesday, 07 October - Undergraduates Admission Dinner | |
| Term Time – week 1 -8 | ||
| Breakfast (no need to book) | Monday to Saturday | 8.15 a.m. - 9.15 a.m. |
| Lunch | Monday to Saturday | 12.15 p.m. - 1.45 p.m. |
| Sunday Brunch | 11.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. | |
Early Supper Week 1-7 | Monday/Wednesday/ Saturday Tuesday/Thursday/Friday Sunday | Supper 6.00 p.m. – 7.00p.m. Supper 6.00 p.m. – 6.30p.m. |
| Formal Hall | Tuesday/Thursday/Friday | Formal Hall 7.15 p.m. |
| Sunday | Formal Hall 7.30 p.m. | |
Important:
| Monday, 13 October - Graduates Admission Dinner Sunday, 26 October - College Event – Postmaster Dinner Saturday, 15 November - College Event – Merton Family Lunch Saturday, 29 November – College Ball | |
JCR/MCR Guest Nights Black Tie Dinners | Friday, 17 October - Week 1 - JCR Guest Night Friday, 24 October - Week 2 - MCR Guest Night Friday, 31October - Week 3 – Halloween Formal - Charity Formal Friday, 7 November - Week 4 - JCR Black Tie Dinner Friday, 14 November - Week 5 - MCR Black Tie Dinner Friday, 21 November - Week 6 - JCR Guest Night Friday, 28 November - Week 7 - MCR Guest Night | |
Week 8 Christmas Formals
| Tuesday, 2 Dec- JCR – no guests Wednesday, 3 Dec – Choir, JCR/MCR – no guests Thursday, 4 Dec – MCR – no guests Friday, 5 Dec - JCR/MCR – one guest allows | |
| College BOP’S | Saturday 11 October 2025 Saturday 15 November 2025 Friday 5 December 2025 | |
| Themes Events: | Tuesday, 21 October - Diwali Formal Friday, 31 October - Halloween Formal Thursday, 27 November - Thanksgiving Formal Sunday, 30 November - St Davids Day Formal | |
- For more information’s related to meal timetable please visit EPOS Booking System.