New Venue for Continuum 2008

Darran

Mongoose
Well we will have a brand spanking new venue for Continuum 2008 on the Friday 1st to Monday 4th August 2008.
The New Hall [also known as the John Foster Hall] Manor Road, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 2LG, is part of the University of Leicester's halls of residence.
Completed in October 2006, this is a brand new building with modern conference facilities.

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The amphitheatre in front of the main Conference Building

The Continuum Committee have a site meeting this weekend where we will have a good look around at the venue to check its suitability for our needs.
The good thing is that we will have a greater number of en suite bedrooms to offer our membership along with more conference space to use for gaming rooms.

The conference organisers at the University of Leicester have sent us these publicity photos of the venue and they do look fantastic!
I am certainly looking forward to seeing the new venue so expect more photographs as I snap away.

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The Conference Building entrance foyer. Note the plasma screen.

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The Swithland & Tilton conference room. Note the sliding partition that makes it two rooms.

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The Oakham & Rothley conference room. Note the sliding partition that makes it two rooms.

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The Main Dining Hall.

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The Bar!

See some more photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darran/sets/72157600421716341/
 
I have just come back form the site visit with the rest of the Continuum Committee.
The new venue is very much 21st Century with curves, glass, beech woodclading, Intergrated PA and IT systems, and steel.

We do have some Edwardian style though for some of the gaming rooms and for the Freeformers.

More news once I have uploaded the photos.

Loz will also issue an offical announcement soon.
 
How times change - when I went to Conjunction of a Million Spheres, the first UK RQ-con and the grand-daddy of Continuum, three of us slept in a car in the carpark.

Now we'll sleep in en-suite rooms in a space-age conference centre.

Looks very nice, though.
 
soltakss said:
How times change - when I went to Conjunction of a Million Spheres, the first UK RQ-con and the grand-daddy of Continuum, three of us slept in a car in the carpark.

Now we'll sleep in en-suite rooms in a space-age conference centre.

I think at our age we need those creature comforts now! :lol:


'Conjunction of a Million Spheres' was that the one in Cambridge?
 
Darran said:
'Conjunction of a Million Spheres' was that the one in Cambridge?

Yep, it spawned Convulsions (of a Trillion Tentacles - note the similar name) which spawned Tentacles and Continuum.

We read about it in White Dwarf, it was advertised for the next week, so we didn't have time to book rooms, we couldn't afford it anyway. So, three of us went down in Ady's Allegro, parked in the car park, played some games, went to the discussions, spent the evening between the Real Ale bar and talking to Greg Stafford, then slept in the car, ready for the next day.

On the Sunday, Greg read from his upcoming book "King of Sartar" which basically told us how Argrath destroyed the Lunar Empire, which was all new back then, and it was magical. Someone scribbled notes, typed it up and sent me a copy later on. We bought something as a group from the auction about the Colymar Tribe. When it finished, we drove back to Coventry very happy indeed.
 
Yeah, that was the first RQ-Con I went to then.
We spent most of our time in the seminars or in the bar!

The good thing with this new venue is the fact that there are lifts in the conference centre and in the accommodation blocks.
No more lugging bags upstairs! :D
 
(Disclaimer - this post is purely for comic sarcasm is is not intended to create any flame wars, either real or imagined).

All of this is just proof that HeroQuest makes you soft. Back when we were all RQ'ers we slept in our cars, lugged luggage up stairs (that's why they call it luggage you know), and drank cheap beer out of warm cans we'd brought with us in our trunks. And we liked it.
 
Rurik said:
(Disclaimer - this post is purely for comic sarcasm is is not intended to create any flame wars, either real or imagined).

All of this is just proof that HeroQuest makes you soft. Back when we were all RQ'ers we slept in our cars, lugged luggage up stairs (that's why they call it luggage you know), and drank cheap beer out of warm cans we'd brought with us in our trunks. And we liked it.

Tell the kids of today that now and they will not believe you! :wink:
 
Accommodation at John Foster Hall.

