Central Criminal Court Bar Mess

The Central Criminal Court — universally known as the Old Bailey — is the most famous criminal court in the world. It is also the home of one of the Circuit's most distinctive Bar Messes. Membership of the Central Criminal Court Bar Mess is open to all barristers who regularly appear before the court, and at just £30 per year — fully tax deductible — it represents one of the most accessible and affordable forms of professional membership available.

The Mess is represented on the South Eastern Circuit Committee and maintains the close links between those who practise at this unique court and the wider structures of the Circuit. Social events — drinks parties and dinners — are held on a convivial if not frequent basis, in keeping with the character of a Mess whose members are, more often than not, engaged in some of the most demanding and high-profile criminal work in the country.

For any barrister who spends a significant part of their working life at the Old Bailey, membership of the Mess is the natural way to remain connected to the professional community that makes that building, for all its pressures, a place worth belonging to.