As you step into the stately chambers of the Indiana Memorial Union’s Tudor Room and the adjoining Coronation Room, all the color and spectacle of “merrie olde England” suddenly return. With its soaring 30-foot ceiling and rich oak paneling, the Tudor Room recalls the great halls of early England and is a modern twist on age-old traditions. Built in 1959 as part of the $9.1 million Biddle Continuation Center, it serves as the flagship restaurant of the Indiana Memorial Union, offering fine dining experiences in rich traditions dating back to an earlier time.
A visit to the Tudor Room delights the senses as well as the palate. Originally, the Tudor Room was comprised of seven dining rooms partitioned by draperies to accommodate varying groups. Later, the draperies were removed to achieve a grand, open feel. Now, relics and artwork reference the ambiance and craftsmanship of days gone by, reflecting eclectic tastes of generous donors and friends of IU as well as the Tudor noblemen who added to their manor houses with changing styles and fashions.
Of special note is the giant oak refectory table in the heart of the parlor crafted in England around 1620, which recaptures Tudor elegance and was a gift from IU’s beloved president and chancellor, the late Herman B Wells. The artwork in the space spans many styles and eras from both English artists and artists from our beloved state of Indiana.
If you look up, you’ll see one of the most beautiful features in the restaurant. Glinting through three-story high windows, colorful stained-glass coats of arms identify the colleges existing at the time the Tudor Room was built. Hanging high and proud, the Tudor Room’s heraldic banners proclaim the academic divisions of Indiana University and pair nicely with the college coats of arms.
The adjoining Coronation Room, completed in 1964, takes its name from the Coronation Throne in Westminster Abbey. A wall-sized painting of a medieval coronation procession sets the tone in this intimate banquet room that accommodates groups up to 60. The Tudor Room itself seats 150.
The Tudor Room is open Monday through Friday for a luncheon buffet and on Sundays for its famed Sunday Brunch. We hope you enjoy your dining experience steeped in the rich traditions of not only IU Bloomington, but also medieval and Tudor England!