If you have any questions about the STAF’23 social events, please reach out to our Social Chair, Roy Crole.
Tues 18th July (6-7pm): Welcome Reception
Networking with drinks and refreshments at the College Court Café and Bar area, along with live music by pianist Jonathan Jarvis and access to the garden.
The welcome reception is open to all STAF’23 attendees (even if your registration ticket doesn’t cover Tuesday).
Weds 19th July (5:15–10:30pm): Excursion & Banquet
On the evening of 19th July, those participants who have booked the conference dinner will also have the opportunity to visit St Mary de Castro Church. Transport from the conference venue (College Court) will be provided, along with a return bus.
St Mary’s was built around 1107 on the site of an earlier Saxon Church. The church was built as the chapel to a Castle and was established by Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester who founded a college of a dean and twelve secular cannons “to sing mass, and to prayer for the souls of the said founder within the Parish Church of Our Lady”. The church is a Grade I Listed building.
The STAF conference banquet will then take place at Bistrot Pierre, a French restaurant in the city centre (8-10 Millstone Lane, Leicester, LE1 5JN).
The dinner is included in the price of our 4-day registration ticket. For attendees holding 2- or 1-day tickets, dinner tickets can be purchased for £72 (£60 + £12 VAT).
The schedule for the evening is as follows:
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5:15pm: board buses at College Court. [ https://goo.gl/maps/4qKupAGhGcYzXSEV6 ]
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5:30pm: buses depart.
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5:50–6pm: buses arrive at St Mary de Castro (and drop off in Castle Street). [ https://goo.gl/maps/N7YrhRRQSNVSd9Df9 ]
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6–7pm: there will be a short historical introduction to the Church, following an Organ piece on entry. You will then be free to walk round the church, chat to the guides, and select a glass of sparkling wine or juice.
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7pm: We will walk to the restaurant. There will be Leicester locals to lead the way, but you may care to set your phone in advance to navigate from the Church to Bistro Pierre in case you get separated from the group. Please check the weather before boarding the bus; if it is likely to rain bring an umbrella or small rain coat.
PLEASE BRING YOUR DINNER TICKET, DISTRIBUTED AT REGISTRATION, WHICH HAS YOUR MENU CHOICES PRINTED ON THE BACK -
7:15pm: arrive at Bistrot Pierre for the STAF conference banquet. [ https://goo.gl/maps/9mCzyqAVg2MKWHc56 ]
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10:15pm: buses back to College Court will depart from Bistrot Pierre.