I thought I would go through and mention about the accommodation we have at John Foster Hall for Continuum 2008.
The Conference Facilities Building is centred amongst the new and very modern development that consists of several pavilion style accommodation blocks.
Each pavilion block is four-stories high and each floor contains two flats.
Each flat has four or five single occupancy en suite bedrooms and a shared kitchen and lounge.
This means that a group of five friends can share a flat together as they share the communal space together but also five strangers can occupy a flat as each bedroom has its own key.

The kitchen is fully functional with fridge/freezer, microwave, electric oven, electric kettle, iron, ironing boards, vacuum cleaner, mop and bucket, and a selection of cutlery and crockery. There is also a large kitchen table with five chairs as well as plenty of worktop space for food preparation. A full list of contents will be posted nearer the time of the convention.

Just off the kitchen is the lounge area. The lounge has a large window lets in plenty of daylight. There are five comfy lounge chairs and a small coffee table making this a nice place to relax in. There are ten chairs in total in the kitchen/lounge making it very useful for running games in, you can either be in the lounge or around the table in the kitchen. There is plenty of space to move about, even for those of us who are ‘standard gamer size’!
With each flat having this extra space ideal for gaming this opens up the possibility that more games can be ran during the convention. Just book the time and space with your flatmates first. Advertise your game with pavilion name and flat number and your gamers can arrive at your pavilion and ring your doorbell to be let in. Or just run the game for all your flatmates, whether you know them or not, simple!

You will be issued a set of keys when you register at the main reception desk in the Conference Facilities Building. The main key will open the door to your flat as well as your own bedroom door. The little key will open the post box in the pavilion entrance foyer and the key fob itself will open the main door to the pavilion electronically. The flats are numbered 1 to 8 while the bedrooms in each flat are lettered A to E.

All accommodation will be single occupancy bedrooms with en suite bathroom. You will be issued a set of towels and some basic toiletries but you will need to bring with you your own wash kits, bathrobes and other personal hygiene items. The bathroom will have toilet roll and the single bed will have fresh bed sheets, two pillows with fresh pillowcases and a duvet with bedspread.
There is a desk in your bedroom with built-in drawers, shelves by the window, a desk lamp, mini-kettle with a small selection of tea/coffee condiments, two power sockets, a phone, and an Internet connection. We do not currently have a list of the charges for using the phone or connecting to the Internet as yet.
Next to the desk is a medium-sized wardrobe with space to hang clothes as well as plenty of shelves to store folded clothes or other items.
The en suite bathroom, consisting of toilet, washbasin and shower cubicle, is located as you enter the bedroom. It has its own lockable door and is light and airy.

The good thing about this accommodation is that it is brand new. Very little wear & tear would have happened over the two years that it has been opened and even students will treat things better when they are new!


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The front of the Pavilion [accommodation blocks]. Each has a wide path to the doorway and has plenty of lush growth between each of the pavilions. There is also plenty of car parking nearby.


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The front door of one the pavilions. The main door is nice and wide for easy access.

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Door bells to each of the flats in the pavilion. The key fob on your room keys will open the pavilion door electronically.

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The post boxes for the flats. The small key on your room keys will open your flat’s post box.

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The entrance foyer of the pavilion. Note the lift for easy access to the higher floors avoiding all those stairs.

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The inside of the lift. Plenty of space to get your luggage in and up to your room.

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The inside of one of the bedrooms. A single bed with a bedside table unit and light. A set of towels with basic toiletries will be waiting you on arrival.

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The desk in one of the bedrooms. There is a desk lamp, a phone, mini-kettle with tea/coffee condiments, an Internet connection, and two power sockets.

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The mini-kettle and tea/coffee condiments on the desk. Just bring extra if you drink many a cuppa.

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The inside of the wardrobe in the bedroom. Plenty of space for all your clothes [and all those frocks for the freeforms!]

