Catered residences

If you want the convenience of all your main meals being prepared for you and the reassurance that all your food bills and utilities are budgeted for in your rent, then why not consider catered halls? You can find your perfect catered residence by browsing this section and looking at the individual residence pages.

Meals

• Your rent includes a total of 16 meals per week throughout term time: breakfast and an evening meal seven days a week, with the addition of brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. 
• Dining facilities are based in the residence where you live or within a couple of minutes walk. You collect your meal from the servery area then join your fellow students in the dining area to eat. Meal times can be a great social time to catch up with friends or time out to refuel and relax.
• A vegetarian choice is available at every service and at least one vegan choice every dinner.
• Those with special dietary requirements or food allergies should speak with the Reception Team prior to arrival, who will put you in touch with our helpful Chefs to work with your requirements.
• We strive to source Halal certified or "Halal-sourced" meat for specific menu items but cannot promote Halal options exclusively as we do not operate separate kitchens. We are unable to provide Kosher meals.
• Please contact any of the catered halls residence receptions (Exeter Halls, Holland Hall or Birks) to discuss any specific requirements or if you have any meal suggestions, which we love to hear.
• In addition to our standard meal service, we also organise a range of themed meals throughout the year.
• Our Flickr image gallery shows typical examples of the food which is served in catered halls.
• If you have an unavoidable commitment and are unable to attend a meal time, please complete the relevant form (Dinner or Breakfast) to request a replacement meal.

In our catered accommodation, you'll find the following services and facilities:

• Access to a utility area which will usually have a sink, microwave and work surfaces for preparing drinks and light snacks.
• Mini-fridge in your room to store perishables.
• Some residences have a communal area with a TV (a limited cleaning service is provided in communal areas), study area, bike storage, tennis courts or other facilities.
• Paid laundry facilities on some sites within close walking distance - for more details please see the 'Laundrette facilities' section of our our Residence Information. 
• Members of the Residence Life Team are available for help and advice on welfare and other matters.
• Insurance cover for your personal belongings - find out more on our Residence Information page under the Insurance section.
• Heating, lighting and water charges are included in the cost.

The university do not provide bed linen, so you will need to bring your own or buy it when you're here. You can order bedding and bathroom items to be delivered directly to your residence and have waiting for you upon arrival via UniKitOut. Please read our Moving In Checklist 2022 for more details of the items you might want to bring.

If you like the sound of catered halls but would prefer more flexibility and options for cooking, then you could opt for self-catered accommodation and purchase a Meal Deal Package Card. These allow you to enjoy any 7 meals in our catered residences for a fixed price and can be brought via the online store (link will be live during term time). 

We always use halal fresh chicken in our dishes. We don’t use ruminant meat in any of our dishes. The other meats we use, which there are a small proportion, that arrive frozen and/or already prepared i.e. burgers, hotdogs etc cannot be guaranteed as halal. On average, each week, 6 of the 7 dinners contain halal products.