Set in central Cambridge overlooking Parker’s Piece, University Arms gives graduation celebrations a setting that feels connected to the city and the occasion. Gather for Champagne and cocktails after the ceremony, host a private lunch or dinner, enjoy afternoon tea with family, or plan a larger reception that brings everyone together. Our flexible event spaces can be tailored around the size and style of your celebration, with the University Arms events team on hand to help shape the details. From an intimate gathering with close family to a larger graduation party, the focus is on creating a celebration that feels personal rather than formulaic. From a specially crafted menu by our expert chefs to bespoke silverware on the tables, every aspect of your celebration is thoughtfully designed. Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a large-scale celebration, we ensure that your graduation event is filled with elegance, without being overwhelming.
A graduation celebration deserves a proper toast. Parker’s Tavern, located within University Arms, offers a relaxed yet special setting for gathering around the table after the ceremony, with seasonal British cooking, celebratory drinks and private dining available for larger occasions. Planning your graduation lunch or dinner? Discover our dedicated Parker’s Tavern graduation page for more information on dining, menus and reservations.
No two graduation celebrations need to look the same. Keep things intimate with private dining and a specially created menu, gather for Champagne or cocktails after the ceremony, enjoy afternoon tea with family, or plan a larger banquet or reception for everyone who has shared the journey with you. For bigger guest lists, our private event spaces can be exclusively yours, giving family, friends and fellow graduates the space to celebrate together in the heart of Cambridge. Our events team can help shape the occasion around your guest numbers, timings and plans for the day. This keeps all of the options the existing page already promotes, but gives them a clearer structure and removes some of the repetition around experiences being “unforgettable” or “extraordinary”.
For a graduation celebration that brings a larger group together, the University Arms Ballroom provides an impressive setting with a real sense of occasion. Wood panelling, stained-glass windows decorated with college crests and views across Parker’s Piece give the room an unmistakably Cambridge character. With space for up to 180 guests seated or 200 standing, the Ballroom works beautifully for graduation dinners, drinks receptions and larger parties, giving you the freedom to turn graduation day into a celebration shared with everyone who matters.
For a celebration that calls for something more intimate, the Ballroom can be divided to create the Crick Room. With space for up to 90 guests, it offers the character and elegance of the Ballroom on a scale suited to private graduation dinners, receptions and family celebrations.
For smaller graduation gatherings, the Watson Room offers a more private setting for up to 70 guests. It is well suited to bringing family and friends together for a celebratory meal or drinks reception while retaining the sense of occasion that comes with marking graduation at University Arms.
Graduation day is easier to enjoy when there is no rush to get in and out of Cambridge. Stay at University Arms and make the hotel your base for the occasion, giving graduates and their families time to arrive, get ready and enjoy the city before the celebrations begin. After the ceremony, return for drinks, dinner or a private celebration, then finish the evening without another journey ahead of you. With a choice of rooms and suites in the heart of Cambridge, University Arms gives families the opportunity to turn graduation into more than a single afternoon and enjoy a little more time together.