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The en suite bathroom with shower. The shower cubicle is large with a modern shower unit.

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The kitchen and lounge area in one of the flats. Perfect area to socialise with your fellow flat mates as you cook, clean, iron your clothes or have a drink. This is also big enough to host a game in either at the kitchen table or in the lounge area or both! Just reach over to the fridge to get a cold drink or put the kettle on to make a brew.

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The kitchen area of the flats as seen from the lounge area. A nice large kitchen table, with five chairs, to eat your meals from or play some excellent games!

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The lounge area as seen from the kitchen. Five comfy chairs with a coffee table in the centre. Ideal for a nice and relaxed game?

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The fridge/freezer, microwave and electric oven. Plenty of worktop space to prepare your meals and lots of cupboard space for storage.

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Everything including the kitchen sink!
 
Soltkass wrote:
>Yep, it spawned Convulsions (of a Trillion Tentacles - note the similar name) which spawned Tentacles and Continuum. <

This is not true.
The first Tentacles Convention was held 11 years ago (1996), but it was the 18th convention (starting in 1990) of the german RuneQuest Gesellschaft e.V. (aka The Chaos Society).
Tentacles Convention was a continuation of the german RuneQuest Con, which started at the same time as Conjuction... and nobody of the founders of the RQ Gesellschaft e.V. attended it, or was inspired by it.

But in one thing you are right:
Tentacles and Continuum are both great conventions for RuneQuest, all other D100 based games, the world of Glorantha, and HeroQuest.
Go there!


Cheers

Osentalka
 
soltakss said:
Darran said:
'Conjunction of a Million Spheres' was that the one in Cambridge?

Yep, it spawned Convulsions (of a Trillion Tentacles - note the similar name) which spawned Tentacles and Continuum.

The other offspring of Conjunction returns to Cambridge in a couple of weeks time as recombination. It is not specifically a Gloranthan convention (although there are a number of regulars who are also to be found at Continuum).

The ancestor of Conjunction was Koancon, which ran for three years in Coventry, as a "fan organised" alternative to TSR's "Games Fair" in Reading or Games Workshop's "Dragonmeet" - although SF conventions had included some gaming elements, Koancon was, to the best of my knowledge, the first Fan-organised residential convention in the UK.
 
Osentalka said:
Soltkass wrote:
>Yep, it spawned Convulsions (of a Trillion Tentacles - note the similar name) which spawned Tentacles and Continuum. <

This is not true.
The first Tentacles Convention was held 11 years ago (1996), but it was the 18th convention (starting in 1990) of the german RuneQuest Gesellschaft e.V. (aka The Chaos Society).
Tentacles Convention was a continuation of the german RuneQuest Con, which started at the same time as Conjuction... and nobody of the founders of the RQ Gesellschaft e.V. attended it, or was inspired by it.

Many apologies, I was misinformed by people who I thought would know better.



duncan_disorderly said:
The ancestor of Conjunction was Koancon, which ran for three years in Coventry, as a "fan organised" alternative to TSR's "Games Fair" in Reading or Games Workshop's "Dragonmeet" - although SF conventions had included some gaming elements, Koancon was, to the best of my knowledge, the first Fan-organised residential convention in the UK.

Koancon. That takes me back. I never went, but wasn't that originally based at or connected to Warwick University? Hence the name, from the Koan (Cone), a huge rotating mosntrosity of a piece of artwork that should have gone on top of the Arts Centre but was too heavy, so they plonked it on the grass outside. I suppose I should have gone, having been a student at Warwick, but at the time I wasn't that interested in conventions. I probably had better things to do back then ....
 
soltakss said:
duncan_disorderly said:
The ancestor of Conjunction was Koancon, which ran for three years in Coventry, as a "fan organised" alternative to TSR's "Games Fair" in Reading or Games Workshop's "Dragonmeet" - although SF conventions had included some gaming elements, Koancon was, to the best of my knowledge, the first Fan-organised residential convention in the UK.

