Formals

Download a Formal Guide

What are Formals?

Formals are formal three course meals held typically once a fortnight (usually either on a Tuesday or Friday evening) in Hatfield’s Dining Hall. They often have a theme that helps to celebrate the various aspects of the College such as Hatfield Day, Founders formal, International formal, and many more.

Hatfield is a gowned college, which means we all wear gowns at formals. You can buy a gown via this link from the MCR. There are various traditions involved in the formals but those are customarily discovered only when one attends for the first time. It’s all a part of the fun!

If you are sensitive to noise, please bring earplugs!

It has already been a great start to the formal year! To keep the momentum going, here is a guide to Hatfield Formals, which may help to clarify certain aspects about how formals work. This is with the aim of making formals run smoothly and enjoyably!

Please read the following information about formals. If you have any questions, please email hatfield.mcrvicepresident@durham.ac.uk.

Buying tickets:

  • Please only book formal tickets using the MCR link circulated by email/social media. Do not use JCR or SCR links.

    • If you have accidentally booked an SCR or JCR ticket please get in touch ASAP.

  • Please only sign up for the package relevant to your status within the MCR:

Bringing drinks into the hall:

  • You can only bring in wine and elderflower press that is purchased from the Hatfield Bar Staff (either from the bar or from under the chapel).

  • Any other alcohol brought into the hall/bar is in breach of the Hatfield College alcohol licensing which is illegal.

  • Please do not open the wine/elderflower press purchased from the Hatfield Bar Staff until you have entered the Dining Hall. Opened bottles will be confiscated at formal sign-in.

Formal rules:

  • Please see the below document for the list of formal rules.

  • The rules are in place to make sure that formals run smoothly, cost-effectively, and to make our best effort to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time.

  • If you break formal rules the JCR Exec Officer in charge of discipline, any member of the MCR Exec, or the Hatfield Catering Staff may ask you to leave the hall and this may count as a missed formal which means you will be banned for the next 3 formals.

If you can no longer attend a formal:

  • Missing formals

    • If you miss a formal you will be banned from the following 3 formals. If you then miss another formal after your 3-formal-ban, you will be banned for the remainder of the academic year.

    • Please see the following sections for situations in which you cannot attend a formal.

  • Selling your ticket

    • If you have purchased a ticket and can no longer attend, you may sell your ticket to another Hatfield MCR member of the same “Package” as you. If you are an Ordinary Member, you can only sell your ticket to another Ordinary Member. If you have bought a Postgraduate ticket you can sell your ticket to an Ordinary Member (levy-payer) or an Associate Member (non-levy payer). If you are a catered student, you can only sell your ticket to another catered student. You cannot sell your ticket to a member of a different college if they will not be the ‘guest’ of a Hatfield MCR member.

    • Once you have sold your ticket, you must inform the MCR Exec who you sold your ticket to by emailing hatfield.mcr@durham.ac.uk.

  • If you cannot attend a formal and have not succeeded in selling your ticket, you must inform the MCR Exec by emailing hatfield.mcr@durham.ac.uk ASAP. This is a matter of courtesy, and you will still be banned if you miss more than one formal unless it involves a serious adverse circumstance

Sign in:

  • Please sign in with the MCR Exec officer at the door to the right of the main door to the Dining hall. Sign in will begin at 6.35pm. Please make sure not to join the JCR queue, as they have a separate system.

  • Once you have signed in please do not leave and return as you will already have been ticked off the list and may not be let back in. If you wish to purchase wine (see below section for more information), please do so before signing in.

  • Doors close at 6.55pm. You will not be allowed to sign-in/enter the Dining hall after this time. This is strictly enforced. If you are late this will count as a missed formal, and you will be banned for the next 3 formals.

Formal guests:

  • You must accompany your guest at all times within College.

  • You are responsible for your guest. If they break formal rules or can no longer attend the formal, you are liable.

Formal attire:

  • Please see the bellow graphic of what is suitable formal wear (suit and tie, dress, formal jumpsuit, traditional clothing, formal shoes…)

  • You must wear a Durham University gown. If you do not currently own a gown, you may purchase one from the MCR here.

  • You may borrow a gown

    • If you are an Ordinary Member of Hatfield MCR, borrowing a gown is free.

    • If you are an Associate Member or a guest, you can pay £5 to borrow a gown via the link included in each email about formal sign-up.

    • You will be asked for a piece of photo ID (preferably a Campus Card) that will be kept by a member of the Hatfield MCR Exec until the gown is returned.

    • Please return your gown promptly at the end of formal.

  • If you do not dress appropriately, you will be denied access to the hall. Denied access counts as a missed formal and you will still be banned.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

We hope to see you at many more formals in the future!

Last Year’s Formals