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Our Guest Policy

The Cambridge Union is a private organisation that exists to serve the interests of its members. This page summarises the Union’s official policy on admission of guests to our premises and events. We ask that you respect it and are polite to those who are responsible for enforcing it.

Members of the Union may bring a bona fide guest, for a fee of £20.00. Guests must not be eligible for Union membership in their own right (i.e., students of Cambridge or Anglia Ruskin University cannot be admitted as guests). Guest tickets can only be purchased at the main office, starting 15 minutes before the event.

No guest tickets will be issued more than 15 minutes before the event to ensure we can accurately gauge the popularity of the event among our members. For particularly high-demand events, the Standing Committee may designate the event as members-only, restricting guest admissions to preserve space for members.

A penalty of £40 will be applied to any non-member using a Union card that is not their own. This fine will be charged to the cardholder, and the card will be confiscated until the penalty is paid. Membership records will be verified at the door for all events. Those without their card must queue at the main office to have their details checked against a form of photographic ID.

The Orator is open to the public, with member and non-member pricing. 

Guests may attend Union social events by paying an entry fee set by the Social Events Officer in consultation with the President or Vice-President. The decision may be made to limit ticket sales to members only, depending on the event.
At the start of Michaelmas and occasionally throughout the year, special events will be open to both members and non-members, offering an opportunity for non-members to experience the Union free of charge. Entry will be available until the Duty Officer determines capacity has been reached. The Union will publicise such events in advance where possible.
From time to time, the Union may reserve a limited number of spaces for the general public or specific organisations. Information regarding the availability and purchase of these reserved tickets will be made public in advance.
The Union maintains reciprocal membership agreements with various clubs and organisations worldwide. A full list is available on our website. To take advantage of reciprocal membership at the Cambridge Union, please contact the Vice-President at vicepresident@cus.org for a Letter of Introduction and further details. Be sure to include your membership number and intended visit dates in your request.
As with any event venue, the Union must comply with strict fire safety regulations. The Committee and Events Management Team reserve the right to determine, without prior notice, when the building or Chamber has reached full capacity. Once this limit is met, the Events Management Team will refuse further entry and direct those waiting to leave the building as necessary.

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Our Membership Portal is currently undergoing maintenance.

Existing Members – Please note the membership site is still under maintenance and having minor issues, to proceed log in here: Member’s Log In, alternatively check back soon.

Prospective Memberships – If you are looking to become a member, please try back again shortly, or alternatively email info@cus.org

*Memberships are also available to buy at reception.