All Houses have kitchen facilities where pupils can make snacks and drinks. However, the main meals of the day are taken in the large and airy dining hall.

See current menus

Every care is taken to ensure that a large choice is available for all students and that pupils have access to a variety of healthy options. Fresh fruit, vegetables and salad items are available at every meal. The biggest problem tends to be, as many Old Eastbournians have found, that the food at university takes some getting used to after the college.

In recent years school catering has come under considerable scrutiny, with quality and nutritional content being major concerns. By using meats that are traceable to local farms, fresh vegetables and organic or free range foods when possible, we provide meals that exceed any government recommendations.

The nutritional content of each meal has been examined using our menu analysis software to ensure that students have access to a varied and nutritionally sound diet.

The Catering Manager meets every term with the College's food committee to ensure that students' needs are being considered. The committee comprises representatives from each House, whose opinions and ideas about the food and catering provision are welcomed by the catering staff.

The various teaching departments at the College are always willing to suggest ideas for 'theme weeks' in which the menus are tailored for a particular event or theme. These have included "Fairtrade" lunches, French and German evenings from the language departments, a 'Six Nations' week from the sports department and a 'food from the continents' week from the geography department. These events are very popular with both the pupils and staff as they provide an interesting insight into the dining habits of other countries and a showcase for kitchen staff for their skills and knowledge of ethnic foods.

Catering for House functions is another area where communication with students is essential. From simple barbecues to large dinner dances at which students sit down to a fine meal chosen by them, the chefs and kitchen staff are a much appreciated part of the community. A recent visit to the College by celebrity chef Tom Kime led to his working with the kitchen staff to provide a meal based on the menu he provided for Jamie Oliver's wedding. Not only was Tom's presence in the kitchen an inspiration to the chefs but the resulting House function was a great success.

Assistant Catering Manager, Mike Brady, a former cookery lecturer offers a popular catering activity for students who wish to learn to cook. Mike aims to help these students gain a better understanding of food and food preparation.