Koancon. That takes me back. I never went, but wasn't that originally based at or connected to Warwick University? Hence the name, from the Koan (Cone), a huge rotating mosntrosity of a piece of artwork that should have gone on top of the Arts Centre but was too heavy, so they plonked it on the grass outside. I suppose I should have gone, having been a student at Warwick, but at the time I wasn't that interested in conventions. I probably had better things to do back then ....

That's the one. The organisers were all (or nearly all) students at Warwick. I wasn't, but I didn't have anything better to do, so I went to them all... At the first one, the University provided coffee and biscuits mid morning and mid-afternoon, because that's what they normally did for conferences....
 
An update from Lawrence Whitaker

Greetings Continuees,

The membership list has been updated - twice for some of you (and we know who you are, and are attending to that small matter! Its not a cunning way of boosting the members' list... just my clumsy keyboard skills) so please check Http://www.continuum.uk.net and the Cast and Crew drop-down. If you're not on there and should be, please drop me a line.

The programme is developing with the usual litany of clashes, ums, ahs and 'where do we schedule that?' headaches, but really, its looking good and solid. Lots of Glorantha panels because there are lots of Glorantha announcements and updates. On that Gloranthan note, we're holding a 'So You're New to Glorantha?' panel. This is for all those Continuees who are interested in learning more about Greg Stafford's most famous creation, and how to get into the setting for gaming. We'll also be holding a special Gloranthan scenario especially for neophites, showcasing the HeroQuest 2 ruleset. This is your chance to discover the rich and wonderous setting of Glorantha!

However, we have some interesting discussion panels on other subjects, including 'Faith and Roleplaying part II' - a follow-on to Dr Moose's very popular panel from Continuum 2006. Greg Stafford will be hosting another bout of Saurintology so you can discover your Inner Dinosaur, and Mark Galeotti will be plunging into 'History and Role-playing'. With all the buzz around Dark Heresy, our own Mike Mason will be hosting a panel to discuss the game, its history and where it's going. And, for all those Moorcock fans, I'll be hosting an Eternal Champion panel to bring you up to speed with news on what's happening with the Mongoose gaming line based on Mike's books and to talk about how the Elric and Hawkmoon games developed into their current incarnations.

The membership list stands at 183 and we're looking to break that magical 200 number. So if you haven't signed-up yet, get your skates on; and, if you have a friend or friends (let's face it, who doesn't?) who's thinking of coming to Continuum, or maybe not even considered it, give 'em a push in the right direction.

Some of you have asked me about freeform sign-ups. Simon Bray, Grand Constable of Freeformshire, will be publicising details very soon.
The delay is threefold: first, we're still getting freeform details from the relevant GMs/writers; second, we had hoped to have online sign-up but that's not looking possible, so we're swinging into Cunning Plan B; and thirdly, we have some clashes to resolve so that we get a good, fair, equitable spread. But you'll be able to sign-up for your freeforms very, very soon. And, if you've never freeformed before, but feel like giving it a go, please let us know and we'll be happy to guide you through how it all works and pair you up with one of our Freeform Mentors so that you can get the most out of your freeforming experience.

As already notified, there'll be the Continuum Auction. Mike Mason will be sending out more details soon, and we'll be adding the auction sheets and labels to the website. So look through your collections and see what you want to turn into hard cash...

So, only 6 weeks to go... Continuum will be with us before you know it...!

Lawrence Whitaker
 
0 Continuum 2008. John Foster Hall [also known as New Hall], Leicester University. UK.
Friday 1st - Monday 4th August 2008.
http://www.continuum.uk.net


To all freeform fans,

The Continuum Freeform sign up has gone live today 24th June 2008.
There are six games (one running twice) for you to play in.

http://grahamrobinson.com/freeforms

1) BEST OF THE WURST
"It is Friday the 13th of November 1942. You are in Occupied Brittany, in the sleepy town of Quimper, near Brest.

