For generations of pupils at St Edmund’s College, few comforts of school life were as treasured as the humble tuck shop. A place for snacks, treats, and socialising, tuck shops helped students through the cold, the dark, and the long school day, becoming a central part of boarding life.
At St Edmund’s, there were not one but two tuck shops: one on the first floor of Allen Hall serving Poynter House pupils, and another on the second floor for students of Challoner House. Open from 4.30 p.m. until the last happy and hungry student had been served, these shops were more than just points of sale – they were hubs of school life. As an Assistant House Master once remarked, “Boarders need only two things: the Butler Hall and the Tuck Shop.”
Times are changing. With vending machines and modern facilities becoming the norm, the traditional tuck shop is set to disappear. On the evening of 11 December, the last customer was served, and the shelves were cleared for the final time. An era of school life defined by the clinking of the cash box, the laughter of students, and the simple joy of a treat has now come to a close, making way for new innovations and conveniences at St Edmund’s College.
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