Part-catered meal plans | University of Kent

Balance bowl at Sibson Cafe

Part-Catered Meal Plans

Kent has three different accommodation locations which include a meal plan. These are Keynes College, Becket Court, and Eliot College.

Part-catered rooms are ideal for students who wish to enjoy tasty, high-quality meals, without the hassle of cooking for themselves.

They’re a great option if you want to free up more time for your studies, if you want to sample the delicious food Kent has to offer, or if you’re not that confident in the kitchen. 

If you live in self-catered accommodation, but don't wish to cook for yourself, you can purchase the Flex Catering Package as an optional extra. 

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Bed and Bistro Meal Plan

Becket Court and Keynes College (block F ,G, H and I) residents are provided with two meals a day, every day during term time.

Menus change on a regular basis, so there's always something new and exciting to try. Meat, vegetarian, and vegan options are available, as well as specially adapted dishes for those with food allergies and intolerances. 

On weekdays, meals are provided by Dolche Vita. Breakfast is served between 07:45 - 09:30, and dinner is served between 17:30 - 19:30. You can chose to dine with your fellow students, or take your meal away to eat elsewhere. On weekends, and bank holidays, meals are provided by Rutherford Dining Hall. Brunch is served between 08:30 - 14:00, and dinner is served between 17:00 - 20:00.

Breakfast and Brunch: Cooked and continental breakfast items are available, as well as hot drinks and fruit juices.

Dinner: A main course, two side options, dessert or a choice of fruit, and a hot or cold drink.

Becket Court and Keynes College students also have access to a kitchenette within their accommodation, which can be used to prepare drinks and snacks whenever you like.  

Quotation

Greek kebabs from The Street Kitchen

My favourite thing about living on campus was the multitude of restaurants available to us. Plus the closeness to everyone and everything.

Mofioluwateleola Awosika, BSc Management student

Bed and Flex Meal Plan

Eliot College residents will be given an allowance of £12 a day to spend on food and drink (term time only). This can be used in any of the twelve Kent-run catering outlets on the Canterbury campus (as listed in the Bed and Flex Brochure).

This allowance is split into two £6 tokens which can be used separately (for two smaller meals), or at the same time (for one larger, more substantial meal). This gives you the freedom to choose whatever you want to eat, whenever you want to eat it.

Eliot College students also have access to a communal kitchenette which can be used to prepare drinks and snacks whenever you like.

The £12 Bed and Flex allowance renews each day. Any unused balance from the previous day cannot be refunded or carried over to the next. All information about this meal plan is included within the Bed and Flex terms and conditions.

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Two female students in Keynes College kitchenette

Part-Catered Accommodation

A quick overview of all the part-catered accommodation options at Kent.

FAQs


How do I claim my meals as part of my meal plan in the catering outlets?

As a part-catered student, your meal plan will be linked to your accommodation fob. When you are claiming your meals, you will need to have your fob with you so it can be scanned at the till by a member of staff. You may also be asked for your KentOne card as proof of student ID, so it’s a good idea to keep this on you as well.

What happens if I lose my fob?

Lost fobs should be reported to your College Reception. Full information on what to do when you lose your fob is available online, but as a part-catered student you will be issued with a temporary fob so you can collect your meals without interruption. Lost fobs will no longer work once they are replaced and the replacement fob will be issued with the last known balance (as per system records). Please be aware there is a charge for a replacement fob.  

Do you cater for special dietary requirements?

Allergen information is available for every single dish. We also cater for special diets and are happy to discuss your dietary requirements with you. Please discuss your needs with a supervisor or senior chef, or email us at catering@kent.ac.uk

I'm a Bed and Bistro student and wish to take away my meal. What do I need to do?

All you need to do is let your server know when placing your order. They will give you one of our reusable, plastic take-away boxes. You can only be in possession of one of these boxes at any given time, so once you've finished your meal, you will need to rinse it out and return it to the outlet before collecting another one.

What happens on the Bed and Flex plan if I don't use all of my tokens, and do I have to use both tokens at the same time?

If you don't use all of your daily £12 allowance, the remaining amount cannot be rolled over to the next day, or be refunded.

You can choose whether to use one or two tokens when making a purchase. You can either put the full £12 allowance towards one substantial meal, or use the two £6* tokens separately for two smaller meals.

If you choose to have two smaller meals, you must make sure the cost of the first meal does not exceed £6*. This will leave the other £6 token intact to be used later in the day. If you spend over £6 on your first meal, it will eat into the second £6 token. That second token will be then be classed as 'used', meaning you won’t have any allowance left for that day.

If you wish to purchase a smaller meal which exceeds the £6 budget, but don't want to use both £6 tokens, please speak to your server and explain you would like to use one Flex token and pay the remaining amount via another method. For example, if your first meal costs £6.25, you can use one £6 Flex token and pay the remaining 25p by credit, debit or KentOne card. This would leave your second £6 token untouched for later use.

Where can I find out more about my Bed and Flex plan?

You can find out more, including where to use it and how your tokens work, in the Bed and Flex Brochure and Terms and Conditions.

What happens if I am taking a short course/arriving in January to a part-catered accommodation?
Your later arrival date will have been factored into the cost of your accommodation so that you will only be paying for the time you are living on campus. 

If you have/want to opt into the Flex Catering Package there is the option to join at the start of the year in September or in January at a reduced rate.