Pass GO. Collect £200. And advance to Harlequin Watford...
And if on your travels, as you whizz your way around the world’s most famous board game, you fancy owning Watford FC – as Sir Elton John once did – well it’s yours. For just Monopoly Money!
It’s all in the game – the brand new and official MONOPOLY: Watford Edition game, which was launched earlier today.
At the Big Reveal this morning at Harlequin Watford, a giant replica of the board was unfurled by Mr. Monopoly, who travelled north from his Mayfair apartment to mark the launch.
Earlier this year it was announced that Hertfordshire’s biggest place is getting a new Monopoly for this Christmas. At the time, Watfordonians were invited to make suggestions for spaces on the board and also wording for the Community Chest and Chance cards.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, says: “This edition brings together so much of what makes our town special, from Watford FC and our best-known landmarks to local schools, charities and community organisations.
“There will be plenty of familiar names for people to discover as they make their way around the board, and I’m sure there will be a few surprises too. With such a strong nod to Sir Elton John and Watford’s own ‘Yellow Brick Road’, this feels like a wonderfully Watford way to celebrate the town. I can see this becoming a very popular Christmas present!”
Yasmin East, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK, says: “Thank you to everyone who took part in our public consultation process. We have been wonderfully spoilt for choice putting the game together.”
As well landmarks and organisations generally, several charities also get to land on their very own Monopoly squares too. Three of these charities each get to feature each of the game’s three Community Chest squares. The trio are (in ascending order of how they appear on the board): Watford Mencap; The Haven, New Hope and the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice.
Other features of the board include:
- HARLE-WIN: Hertfordshire’s leading shopping mall Harlequin Watford gets to land on the board’s second highest ranking square and forms the top set with Watford FC. To buy Harlequin Watford lock. stock and barrel will set players back just three hundred and fifty Monopoly Dollars! In true Monopoly style Harlequin Watford gets to land a double as it has been selected to host the official launch of the game. Simon Plumb, Centre Director at Harlequin Watford, says: “We’re incredibly excited to be part of the new MONOPOLY: Watford Edition celebrating our town. It is a fantastic way to shine a light on the places, people and pride that makes the area so very special – while at the same time giving residents and visitors a fun new way to engage with its story.”
- PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT: Some of the cards pay tribute to Sir Elton John, who appears on the box lid cover of the game. In a clear nod to the former Watford FC Chairman, a bespoke card commands players: ‘Hello, Yellow Brick Road. Advance to Watford FC’. As all football fans know, Yellow Brick Road is a real street in the shadow of Vicarage Road Stadium, where Watford FC play.
- TRAIN STATIONS: The four stations that appear in the London Monopoly classic – like King’s Cross and Liverpool Street – are all handed over to local stations in the town, including Watford Miniature Railway. The Miniature Railway is far from tiny in the game as it gets to land on the HIGHEST ranking station on the board near to the swish expensive sets in the game.
Winning Moves UK produce official Monopoly editions across the globe - under license from Hasbro, a leading games, IP and toy company.
The game is available now at Waterstones and TGJones – as well as at winningmoves.co.uk and widely online.