In the Castle Quimper Hotel, a Sausage-tasting competition is being arranged, ably supported by eminent Charcutières and the hotel staff.
There is a buzz in the air, as a very important guest is anticipated by all present."

BASIC INFORMATION
A Game for 9 Players
Saturday 10am-12pm
Entrance Fee £2.00

2) CARRY ON AT CAMP DAVID
Carry on at Camp David is set at Camp David, the US President's official rural retreat. President David Nixody has broken off trade negotiations to hold a reception in honour of astronaut Buzz Leapyear who is to be presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor. It is a relaxed, informal occasion, and the speeches are expected to be kept short.

BASIC INFORMATION
Number of players: 18 (5 female, 11 male, 2 gender-neutral)
Saturday 8pm-11pm
Entrance Fee £2.00

3) DIAMOND GEEZERS
"The Millennium Dome was raided earlier today by an intrepid armed gang, who used a JCB to break in and steal the De Beers diamonds worth an estimated 220 million pounds. They escaped by speedboat up the Thames."

"If you have any information as to their whereabouts call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

The governor Mr Jackson told you to come to meet him early at the lock up, because you're the only one he trusts, but when you got there he was brown bread. Who killed him, who will take over the gang, and most importantly where's the bloody loot?

From the same stable as Farewell Father Ted this short and potentially rather silly game gives you the chance to release your inner East London Gangster.

Game Duration 1 and 1/2 hours, a must for people wishing to try this hobby.

BASIC INFORMATION
This game requires 6 Males and 3 Female players
Sunday 10am-12pm
Entrance Fee £2

4) EVIL HIGH PRIEST II
Tired of goody-two-shoes investigators thwarting your plans to bring on a New Dark Age? Get annoyed when smarmy so-called "heroes" break up your sacrificial rites? No more! Because it's time for EVIL HIGH PRIEST – the LARP where you are the enemy! The stars are right! The spheres clash as horror looms. Humanity is doomed.

All players are awful horrible villains attending the final Grand Conventicle to determine Earth's fate. Play Wilbur Whateley, the High Priest of Leng, the Shoggoth, or Great Cthulhu himself in a darkly humorous game of the Old One's final triumph!

A Game for 31 Players
Duration 6 Hours
1-7pm on Saturday
Entrance Fee £5.00

5) MURDER AT THE GREYDOG INN
The Greydog Inn is heaving. Couples flirt, warriors boast, merchants barter, Lunars and Orlanthi glower at each other over their mead.
Just another typical night. But death walks the darkness, and foul murder is uncovered. The clan honour has been tarnished, and the guilty must be found before the killer strikes again...

"Murder at the Greydog Inn" is a 16 player, 3 hour freeform for 16 players. Written by Graham Robinson.

This event is running twice.
Saturday 9am-12pm
Sunday 9.30am-12.30pm
Entrance Fee £2

6) SURVIVORS OF THE NARONIC
February 11, 1893. In the freezing waters of the mid-Atlantic, the survivors of the SS Naronic await their fate. Despite its being less than a year old, their vessel has sunk in mysterious circumstances. The occupants of its lifeboats have little chance of lasting the night.

The survivors will be rescued, but by a craft thought destroyed and a Captain believed dead. The legend who claims to be 'no man' has saved them for now, but has set course for an erupting volcano.

Sped beneath the seas in a marvel of modern engineering, the SS Naronic's passengers and crew will find themselves in an extraordinary adventure that takes them to an outpost of a vanished civilisation...and perhaps beyond.

Survivors of the Naronic is a rip-roaring game of Victorian adventure and intrigue set in a universe slightly more interesting than our own. The game is inspired by the works of Jules Verne, Maurice Leblanc and others.

In our more mundane world, the Naronic was carrying a crew of cattlemen. In this reality, however, its passengers are European luminaries: Scientists, Celebrities, Scoundrels and Heroes. All have their secret goals and agendas. There will be Bartitsu.

