MONOPOLY Peterborough Edition board game launches at Posh

Peterborough United will appear in the biggest bucks section of the board.

And they will be in good company, joined by Peterborough Cathedral, grabbing between them swish ‘Park Lane’ and ‘Mayfair’ from the game’s classic original.

The Big Reveal of the MONOPOLY: Peterborough Edition game is taking place today at the Weston Homes Stadium, where Mr MONOPOLY is rolling out a giant version of the board to mark the launch.

When the Peterborough edition of the game was announced earlier this year, the public was invited to send in suggestions for landmarks and organisations to feature.

Landing at the top of the boards is Peterborough Cathedral.

At the other end, ‘Old Kent Road, the game’s most affordable square, is Flag Fen.

This, say the game’s makers, is on account of it being so old. The site is famous for its Bronze Age archaeology.

In between are The Guildhall, the Old Customs House and the university – with, in all, 30+ Peterborough landmarks and organisations featuring in the game.

“We have been absolutely spoilt with choices when putting this MONOPOLY board together,” says Yasmin East, custom games executive at Winning Moves UK.

“We produce official MONOPOLY games based on places all over the world, including in recent years Palm Beach, Dubai, Phuket and The Hamptons.

“Now, Peterborough has joined the world’s MONOPOLY elite!”

Peterborough City Council leader Cllr Dennis Jones said: “Never let it be said that we’re a bunch of squares in Peterborough – this is something we’ve been looking forward to for some time.

“It’s great that Peterborough has been chosen by one of the most famous gaming brands in the world, and we hope that our residents will enjoy making their way around the city from the comfort of their living room and make some excellent investments as they ‘go’.”

Peterborough United get to land a treble – they are hosting the launch; they appear on the Park Lane square from the game’s original and there is also a customised community chest card that sends them to Wembley – rewarding players in the process with MONOPOLY dollars. 

Clive Edwards, head of media and marketing at Peterborough United, said: “We are thrilled to be featuring in the game and on such a prestigious space as Park Lane.

“To be alongside the cathedral, which is rightly a worldwide draw to Peterborough, is a great honour.”

“Thank you to everyone who suggested we feature and so prominently too!”.

Paul Stainton, head of marketing and communications at the cathedral, said: "We’re absolutely delighted to see Peterborough Cathedral landing in such prime real estate on the new MONOPOLY board.

“It’s not every day you get to roll the dice and land a cathedral on Mayfair.

“We can’t wait to see all of Peterborough's landmarks in this fun, family-favourite game - it’s the perfect way to show off the best of our city."

As there are not four main-line Peterborough train stations to fill the quartet of train station spots, that part of the part has been handed over to four of the many ‘Gates’ that protected Peterborough from ancient times to the early 1800s.

However, there is still good news for local train lovers.

That’s because the much-loved steam-operated Nene Valley railway gets to star on its very own square, as does The Railworld Wildlife Haven, which has a miniature railway.

Ms East adds: “We wanted to find a way to celebrate Peterborough’s love of the railway, and we are thrilled to have done so. The nominations for Nene Valley were very many.”

Railworld Wildlife Haven is one of four charities that also get to feature.

The other three are: The Light Project, Little Miracles and Up The Garden Bath.

Ms East adds: “The response from the public to the MONOPOLY: Peterborough Edition has been beyond our most optimistic expectations.”

In addition to the bespoke squares, the chance and community chest cards are customised too.

One fines players for defying the city’s controversial ‘bike ban’ on Bridge Street’.

The MONOPOLY: Peterborough Edition is now available to buy at Waterstones and WHSmith as well as online, including at Booghe.co.uk and Amazon.co.uk.