Welly Ball is a charity ball in support of the Charlie Waller Trust, and hosts attendees from 14 universities across the UK for a black-tie dinner and after-party. It first began in 2007 following our university’s annual clay pigeon shooting competition. Though I am still unsure of the actual significance of the Wellies, the event is a sell-out and not one to miss.
In wake of Welly Ball 2022, students have taken to St. Fessdrews to voice their opinions. While some have vehemently complained, calling Welly the “most drunk-drunk ball” and “welly bop,” others are singing its praises. As an attendee, I feel the need to defend Welly, while equally addressing some of the complaints. I believe there to be five factors that create an enjoyable ball: food, transportation, music, safety, and vibe.
In terms of food, Welly Ball 2022 was miles better than Welly Ball 2021. While the starter was not particularly well-timed and came out while people were still socialising, the food itself was quite good; the main course was a full roast dinner, and there was a solid veggie option as well. It was certainly above average for a St Andrews ball, and went smoothly, especially considering that there were 86 tables to be tended to.
Transportation was a relatively contentious issue. I found it to be quite swift and unproblematic; however, I was on the first bus to the venue, and on one of the earlier buses to leave. Many people waited in a massive queue when trying to leave later in the evening. That being said, I think this is partly to be expected when you host an event with such a large turnout.
Many people arrived and left at the same time, and these periods of mass exodus caused two issues: coat check complications and obnoxious bathroom lines. Because I arrived earlier, coat-check ran efficiently. Though as large groups came in, the coat check queue took up to 20 minutes. They quickly ran out of coat hangers, and people were forced to leave their coats in corners. This was quite an avoidable problem and will hopefully be refined at the next Welly Ball.
While not preventable, the bathroom situation was arguably the most frustrating. The actual Falside Mill toilets were great, but there were not enough toilets in relation to the number of ball-attendees. The queue for the bathroom was overwhelmingly long and not well monitored. This was accounted for, however, as they did offer outdoor toilets.
The music was quite typical for St. Andrews night-out tunes: throwbacks reminiscent of a good 601 bop, but appreciated, nonetheless. There were two different dance floors, separated by a room that led to the outdoor spaces. The division of these spaces meant that there was ample room for dancing.
In terms of locations, Falside Mill was a lovely vicinity. The decorations were tasteful, and the interior was adorned with fairy lights that made for great photo lighting. It was perfect for pictures, and greatly appreciated by all.
In terms of safety, I had no issues. As St Fessdrews will corroborate, the extent of drunkenness was slightly off-putting. I witnessed many people vomiting and passing out. Yet, I believe this is to be expected at such events. Nothing felt particularly dangerous or unsafe.
Lastly, and arguably most important, are the vibes. I think this category was where Welly Ball excelled most. Everyone genuinely seemed to be enjoying themselves. Overall, the Welly Ball committee planned and executed the event wonderfully.