Food

Food at Lincoln

Hall

The Hall is Lincoln’s chief term-time refectory and is located in Front Quad, a spectacular piece of fifteenth century architecture decorated with portraits of past fellows. At the top of hall is High Table (not very high, just situated on a slight dais, but you get the idea) where the fellows and their guests eat.

During Full Term meals are available at the following times:

The menus for First Hall and Second Hall are identical, and cost the same (generally £3.95 for three courses for college members, about twice that for guests). This year, each MCR member (excluding Associate members) is charged £67 per term as a kitchen fee on the term’s battels (college bills). In return, College allows you to eat for up to this amount for free in a ‘pay as you eat’ system. In other words, at the beginning of each term, your BOD card will be topped up with £67 worth of meals, which you can use to pay for breakfasts, lunches and dinners from the beginning of 0th week till the end of 9th week. This credit can also be used to pay for your guests at breakfasts and lunches. However, you will be charged separately (on your next battels) when you bring guests to dinners, attend special meals (such as MCR dinners), or consume meals after already having spent the £67. If you do not eat for up to £67 during the 10 weeks of term, you will not be able to claim the difference the following term.

Menus are posted on a notice-board in the lodge every week, and also on this website. First Hall is informal — dress however you like, while Second Hall is formal — you can still dress however you like, but must put a gown on over the top, and grace is said at the beginning of the meal (see the bottom of this page for the text of the grace). Turning up early is recommended, as is eating very quickly — unless you want the plate snatched from under your nose before you’ve finished!

During Vacations, lunch and dinner are usually available in Hall, but times are more variable than during term, and you need to sign up in advance at the lodge.

The official College website will inform you that Lincoln’s food is the best in Oxford. This probably isn’t true, but it’s certainly not the worst either – it’s usually of a decent standard, and at £3.95 for three courses one can’t expect too much. Don’t apply here on the basis of the food, but don’t let it put you off either!

Deep Hall

Deep Hall 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 is in charge.

Deep Hall is essentially a members club (of which we’re all of course members) and so is subsidised to an extent – it’s far cheaper than any other non-college bar in Oxford. It also offers a lunch menu of sandwiches, burgers and baguettes during term, as well as chocolate, crisps and soft drinks. Payment is by cash only, but there is an automatic cash machine. Pool, table football, darts, pinball and arcade machines are available.

Opening times:
Monday-Saturday 10:30-14:00 and 17:30-23:00
Sunday 19:00-22:30

Snack lunches are served from 11:30-13:30 Monday-Friday in term-time.

MCR Food Representatives

The JCR and MCR have recently passed motions to reinstate the position of ‘Food Representatives’, who are elected to represent the gastronomic interests of the JCR and MCR before the College. Practically, this means meeting with Chef regularly to give feedback on what we think about the food in Hall, and making suggestions for how this could be improved.

The current MCR Food Rep is Jerome Ma – please email him with any comments or suggestions that you would like her to pass on to Chef. (Please note that this only applies to the food served in Hall – any correspondance relating to the food at MCR dinners or other such events should be directed to the Social Secretaries).

The College Grace

The grace is read in Latin before second hall is served. It is usually read by a member of the JCR or MCR, and if you read it twice in a term you get a bottle of wine from College. 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.