Food - Lincoln College MCR

There are two places to eat in college: Hall (in Front Quad) and Deep Hall (the college bar). Both are very popular with both the JCR and MCR. Hall offers breakfast, lunch and dinner every day during term (no dinner on Saturdays) and throughout the vacation, and Deep Hall offers light lunches during term-time (not weekends).

Hall

The Hall (often just called “Hall”) is is the main place to eat in college. It offers breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday (no dinner on Saturdays) and brunch on Sunday. It is located in Front Quad, and is a spectacular piece of fifteenth century architecture, decorated with portraits of past fellows. It is the only hall in Oxford with the original roof. At the top of hall is High Table (on a slight dais) where the fellows and their guests eat.

Guests in Hall
You are allowed to take three guests to lunch in Hall Monday – Friday. You can bring three guests to dinner in Hall Monday – Friday. You can pay for guests on your Bod Card. On Sundays officially you are not permitted to take guests to dinner (though this is a custom more honoured in the breach than in the observance), but you can sign up a guest to Brunch. Thursdays of even weeks we have Great Hall: an extra special four-course dining experience to which you can also bring up to three guests - signups open at 8am Monday morning.

Menu
The kitchen staff like to cater to our preferences, so you can submit your favourite recipes to the Chef for him to showcase on the Menu.

Deep Hall

Deep Hall or Deepers is the name of Lincoln College’s subterranean bar. Cosy and relaxed with little nooks and crannies to hide yourself in, it is a great place to come and grab a drink after dinner. It is located directly below the Main Hall in the old wine cellars, and is accessible via Staircase 10 or from Grove Quad. Simon the Barman (“SF”) and Laura are in charge.

Deep Hall is subsidised so is far cheaper than any non-college bar or coffee shop in Oxford!

Dinners in Hall

There are two dinner services in Hall Monday - Friday. The menu for First and Second Hall is identical, and cost the same. Details of times and prices can be found here. For First Hall you can dress however you like, while Second Hall requires a gown over the top. It is not a 'formal' dinner however — you can still dress however you like. In Trinity it is not uncommon to see students wearing shorts and polo shirts with a gown over the top! Grace is said in Latin at the beginning of the meal. Turning up early is recommended, as is eating very quickly — unless you want the plate snatched from under your nose before you’ve finished! If you wish to dwell a little longer, you can continue to digest and discuss in the medieval hall after service finishes for Second Hall.

Grace
A member of the JCR or MCR will read grace at the beginning of Second Hall – the kitchen scouts give it to whoever asks first, but like to ask experienced readers early on in the year. At the end of term, you will get half a bottle of wine from College for each time you have read grace that term. It is worth trying at least once! The text is as follows:

Benignissime Pater, qui providentia tua regis, liberalitate pascis et benedictione conservas omnia quae creaveris, benedicas nobis, te quaesumus, et hisce creaturis in usum nostrum, ut illae sanctificatae sint et nobis salutares, et nos, inde corroborati, magis apti reddamur ad omnia opera bona; in laudem tui nominis aeterni, per Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum, Amen.

Or, in translation:
Most gracious Father, who by thy providence rulest, in thy generosity feedest, and by thy blessing preservest all that thou hast created; bless us, we beseech thee, and these creatures for our use, so that they may be hallowed and of benefit to us, and we, strengthened thereby, may be rendered fitter for all good works; to the praise of thy eternal name, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Meal Booking
College have an online booking system – sign-up using the links here (accessed using your Lincoln username - e.g. linc#### and password). This is used to book Formal Hall (2nd Hall) meals and Sunday Brunch. Additionally, if you have any allergies or dietary requirements (excluding vegetarian) you will need to book all meals. Bookings should be made by 10am the same day (10am Friday for Weekend meals).

If you’ve booked a special meal, remember to pick up a coloured card with your dietary requirement on the way into dinner, so that the serving staff can bring you the right plate!

Vacations
During Vacations, breakfast, lunch and dinner are usually available in Hall. There is no second hall, and you need to sign up online before 10am for lunch and dinner on the day you wish to eat (by 10am on Friday for weekend meals).

MCR High Table Dining Rights
MCR members are entitled to dine at High Table once per week at their own expense. You sign up through the online booking system in the same way. You are not permitted to bring guests, with the exception of the Junior Deans and Senior Scholars.

Payment

Each MCR member (excluding Associate members) is charged £100.30 per term (2022-23) as a kitchen charge on each term’s battels (college bills). This acts as credit on your Bod card, which you can use to pay for breakfasts, lunches (in both Hall and Deep Hall) and dinners from the beginning of 0th week until the end of 9th week as well as soft drinks in Deep Hall. For prices see this page. This credit can also be used to pay for your guests.

However, you will be charged separately (on your battels) when you attend special meals (such as MCR dinners). If you don’t use up the charge during the 10 weeks of term, the excess will be carried over to the next term. However, at the end of the academic year, any unused credit will not be able to be refunded. If you spend more than your meal credit, you will be batteled for the amount of food exceeding your meal credit.

Special Dinners in Hall

Vacation meal times

Great Hall
A special dinner in Hall open to the JCR, MCR and SCR. The three course meal is followed by a cheese board and port.
– Frequency: 4 per term (Thursdays of even weeks).
– Price: £9.35
– Booking: on Monday at 8am (even weeks). Booking via the normal online booking system (link on this page)
– Two guests allowed per person
Chapter Day
A special dinner commemorating the benefactors of the College. It is a really nice four course meal with wine.
– Frequency: 1 in Michaelmas Term, 1 in Trinity Term.
– Fun fact: these mark the first and last times of the year a fire is allowed to be lit in the Hall fireplace.
– Price: normal price for dinner in hall
– Booking: sign up opens a roughly week in advance. You will be notified by email. Booking via the normal online booking system
– No guests allowed