What are Formals?
Formals are formal three course meals held typically once a week (usually either on a Tuesday or Friday evening) in the Hatfield College 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. For a full list of our formals in the present term, please visit the Formals Term Card.
Hatfield is a gowned college, which means we 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.
· Buying tickets:
o Please only book formal tickets using the MCR link circulated by email/social media. Do not use JCR or SCR links.
o Please only sign up for the package relevant to your status within the MCR:
o Durham University gowns must be worn at all times during formals.
o If you do not dress appropriately, you will be unfortunately not permitted to attend and this will count as a missed formal.
o Please see the above document for guidance on formal attire.
o If you do not own a gown, you can borrow one from the MCR for the duration of the formal. Gowns must be returned to the MCR Cottage promptly at the end of formal.
§ If you are an Ordinary Member of Hatfield MCR, it is free to borrow a gown.
§ 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. Please bring a form of ID for us to hold as a deposit.
· Formal rules:
o Please see the below document for the list of formal rules.
o If you breach formal rules, the MCR/JCR Exec Officer responsible for discipline may ask you to leave the hall out of respect to fellow students and staff.
Sign in:
o When arriving to formal, please sign in with the MCR Executive Officer at the door to the right of the main door to the dining hall from 6:35pm. Please do not join the JCR queue as they have a separate system.
o Doors close at 6.55pm. You will unfortunately not be allowed to enter the Dining Hall after this time, so please arrive promptly. Late arrivals will be considered a missed formal (more on this below).
· If you can no longer attend a formal:
o Selling your ticket:
§ If you have purchased a ticket and can no longer attend, please sell your ticket to another Hatfielder and tell the MCR Executive Committee who you have sold it to by emailing hatfield.mcr@durham.ac.uk. A good way to contact other Hatfielders is through the group chats!
§ If you are an Ordinary Member, you can only sell your ticket to another Ordinary Member due to the difference in price.
§ Likewise if you are a catered student, please only sell your ticket to another catered student.
§ Please do not sell your ticket to a non-Hatfielder unless they will be the ‘guest’ of a Hatfield MCR member.
o Missing formals:
§ Buying a ticket for formal but not attending results in food waste, denies another person the opportunity to attend, and creates a financial cost to the MCR.
§ As of Halloween Formal on 25th October, if you buy a ticket but do not attend a formal (and are unable to sell your ticket to someone else) more than once, you will unfortunately not be permitted to attend formals for the rest of the term – unless your absence was due to unforeseeable and unavoidable circumstances.
§ If you cannot attend a formal and have not been able to sell your ticket, please let the MCR Exec know by emailing hatfield.mcr@durham.ac.uk as soon as possible as a matter of courtesy (so we know not to expect you). This does not negate the above point.
· Formal guests:
o Please accompany your guest at all times, as you are responsible for their behaviour; you will be accountable if they miss a formal or breach formal rules.
· Formal attire:
These rules are in place to make sure that formals run smoothly, are cost-effective, and to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time.
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!