The Punt Society

Overview

Punt hire is available to St John's students, alumni, Fellows and members of staff. In addition there are other categories eligible to hire (see "hire charges" below for more detail.) Eligble hirers of punts may bring guests from outside College.

Punts can be hired between 9am and 5pm, with the last punt being available at 4pm. Punt occupancy is restricted to a maximum of 6 people in a single punt, including the punter.

Please read the punt hire guidelines before using the link below to make an online reservation. Punt booking and payment are only possible online. In person punt bookings and payments cannot be made in the porters' lodge.

https://st-johns-college-punt-society.checkfront.com/reserve

Please contact the Northampton St Porters' Lodge if you require any extra assistance: 01223 338729. 

The Society

The Punt Society

The 10 punts run by the Punt Society are available to all members of College, including College staff, from around March to the end of November. Bookings from College or large groups may be considered by the President of the Punt Society. Please note that there are a few days when punts are not available (e.g. during the set-up to the May Ball, and some days in the summer holidays when they're booked by College groups.)

The punts are moored in the punt pool accessed down the steps under Cripps B staircase. Punt keys are collected from the Northampton St Porters' Lodge. A University Card must be left as a deposit. Non-resident members need either a valid debit card, ID card or driver's licence as a deposit. The cushions are normally stored in lockers in the Cripps basement adjaceent to the cycle store. If cushions are used, please do not leave them in the punts, but instead return them to the cushion store. The porters will be able to give you directions if needed. The punt poles and paddles should be locked to the punts themselves.

You may stay out only for as long as you have booked, but must always return before nightfall. The porters will inform you if there is a booking directly after yours, and if you do not return by the time the punt is needed again an additional charge may be incurred. When the punt is returned, please remember to thread the chain through one of the metal rings on the quay, and to ensure that the chain, paddle, pole and punt are secured by the padlock. If you have any problems locking up the punt please let the porters know rather than allowing the punt to be left untied. 

Here is a link to our Instagram page and a video of how to secure a punt: https://www.instagram.com/stories/sjcpunts/3351347236408772284?igsh=MTNpOXRyaTFmcmt5cw==

Hire Charges

The hire charges are as follows:

St John's undergraduates & postgraduates

Weekdays:£8/hour

Weekends: £9/hour

College Staff, Senior Members of College, Non-resident Members of College, Old Johnians,

Pupils of St John's College School, Choristers, Members of the Choir Association, British Antarctic Survey

£18/hour

Conference Guests

£25/hour

Porters, Punt Society Committee

Free

Payment is due on booking. If the punt is not returned in good time for the next booking, an extra charge may be incurred.  

The Committee

Committee 2024-2025

President: Alex Shepherd (ais43@cam.ac.uk)

Treasurer: James Quill (jq264@cam.ac.uk)

Secretary: Edmund Hudson (eph35@cam.ac.uk)

Maintenance: Alice Monksfield (am3101@cam.ac.uk)

Publicity: Ryan Vowles (rv372@cam.ac.uk)

Social Sec: Lewis Bryan (ljb218@cam.ac.uk)

Graduate Treasurer: Myrsini Tsiarta (mst49@cam.ac.uk)