Balls are a very exciting part of college life at Durham and they are open to all students. In this blog, I will talk you through my experience of Josephine Butler’s 2024 Winter Ball and hopefully give you an idea of what to expect.
Josephine Butler College
At Josephine Butler we usually have 2-3 balls per academic year, most notably a winter and summer ball. As our college is non-catered, we usually go to an external venue and this year it was at Ramside Hall. You have the choice of buying a meal or an ents (entertainment) ticket. This year with a meal ticket you had access to transport to and from the venue, a welcome drink, plus a 3-course meal and entertainment whereas, with the ents tickets, whilst being much cheaper meant that you arrived later and could only experience the post-meal entertainment.
Both options are great and I have had both ents and meal tickets at different times so it really depends on your own budget and preference. Our college also has an access fund that can offer financial aid to those who need it.
Food and ents
The meal this year started with french onion soup, roast chicken and vegetables for main and a sticky toffee pudding with ice cream for dessert. It was delicious. There are options that cater to dietary requirements and our college posts the menu in advance too.
This year, our ball’s theme was Christmas in New York and the venue was kitted out with festive decorations. In terms of entertainment, we had performances from multiple college bands, a DJ, Butler dance troupe and Butler ballet, plus a photo booth, caricature artist and a raffle to raise money for charity. All of this was included in the ticket price!
Dress code
The dress code is formal, but the most important thing is to be comfortable. There are always a range of outfits so you really can wear anything that you want. You can always share dresses amongst housemates too, which is a great money saving hack. My dress was just £15 from Tesco!
In summary, I would definitely recommend attending a ball, if you can, whilst you are at Durham. It really is the highlight of the year and such a special event to go to with your friends.
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