MCR Banquet
Friday of 6th week of every term
This is the MCR’s signature termly event and an opportunity for the MCR to be wined and dined in the College Hall. Beginning with a champagne reception, there is then a delicious three-course meal served in Hall, followed by (rounds of) port and a unique Oxford-style toasting with which we acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of MCR members over the course of the term. After the dining frivolities, we head to a *mystery* Oxford location for some late-night boogying. Banquet comes in three flavours: Fawkes Banquet (Michaelmas term), Equinox banquet (Hilary term) and Collingwood banquet (Trinity term). This is an opportunity for you to don your fanciest black tie and prance around Oxford feeling like you’re in a Harry Potter movie.
Bar Nights and BOPs
8:30pm Fridays year round, MCR bar
You’ll quickly become familiar with the weekly email calling “hatch up” at the MCR’s bar, the famous Rose and Thistle. We have a broad selection of wines, spirits, and beers, and the ever-changing cocktail of the week to keep things interesting… and cheap (only £1!). Our other drinks are also much cheaper than what you’ll find anywhere outside College.Our fabulous bar managers always have delicious concoctions in mind - both of the alcoholic and non alcoholic variety!
Some Fridays, Bar Night gets called a BOP instead, which is the Oxford word for “party”. BOPs are themed, giving you the chance to sip cheap drinks in ridiculous outfits and maybe even sing some karaoke!
Bar Nights and BOPs
8:30pm Fridays year round, MCR bar
You’ll quickly become familiar with the weekly email calling “hatch up” at the MCR’s bar, the famous Rose and Thistle. We have a broad selection of wines, spirits, beers, juices, lemonades and the ever-changing cocktail of the week to keep things interesting… and cheap (only £1.50!). Our other drinks are also much cheaper than what you’ll find anywhere outside College. Our fabulous bar managers always have delicious concoctions in mind - both of the alcoholic and non alcoholic variety!
Some Fridays, Bar Night gets called a BOP instead, which is the Oxford word for “party”. BOPs are themed, giving you the chance to sip cheap drinks in ridiculous outfits and maybe even sing some karaoke!
Welfare Tea
5:00pm Wednesdays, Wood Room
If you’re not from England, it won’t take long for you to realise that tea is kind of a big deal here. So like any good British organisation, we meet every week in the MCR for a delectable selection of sweets accompanied by soothing tea and riveting conversation. If you’re a keen baker and would like to share your skills with the MCR, feel free – you’ll be reimbursed for your ingredients with cold hard cash (and your labour with undying affection).
PemBook
7:30pm Mondays, Wood Room
Every term, we embark on thrilling literary journeys, delving into a new book and gathering weekly for lively discussions in the cosy MCR Wood Room. Join the club, and you might even get partial or full reimbursement for the chosen book—rewarding your love for reading!
Disclaimer: PemBook proudly carries the creative moniker bestowed by Flora Charbonnier, Families and Welfare Rep of the MCR in 2021-2022.
Get ready to unleash the bookworm in you... Don't forget to book this in your diary!
Second Desert
8:30pm Sundays, term time, Wood Room
Like Welfare Tea, but with the added benefit of port or a non-alcoholic bev served in our posh MCR port glasses and plenty of fancy (occasionally vegan) cheeses, grapes and chocolate to continue stimulating your palate even after you’re full from dinner. Even if you don’t go to Formal Hall you’re still welcome to join us for Second Dessert!
Brunch
12:30pm Saturdays after BOPs and Banquets, Wood Room
After a long night of fun, what is better than heaps of brunch food and coffee in good company? Whether it is cream cheese bagels, PB&J sandwich, plain old toast, some fruits or smoked salmon you fancy, you can find it all on those special Saturday mornings* in the Wood room. MCR brunch happens four times per term on Saturdays after BOPs and MCR Banquets. Brunch is graciously organised by our beloved secretaries, the same ones who also organise the BOPs and Banquet preceding brunch, so make sure to express your undying appreciation when you next see them.
*if you consider 12:30pm morning
Exchange dinners
approximately 3 times per term: home leg (hall) & away leg (other college)
We love Pembroke, but there are a couple of other colleges at Oxford with interesting people as well. Three times a term we host exchange dinners with other colleges, where we wine and dine them, and they then do the same for us. Think Formal Hall and Second Dessert with more wine, more food, and new faces and locales.
Game nights
select evenings in term time
The MCR has a group of avid board-gamers and quiz-goers, so from Werewolves to Civilisation to Pub Quizzes, we have got you covered! Watch out for the term-card which goes out at the beginning of each term for more details on all the events on the MCR’s calendar.
Master's Ramble
one Saturday/Sunday in Michaelmas and Trinity terms
During the warmer months, the Master and her husband organise a leisurely walk through the countryside nearby Oxford for MCR members. The rambles typically involve several hours of walking through gorgeous scenery and culminate in a delicious meal at some charming pub or other. The Master's rambles are the perfect opportunity to get out of town and discover the "area of outstanding beauty" surrounding us, the Cotswolds.
Summer trip
one weekend in August
If you are stuck in Oxford during the loooong summer break, worry not, as the MCR has the perfect event to alleviate stress and increase the summery mood! Generously funded by the Pembroke college annual fund, summer trips are a great opportunity to get to see more of England (like the mythical beaches), bond with other MCR members on the journey (did I hear road trip games?), do some heavy-duty touristing (who doesn't love a good museum!) and catch a stray ray of sunshine or two.
MCR Symposiums
Termly MCR research presentation evenings
Along with spontaneous ‘chats about research’ amongst MCR members, there are also more formal opportunities for MCR members to discuss their work in College: our termly MCR Symposium (Michaelmas and Hilary Term) provides an opportunity for MCR students to present their research in a welcoming setting to a college-wide student audience. The Joint SCR/MCR Symposium (Trinity Term) allows MCR students to do the same, but alongside members of the SCR (Senior Common Room).