This year was the first Blues’ dinner as a unified club following COVID restrictions of the last two years which prevented the event from taking place.
The 2022 Blues’ Dinner took place after The Boat Race. This year saw the 76th women’s race and the 167th men’s race. The annual race returned to the River Thames, after the previous year’s race had taken place on the River Great Ouse. Cambridge retained their title as winners of the Women’s Boat Race for the fifth consecutive year, Both crews broke the course record, set in 2017, with Cambridge setting in a new time of 18:23. Oxford men broke Cambridge’s five-year winning streak in the Men’s Boat Race winning by 2 ¼ lengths in a time of 16:42. This equals the winning Oxford time in 2005, a time which hasn’t been matched since.
Arriving guests were welcomed to the Hoare Memorial Hall and the Bishop Partridge Hall for a drinks reception before making their way to the Assembly Hall for the dinner. The impressive circular space provided a fitting setting in which to celebrate those who have just won life membership to CUBC through their Boat Race representation.
The dress code for the dinner was black tie, with full-colours dress reserved for the Boat Race 2022 crews.
Guests dined on a three-course menu prepared by the Westminster venue’s catering team.
The organisers preferred the venue’s central location, conveniently situated within a few minutes’ walk from the Palace of Westminster and both Westminster and St. James’s Park underground stations. Mainline train stations such as Victoria, Waterloo, and Charing Cross are also within walking distance.
Nearby hotel accommodation included The Westminster Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, a newly refurbished 4-star deluxe hotel.
Marina Papadopoulou, Head of Business Development commented, “From the outset during our initial discussions it was clear that the Blues’ Dinner this year needed a venue that could host all the teams perfectly in terms of capacity. The importance of this occasion was significant for the Cambridge University Boat Club in that they were looking to find a home for the event for years to come.”
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