Pass GO and collect the brand-new official MONOPOLY: Bristol Edition game, which has been launched today. The board showcases the great and good of Bristol – from the Clifton Suspension Bridge to the University. And we get to star in it too! The Bristol Pitbulls feature on a pink square.
“We have been wonderfully spoiled with choices when putting this game together,” says John Keen-Tomlinson at Winning Moves UK, who is producing the board, under license from Hasbro, a leading toy and game company. The game is themed in sets – from shopping to leisure, entertainment to education – and more. The four train stations from the classic MONOPOLY original proved to be a challenge for the MONOPOLY makers as the city only has two main-line stations. In the end, the quartet of MONOPOLY prime estate takes on a ‘travel theme’, adding another theme to the sets.
In all 30+ of Bristol’s finest landmarks are honoured on the board. The Clifton Suspension Bridge gets to land on the top ‘Mayfair’ spot from the classic MONOPOLY original, whilst College Green takes up occupancy on ‘Old Kent Road’ at the other end of the board. Inbetween are Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the University of Bristol, Bristol Airport, OVO, Bristol Pride Festival, Hargreaves Lansdown – and around 25 other top Bristol landmarks and organisations. Three charities also get to ‘Pass GO’, following a public vote. They are: The Grand Appeal, Bristol Animal Rescue Centre and Empire Fighting Chance.
Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol – who encouraged Bristolians to suggest their favourite landmarks and charities to feature on the board when the announcement of the new game was made earlier in the year – says: “There’s been such enthusiasm for a new Bristol Edition of MONOPOLY, celebrating our great city. Like many Bristolians, I’m excited to see which locations the MONOPOLY team have picked to be on the board!”
In true MONOPOLY style OVO has landed a big double. OVO not only stars on a utility square – the Electric Company from the classic MONOPOLY original. It also hosted today’s official launch of the game, where Mr. Monopoly formally unveiled the game. Alex Doorey, VP of Corporate Affairs and Marketing at OVO, says: “We’re excited to have landed on the Utility square on the iconic MONOPOLY board. It’s a time to celebrate what the city has to offer, with local organisations and charities taking part in the game, and bring the community together. Bristol is an iconic and vibrant city and we’re very proud to host the launch at our headquarters.”
Earlier this year, it was announced that Bristol is getting its very own official version of the world’s most popular family board game, 23 years after first ‘Passing GO’. “This is a new game for a new generation,” says John Keen-Tomlinson. Over the last 25 years, Winning Moves UK has produced official versions of MONOPOLY from Palm Springs to Phuket and Dubai to Dublin.
MONOPOLY: Bristol Edition is for sale now at Waterstones, WHSmith, Ryman and Bristol Museums’ shops. The game is also extensively available online, including at Booghe, Amazon & Bristol Museums.
