It’s beginning to look a lot like Bridgemas!

Experience one of Britain’s weird and wonderful traditions by celebrating Bridgemas – a traditional Cambridge knees up at the city’s most historic hotel, the University Arms, on 25 November 

With the end of the Michaelmas term looming, ring in the festive season this November with a hearty dose of mulled wine, Christmas jumpers, and mouth-watering classics.

On 25 November, Cambridge’s most historic hotel, University Arms, promises a festive celebration to remember. Bridgemas is the Cambridge University equivalent to Christmas. The annual event falls on 25 November every year and was devised to allow students from Cambridge University Colleges to come together at the end of the term, to celebrate with those they may not be able to over the festive period. After all, you can choose your friends but not your family! This year, Bridgemas at University Arms is offering everyone an extravagant excuse to celebrate the festive season in classic Cambridge college style. 

 Guests are invited to dust off and don their favourite Yuletide jumpers and turkey hats, while treating themselves to a quintessentially British banquet hosted at the hotel’s destination dining restaurant, Parker’s Tavern. Chef Tristan Welch and his expert team will be serving an unmissable grand spread, complete with all the traditional trimmings, festive hats, and crackers. 

Set-menu highlights include pigs in blankets with caramelised apples and chestnuts, crispy fried British brie with homemade Cumberland sauce, followed by a roast rump of local grass-fed beef with dripping potatoes and Yorkshire puddings or a sumptuous roast Norfolk bronze turkey with curry gravy, chestnut stuffing, broccoli bhaji, fondant potatoes and Brussels sprouts. To ignite the seasonal spirit, please the palates on a festive dessert – from much-loved flaming gin and juniper Christmas puddings, panettone soufflés or a mouth-watering dark chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries served in a brandy snap. 

What’s more, on the night, the hotel team is inviting a random lucky guest to pull a prize-giving cracker, offering a Christmas afternoon tea for two – there is no better way to kick off the celebrations this year. Revellers staying overnight in one of the hotel’s beautiful and ‘playfully’ designed guest rooms, can enjoy beautiful walks through the city, discovering Cambridge’s rich history and the crisp winter air. Of course, University Arms’ collection of branded bicycles will also allow visitors a brisk tour of Cambridge by the traditional mode of transport. Serving grown up glamour at its very finest, the quintessentially British hotel has played an important role in the history of the city and has been immaculately restored to its former glory since opening in 1834. After a two-year £80m transformation, the hotel reopened in 2018 with the literary and academic spirit of Cambridge at its heart. The hotel is home to a bar, library, event space, underground valet car park, and two treatment rooms. There is no better destination to celebrate this uniquely Cambridge tradition than with University Arms. 

• The Bridgemas feast will take place on Friday 25 November and is priced at £65 per adult and £32.50 per child. Full menu below:
• For more information and bookings, please visit: www.parkerstavern.com/bridgemas-at-parkers-tavern/. Starting rates at University Arms during the festive season start from £299 per night.

BRIDGEMAS MENU

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS – V – Suitable for vegetarians | VE – Suitable for vegans | VE* – Dish can be amended to be suitable for vegans. Please ask for our full allergen menu.

ALLERGENS – Dishes that contain any of the 14 named allergens are marked with the following abbreviations: G – Gluten | C – Crustaceans | E – Eggs | F – Fish | M – Molluses |S – Soybeans/Soya | P- Peanuts | N – Nuts MK – Milk/Dairy | CY – Celery | MD – Mustard | SS – Sesame Seeds | SP
Sulphites | L – Lupin Please do inform us should you have any allergies or intolerances we need to be aware of. We cannot guarantee the absence of all allergens in our dishes. A discretionary service charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill. Menu may change depending on seasonality. VAT included.