Queen's Now

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This year’s Old Members’ Dinner will take place on Saturday 19 September.

After a couple of years of rapid sell-outs of the Dinner, and following feedback from Old Members, we are trialling a ballot for tickets for the event.

To be included in the ballot, please complete the online form here, by 11:59pm on Sunday 5 July. The ballot will be drawn in the following week via random allocation.

​If you are one of the Old Members allocated a place, we will email you with a link to pay for your place and formally confirm your attendance. You will also be able to book overnight B&B accommodation in College for the night of 19 September (additional charges apply).

Event information

Due to the continuing popularity of this dinner, we are only able to take bookings from Old Members (no guests). If you would not be able to attend without the assistance of a guest, please include this information on the ballot form.

For information, places will cost £75 per person for a 5-course dinner including wine. There is a discount available to ‘New Old Members’ who matriculated in or after 2016 at £45 per person.

B&B rooms are available in College, for the Saturday night only, at an extra charge of £60 per person. Twin (not double) rooms are available. Breakfast in Hall is included. Check-in from 2pm, check out by 10am prompt.

Evensong will be sung by alumni of The Queen’s College Choir this year, as the current singers will still be away on tour.

NEW for 2026: Beer Cellar
Responding to feedback from Old Members, we are trialling the use of the Beer Cellar at the end of the evening. After the post-dinner drinks in the SCR, you will be able to carry on your conversations at the pay-as-you-go bar (card payments only) until 1.30am (last orders at 1am).

Dress code: Black tie preferred.

Programme

SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

We are still finalising the afternoon programme and will provide more information in due course. 
6.15pm Evensong in Chapel
7.00pm Pre-dinner drinks in the Upper Library
7.30pm 5-course dinner in Hall
9.30pm Post-dinner drinks, Senior Common Room
11.30pm Final drinks in the Beer Cellar before close
1.30am Carriages

SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER
8.00am – 9.30am Breakfast in the Hall
8.45am Holy Communion in Chapel

Please note that this event coincides with Meeting Minds, the University-wide alumni weekend. Do look out for interesting sessions at new Life and Mind Building and at colleges and departments across Oxford from 18-20 September. Registration for Meeting Minds will open shortly.

We will celebrate the Ten Years Later-ish Lunch on Saturday 21 November 2026 for Old Members who matriculated in the 2015 and 2016.

Please save the date. Booking will open in autumn.

The lunch marks the passing of ten years (ish!) since matriculation and is an excellent opportunity for Old Members to return to College and meet up with friends. 

If you have any further questions, please contact the Old Members’ Office.

SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER
12.30pm  Drinks in the Upper Library
1.00pm   Lunch (Dress code: Business casual)
2.30pm Beer Cellar open until 4.30pm

We will celebrate our traditional Needle and Thread Gaudy on Saturday 9 January 2027 for Old Members who matriculated in the years 1980 or 1981.

Please save the date. Booking will open in autumn.

Traditionally held at the beginning of the New Year, this dinner involves the College’s Bursar threading a needle into each guest’s jacket and advising them to be thrifty in the coming year. Needles were historically popular as Christmas gifts but it is thought that this Gaudy’s customs are a pun on the College founder’s name, Eglesfield – the French words ‘aiguilles et fils’ meaning needles and threads.

The Gaudy dinner is free of charge. B&B is available for Saturday 9 January at £60pppn.

Please note that due to space restrictions in Hall, this is an Old Member only event (for matriculation years 1980 and 1981).

SATURDAY 9 JANUARY

  4.00pm   Tea & cake in the Shulman Auditorium
  4.30pm   Welcome
  6.30pm   Drinks in the Upper Library
  7.00pm   Dinner (Black Tie)

SUNDAY 10 JANUARY

  8.15–9.45am   Breakfast in Hall
  8.45am    Holy Communion

We will celebrate our traditional Boar’s Head Gaudy on Saturday 19 December 2026 for Old Members who matriculated in the years 1990 or 1991.

Invitations to join the ballot for places will be sent in September.

The programme will begin with tea and Christmas cake in the Shulman Auditorium, followed by a recital of seasonal music in Chapel with the College Choir.

The Gaudy is combined with the Boar’s Head Ceremony, which takes place before dinner. Guests are asked to assemble in Hall by 6.25pm when the Boar’s Head will make its ceremonial entrance.

After the Ceremony, champagne will be served in the Upper Library, followed by dinner at 7.15pm. Holy Communion will be celebrated in Chapel on Sunday morning.

The Gaudy dinner is free of charge. B&B is available for Saturday 19 December at £60pppn.

Please note that due to space restrictions in Hall, this is an Old Member only event (for matriculation years 1990 and 1991).

Programme

SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER

  3.30pm   Tea & cake in the Shulman Auditorium
  4.00pm   Welcome
  5.45pm   Recital of Seasonal Music in Chapel
  6.30pm   Boar’s Head Ceremony
  6.45pm   Drinks in the Upper Library
  7.15pm   Dinner (Black Tie)

SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER

  8.15 – 9.45am   Breakfast in the Hall
  8.45am    Holy Communion

We will celebrate the Jubilee Matriculation Lunch on Saturday 17 October 2026 for Old Members who matriculated in the years 1956, 1966, 1976.

Please save the date. Booking will open in August.

SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER

The event commences at 12noon for the commemorative photograph, but refreshments will be available from 11.30am for guests arriving early.

12:00 Commemorative photograph
12:30  Drinks in the Upper Library
13:00  Lunch (Dress code: Lounge suits)

Lunch is free of charge for Old Members.
If you would like to bring a guest, please register their details when booking. Tickets for guests are £30.