The game last 3-4 Hours approximately.
24 Players
Sunday 2pm-6pm
Entrance Fee £5

All games can be signed up at http://grahamrobinson.com/freeforms

Please note GM's will inform you of receipt of your sign up. They will be casting in a couple of weeks, you will be notified if you are in a game at that point. Only people who have registered to come to the Convention can sign up for Freeforms, please do not waste time registering for games if you are not registered.

Fees are payable on arrival at Continuum and will be added to you bill.

Wild,Wild,Wild,Wild West Freeform

Please note this is a closed game, invitation only which has been sanctioned as by the Committee as part of the wedding celebrations of Jeff Richard and Claudia Loroff. All invites have been issued. There are no places remaining. Please do not contact Jeff or the Committee about this event, unless you have a personal invite. We know this may annoy some guests, but these are special circumstances agreed by committee.
 
July Update 1

Greetings Continuees,

The committee had its final uber-meeting and site recce of John Foster Hall yesterday in order to finalise the programme and where various events will be staged. There will be some amendments to the published schedule as a result, so do keep your eyes on http://www.continuum.uk.net over the next week or so (and here, and over at the Tavern).

Special Room Deal
Our supply of en-suites has been more or less filled, but we have secured some single rooms in the adjacent houses. As these single rooms have shared facilities, we've decided to offer them to those who haven't booked yet at a discount on the normal price. The usual en-suite room-rate is £40, but we're offering shared faciilities singles at £30 per night instead (including breakfast) - a £30 saving if you book for all three nights. However, please note that this offer is unfortunately not open to people who have already booked: the university is already working through the room layouts and, because there are quite a lot of people who have requested to be roomed next to or close to friends and family, it will prove a major headache for the arrangements. So, if you haven't booked already, you do have a choice of an en-suite room at the standard cost (but we are now down to limited places), or a shared facilities single at £30 per night instead. Please let me know if you have any questions.


Continuum Goodies Pre-Orders
We'll be selling Continuum poloshirts as usual - a nice bottle green colour with the con logo - and you again have the option to have your shirt monogrammed with the name or slogan of your choice. Polos cost £20 for a standard or £25 for a monogrammed. If you want a monogrammed shirt, please send us either a cheque or Paypal (payment@continuum.uk.net) payment for £25 before 14th July (cheques payable to Continuum) along with your size (S, M, L, XL, XXL or XXXL), and tell us what you want on the shirt (names/nicknames and nothing offensive!)

We are also proud to have available 'Liber Newtus' and 'Shreds of Light and Reason', con books exclusive to Continuum and packed full of gaming goodness. 'Liber Newtus' is a collection of Newt Newport's superb HeroQuest scenarios for Glorantha and Mythic Russia, whilst SOLAR deals with the Dara Happan empire of Glorantha and collects together old and new material, updated and refined especially for the con. Each book is £15 and we are accepting pre-orders. Again, cheques or Paypal, and clearly stipulating the titles you want to buy.

'Hearts in Glorantha Issue 1' will also be for sale; the new Glorantha fanzine, covering HeroQuest, Mongoose RuneQuest and general sage advice from Gloranthan luminaries. Issues cost £5.

But how about the Continuum super-bundle? Bought individually, all the above goodies would set you back £55/£60 (if you have a monogrammed shirt). Instead, you can pre-order all of the above and receive a £5 discount - so £50 or £55. This is pre-orders only! We'll have your super-bundle ready for collection at registration. Just send us a cheque or Paypal payment by 14th July, clearly marked 'Super-bundle' with your polo shirt details as outlined above.

Please CC the Polo Shirt orders to darransimsATgooglemailDOTcom.

Size small med large x-l 2xl 3xl 4xl 5xl
To Fit 36" 38" 42" 45" 49" 50" 53" 57"

There'll be further updates in the next few days, so watch this space!
 
Continuum 2008, John Foster Hall, Manor Road, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 2LG.

Here is a map showing where the venue is located.


UniLeicesterNewHallMap.jpg
 
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