Benefits
Find out about the many benefits available to King's alumni.
Benefits for King's alumni
Even though you may have left King's years ago, you can still take advantage of a number of alumni benefits. These include dining at High Table, using College guest rooms, purchasing wine from the Pantry and attending special Chapel services such as Procession for Advent.
When visiting the College, it's always worth bringing your Non-Resident Member card with you. Don't have one? Just complete this form or contact the Development Office and a member of the team can produce one for you.
Explore your benefits and get in touch if you have any questions.
Alumni benefits at a glance
Visiting the College
Alumni are welcome to visit at any time when King's is open. Entry to the College and Chapel is free of charge for you and up to four guests.
Please bring your Non-Resident Member card with you, and be prepared to show it to a Visitor Guide or a Porter if requested.
If you have any queries do get in touch.
Staying in College overnight
A limited number of rooms with en-suite facilities are available for booking by alumni. You may book up to two rooms for a maximum of three consecutive nights. We regret that rooms can only be booked for guests if they are accompanied by you, and that children cannot be accommodated.
You can book by email, or if your request is immediate (e.g. over a weekend), please call the Porters’ Lodge on +44 (0)1223 331100.
Please note that guest rooms are in considerable demand so booking in advance is strongly recommended.
Use of the Servery and Coffee Shop
You may use the College Servery and the Coffee Shop when these are open - please show your NRM card and pay by card at the till. If you are bringing more than two guests, please contact the Servery team in advance.
Use of the Senior Combination Room (SCR)
Alumni returning to the College may make occasional use of the SCR. Please inform the Pantry by email or by phone on +44 (0)1223 748947 prior to your visit and introduce yourself to a member of the Pantry staff upon arrival.
Booking College punts
College punts cannot be pre-booked. If you require use of a punt, please ask at the Porters’ Lodge at the time you would like to use one. Turnaround is reasonably fast even at the busiest periods, so you should not expect to wait very long for a free punt if one is not immediately available. Punts cost £8 per hour.
Attending events in Chapel
Alumni attending normal Chapel services may bring guests, sit in the College stalls and queue for admission in the College queue, usually in front of the Gibbs Building. We regret that we cannot normally allow children to sit in the College stalls.
For some services tickets are issued and different seating rules will apply. If in doubt, or hoping to bring more than two guests, contact the Chapel Manager in advance, by phone on +44 (0)1223 746506, or here. The Dean and the Chaplain are always glad to know when alumni will be attending and to have the opportunity to greet them on arrival or departure.
Alumni wishing to attend 'A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols' on Christmas Eve should apply for tickets which are allocated by public ballot.
Cambridge University alumni benefits
The University provides a number of benefits and services to alumni and former postdocs, from free access to a number of online academic resources, a free email service, a global network of alumni groups, special events and more.
Find out more here.
Dining at High Table
Senior Non-Resident Members may take up to six High Table dinners in each academic year.
Dinners may be taken on Tuesday to Friday during term, with Tuesdays and Thursdays designated as Wine Nights, when diners are invited to assemble for further refreshment in the Wine Room following dinner. Those wishing to attend must sign in at least 48 hrs before the evening you wish to dine, booking further in advance is recommended. Please email for more details.
All bookings are at the discretion of the Vice-Provost. The number of Senior Non-Resident Members dining at High Table is limited to six (including guests) on any one evening. If you would like to dine with a larger group that cannot be accommodated at High Table, please book one of the Saltmarsh Rooms through the Catering Department.
Purchasing wine from the College Cellar
For over thirty years the Cellar has been overseen by Professor Peter de Bolla, the Wine Steward, who is widely known as the most experienced wine buyer in Cambridge.
Wines from the current Pantry list are available to alumni throughout the year and can be shipped to any mainland UK address if you are not able to come and collect.
The Pantry also runs three special sales (Christmas, spring and summer) offering wines at a very wide range of prices and styles. If you would like to join the mailing list for these sales get in touch with Guido Felici, the Cellar Manager. Guido is always happy to meet King's alumni and give advice so make sure you visit the Pantry next time you are in College!
