Ball Guide & Q&A

Ball is the only national SSAGO event where you can dress up and catch up with old and new friends. The Ball event itself is only on Saturday night, but it's up to you to make more of the weekend, if you like.

Planning your weekend is the key to an enjoyable Ball. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the ball website, we have supplied lots of information to help you plan your weekend. Think about where you want to stay, how you will travel around and what you’ll wear at the event. You might choose to do some activities during the day on Saturday or you can go straight to the event after checking into your accommodation. 

The sooner you book your accommodation the cheaper it will be and some hotels and B&Bs offer full or partial refund within a time frame.  Be sure to put your outfit together ahead of the event. Either by taking advantage of sales, outlets, discount codes or reusing full or partial existing outfits you have. You might want to try out different accessories and shoes before you put the final touches together.

On the evening of Ball, many members like to gather at a warm up venue for drinks and chat before heading to the main venue. About 30-15 mins before the dinner starts, members will gather for a photo. They will then make their way inside for a fun evening, starting with the three course meal. They'll be a disco, some speeches and the National SSAGO Awards. Afterwards it's time to head to the Happily Ever After Party to keep the party going long into the night. It's important to note that there will be no public transport after the ball, you will need to arrange a taxi for yourself. The next morning people usually meet for a late breakfast at the local Wetherspoons or a similar style pub.

Check out the programme and menu for a detailed breakdown of the event schedule.

Finally have fun at Ball! It’s supposed to be a relaxing event where we can celebrate the year we’ve had and look forward to the next adventures.

Ball Stories

Want to hear how great Ball is from people other than us? Well some lovely people have written up their thoughts for you to read.

Ball Q&A

For a lot of people, Once Upon a Ball will be your first formal SSAGO or university event. Hopefully this page will answer any questions you may have about Ball.

If you have any questions that aren't answered on this page you can ask them below. If we think your question would help other SSAGO members we will add it to this page as well as the Discord Q&A. If your question is very specific to your situation, please contact us via ball@ssago.org instead.

Ask A Question

Does mascot stealing occur at Ball?

No. Due to the formality of Ball, mascot stealing does not occur. There will be a designated table for mascots to all sit together and enjoy watching us all have fun.

Can I choose who I sit with?

Yes. At booking stage you will be able to write the name of someone you’d like to be sat with and we will try our best to put you next to them or on the same table.

Do I have to stay till it ends?

No. You are welcome to leave at any time after the meal but the disco and Happily Ever After Party will be lots of fun!

Do I have to bring my necker(s)?

No. Some people bring their neckers and some don't, its personal choice!

What if I don’t know if I can attend until last minute?

We know that it can be a busy time of year and so in order to not penalise anyone who’s plans may change last minute we will be reducing late fees on booking prices.  It is important to note that Ball bookings will close earlier than rally bookings usually do. This is so that we can give final numbers to the venue.

Can I bring a plus one?

Yes! You are welcome to bring a partner/friend/guest along to ball, even if they aren't in SSAGO. In order to sign up they will need to contact us at ball@ssago.org

I am an associate/ex-SSAGO/SAGGA member. Can I attend Once Upon a Ball?

Everyone who has ever been in SSAGO or SAGGA is invited, no matter how long ago you were a student! We hope that Once Upon a Ball will be a celebration of SSAGO getting back together and this includes graduates. Anyone who is no longer in SSAGO or is in SAGGA will need to contact us at ball@ssago.org in order to book on.

Will there be table wine?

No. Past Balls have spent hundreds of pounds on alcoholic drinks that only a portion of the attendees enjoy. Going without table wine reduces the ticket cost for everyone. Those who would like to drink are welcome to purchase their own alcohol at the bar. Please note that Keele Hall do not allow outside drinks to be bought into the venue.  

If you're looking for a big night, we recommend saving your drinks money for the Happily Ever After Party, where the SU prices are more reasonable!

What are your COVID guidelines?

We all know by now that you can't predict the governments covid guidelines. We don't know what the guidance from the government or The Scouts and Girlguiding will look like at the end of April. We will provide you with the most up to date information when bookings open and communicate any changes. The most up to date information can be found here. 

What's the disability access like?

In terms of mobility access, both Keele Hall and Keele SU are wheelchair accessible. If you have any other accessibility requirements, please get in touch with the committee so we can liaise with you and the venues to ensure you have an amazing night. 

What if I don't want to sit next to somebody?

You can choose to sit next to somebody as part of the booking process. The other seats on your table will people from other clubs. If you do not want to sit next to, or near somebody for whatever reason, please contact us..

If you experience any issues in the booking process, please contact webmaster@ssago.org.