Catering
At St Aidan's College we offer catered accommodation to postgraduate students. Eating with other postgraduates and with senior undergraduates really helps you to integrate into the community.
Postgraduates on a catered accommodation let are fully-catered during undergraduate term-time. Meals are held in our dining hall three times a day, Monday to Friday, plus brunch and an evening meal on Saturday and Sunday.
Outside of term-time: You are self-catered and many postgraduates choose to cook together. We are exploring the possibility of making some light meals available on a pay-as-you-go basis outside of term-time in College or in a nearby College. We hope to be able to introduce this in the academic year 2011-12.
St Aidan's dining hall
Catering during term-time
The food at St Aidan’s is very good indeed, offering the option of a cooked breakfast in the morning, hot meal and the help-yourself salad bar at lunchtime and a three-course meal for dinner. Mealtimes at Aidan’s are an excellent way to meet other students and make new friends.
Special dietary requirements can be met for halal, vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free. Please contact us to enquire.
Example postgraduate kitchen
Elizabeth Pease House:
Kitchen facilities are available for you to self-cater during the vacation periods. Nine to ten students share one kitchen. All kitchens are equipped with fridge freezers and ample cupboard space for each student.
The 'New' Houses:
Every House has a cosy kitchen-sitting room located on the ground floor for social use throughout the year and self-catering during vacations.
Business School (MBA students only) *not available in 2011-12 due to refurbishment*:
The Business School accommodation has kitchen facilities located at the end of each corridor, with lockable cupboards for each students. There are basic utensils provided including, crockery, cutlery, pans, mixing bowls, kettles and a microwave for your use while in college.
Formal dinner at St Aidan's
Formal Dinners
We have Formal Dinners three times a term. These are often smart events which bring the college together for great food and entertainment. On occasions these events are fancy dress, with past themes including, Heros and Villains, Myths and Legends, Halloween, Under the Sea and Pirates of the Caribbean to mention just a few.
As in most Durham Colleges, the residence charge covers all your meals during term-time.
Kosher Kitchen
We host the University's only kosher kitchen, which supports the Jewish Sabbath meals and other festivals.
The kosher kitchen means that all catering for the Sabbath meals will conform to Jewish dietary law concerning food and its preparation. For example, pork is specifically prohibited, and vegetables and fruit must be thoroughly cleaned to ensure no insects are eaten. Other products, such as some yoghurt brands and some breakfast cereals, contain gelatine or glycerine, which are also prohibited, while items such as cheese and wine must come from an approved source.
The facilities allow the Jewish Society to have a dedicated space to use for Friday night dinners as well as other events including speakers, film nights and festival celebrations.