The opening reception will take place in a series of mediaeval venues in the heart of Southampton's old town. In a night of enough pastiche and anachronism to make the average mediaevalist weep we will explore the city walls, museums, houses and cellars in the company of jesters, fire eaters, jugglers and a mediaeval Morris. Early music students will play a recital in the Tudor Merchants Hall whilst a troupe of mummers performs in the atmospheric nooks and crannies of the old town, including the normally inaccessible King John's Palace, the Undercroft, Weigh House and Castle Vault. Between 7 and 9pm delegates will be invited to tour the venues, drink beer provided by our fine and local Bowman Ales and eat nibbles. Expert guides will be on hand including Southampton's own David Hinton, Duncan Brown and Andy Russell.

Buses leave the conference plenary session at 6:30pm. Delegates will be dropped at one of four starting venues where nibbles, drinks and experts on the buildings and on mediaeval Southampton will be available. From there maps and guides will lead to the other venues, all within very easy walk. For later on in the evening the old town is filled with restaurants and a series of lively mediaeval pubs, including one whose back room we have taken over for the evening. Maps, handouts and brightly-t-shirted student guides will be supplied!

The opening reception has been very generously sponsored by the Southampton City Council and by the School of Humanities at the University of Southampton.