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University Arms and Parker’s Piece have long been the location of choice for great feasts and celebrations in Cambridge. It’s a place that has always known how to gather people together and the same celebratory spirit that brought 15,000 guests onto the green for Queen Victoria’s Coronation in 1838 still lingers in the air today.

Now, it’s your turn. Whether you’re planning a special birthday, an anniversary, a hen-do with style, a private dinner with friends, or simply a weekend away that calls for a little champagne, our spaces are made for unwinding, conversing, and raising a glass (more than once, if the night calls for it).

From seasonal menus and beautiful wines to the small details that make a big difference, our team curates each celebration with expert ease; so you can relax into the moment, enjoy your people, and let the night unfold exactly as it should.

Your Space, Your Way

Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or bringing a bigger group together, University Arms offers a choice of beautiful spaces designed for celebrating in Cambridge. From relaxed tables in Parker’s Tavern to private rooms for more exclusive occasions, we’ll help you find the right setting for your guest list, your timings, and the kind of atmosphere you want, lively and sociable, or more tucked-away and intimate. Our events team will guide the flow from arrival drinks to the final toast, so it all feels seamless on the day.

Big milestone or low-key gathering? We’ll make it feel special, with the right room, the right menu, and a toast-worthy start.

Perfect for: afternoon tea, cocktail receptions, seated meals dinners, bowl food & dancing-after

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• A central Cambridge setting overlooking Parker’s Piece • Private dining rooms and group tables for celebrations of all sizes • Seasonal menus prepared by the team at Parker’s Tavern • Cocktails, Champagne and thoughtfully chosen wines for proper toasting • A dedicated events team to plan the details and keep everything running smoothly • Bedrooms for overnight stays (and breakfast the next morning) • Finishing touches on request: cakes, flowers, fizz on arrival and more

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Few halls in Cambridge can match the grandeur, elegance and history of the University Arms Ballroom, a wood-panelled space that’s part of the city’s heritage. Natural light pours through striking stained-glass windows decorated with college crests, with views over the iconic Parker’s Piece. Summer or winter, it’s made for grand celebrations, with room for up to 180 guests seated or 200 standing.

Ideal for gala dinners, award nights, grand celebrations, University events, Milestone birthdays and large receptions

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From a round of cocktails to a full sit-down feast, we’ll help you shape the experience around your group, including dietary requirements, timings, and the little details that make the night feel seamless. AFTERNOON TEA A classic British way to celebrate in Cambridge, and where better than University Arms? Time to linger, toast, and make an afternoon of it. RECEPTIONS Welcome drinks, mingling, and an atmosphere that feels instantly festive CANAPÉS Perfect for pre-dinner celebrations or a stylish stand-up gathering BOWL FOOD Relaxed, sociable, and ideal for groups that don’t want to sit still BUFFET DINING Generous, flexible, and great for larger celebrations SEATED THREE-COURSE MEALS The full “proper celebration” experience, beautifully hosted

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Celebrations FAQs

1. Where can I host a private celebration in Cambridge?

Right in the heart of the city. University Arms offers a collection of characterful spaces for private celebrations, from intimate dinners and afternoon teas to Champagne receptions and larger parties in our Ballroom. Overlooking Parker’s Piece, it’s a setting with a real sense of Cambridge – and plenty of room to make the occasion your own

2. Can I host a birthday party at University Arms?

Absolutely. Whether it’s a milestone birthday that deserves the full works or a smaller gathering with your favourite people, we can help shape the celebration around you. Think afternoon tea, cocktails and canapés, a private dinner or a rather good party with food, fizz and dancing afterwards.

3. Do you have private dining rooms for celebrations in Cambridge?

Yes. Our private spaces are made for gathering around good food, with options for intimate dinners, family celebrations and larger seated occasions. Menus are created by the team at Parker’s Tavern, with seasonal British cooking at their heart – and, naturally, plenty of good wine for raising a glass.

4. Can I hold a hen party or baby shower at University Arms?

Certainly. From elegant baby showers over afternoon tea to hen parties with cocktails, canapés and a little more revelry, we can tailor the occasion to your group. Choose one of our private spaces, add your own decorations and finishing touches, and leave our team to keep everything running beautifully in the background.

5. Can I arrange a graduation celebration in Cambridge?

You certainly can – this is Cambridge, after all. University Arms is a fitting place to mark the end of all that hard work, whether you’re planning Champagne after the ceremony, afternoon tea with the family, a celebratory meal or a private graduation party. For larger gatherings, our private event spaces can accommodate everything from intimate dinners to receptions of up to 200 guests.