Eton: Cosiest eat-in houses?

[DoMyBest]

Anyone have an views on the cosiest ‘eat-in’ houses at Eton? DS starting in 2022 (not a scholar).

Eat in houses are not always the “best” or the “cosiest”.

In Bekynton (the canteen), there is a wide choice of meals (Veggie, main courses, Salads, etc) and houses sit in house groups for meals. No real food “options” are offered in house unless you have specialist diet. Boys also get the chance to see a wider group at meals than just their house mates if eating out. Location plays a part. If the house is close to Bekynton then it is easier.
Probably best to choose house by housemaster, seeing them etc. There are excellent houses for both eat in and “out” - where meals are taken tends not to define how good a house is. Some houses have much nicer facilities in house for the boys because they are eat out (eg pool tables etc) and have more space. The boys also have access to in-house kitchens to make toast etc anyway.

Hope that’s helpful.

Thanks Deslibris.
The only reasons I thought ‘eat in’ would be better is fear my DS wood just skip breakfast if he had to go outside for it before class (he’s not the most punctual) and also what if he can’t find a friend to sit next to in a huge dining hall (Bekynton). Flashbacks to my time boarding when, struggling to make friends at first, I ate alone.
But I’ve since discovered, as you said, that in Bekynton they eat on a house table - so he’d always have somewhere to sit. And yes, toast etc in-house if they’re running late.
I can relax!

Honestly the only way you can choose a house is by how you feel you and your son would get on with the housemaster - the facilities, location, eat in/out, they're not irrelevant but they're not things to choose between because there will be pros and cons for each house for each of them. Some people love Bekynton because they have more choice of food, others prefer eat-in because it's a more family feel. You're going to have to work together with the housemaster for quite a few years, and he's going to be the most important person in your son's life after family for those years so I'd approach it from that perspective.

And don't worry about him not being punctual right now - he'll be put on tardy book, and then figure out how to use an alarm clock PDQ!

Xiaoxiong thanks for that (we need a ‘tardy book’ at home!). We’ve taken this advice & narrowed it down to 2 housemasters, one eat in, on eat out house. After that it’s their call.

My DS left three years ago, but I totally agree with the comments above. The eating arrangements are absolutely the last thing you should take into consideration when choosing a house.

Everyone knows that the boys are at different levels of self-organisation when they start, your DS will be trained into good habits soon enough. The combination of a rampaging Dame and kindly boy's maids makes sure everything ticks along.

One more thing: I’m just loving the type of feedback I’m getting from Eton mums: if your casual good humour is anything to go by, my DS chose his next school well :)

Total agreement,eating arrangements are actually pretty unimportant.

I actually think "casually good humoured" is a pretty good description of 99% of the parents here. We need at lot of it at the moment as well

We certainly do,was joking yesterday that I was going to send the papers back as there was no Eton story in them and then the covid evacuation phone call...
Cynical ds3 convinced its just to make sure the boys arent around when the appeal result is announced..

No, there are people actually ill this time (symptomatic). And with the "cruise ship effect" they do have to play it safer than day schools.

@nolanscrack

Cynical ds3 convinced its just to make sure the boys arent around when the appeal result is announced.

Really saddened to have read about this - WSK was DS's junior tutor. They started at the same time!

I'm glad he's not there now I have to admit.

Not sure about a sense of humour. Some very non amused parents right now...

Back to the OP though I agree that eating arrangements not important and Bekynton is pretty amazing. More high end restaurant than school canteen!

Re the current saga that's going on at Eton - I'm torn and of course, sad, to see this upheaval that has happened. I can see the arguments from both sides and I really don't like to be in the appeal Chairman's position. Dr Andrew Gailey, the Vice-Provost who is chairing the appeal will be retiring next summer - the Provost himself who's supposed to chair the appeal had recused himself because he'd expressed a view prior. The decision of the appeal will be published next week.

As regards dining in-house or not, personally I prefer in-house to Bekynton simply because I'm lazy to walk up to the restaurant everyday just to have my meals. I like my food fast and quick and am not fussy. BTW they call Bekynton a restaurant, not a canteen. Yes, of course, College has the best food and even then Collegers have to go to Bekynton for their meals sometimes because College Hall is used to entertain some visiting VIP's.

But please, don't let this insignificant matter of dining in-house or not trouble your privilege to be attending Eton. For sure, some people would give an arm and a leg to be there.

please could you tell me what houses eat at Bekynton? I thought it would be somewhere on the web, but I can't find a list! thanks, Olivia