MONOPOLY: Newbury Edition officially launched at Newbury Racecourse

Newbury has joined the likes of Palm Springs, Phuket, Dubai and Dublin as its very own official edition of Monopoly was launched this morning (Friday, November 3), writes Harry Craig.

The big reveal took place at The Owners Club at Newbury Racecourse with representatives from local companies and charities featured on the board.

They were joined by a very special guest all the way from London – Mr. Monopoly himself.

He was accompanied by town crier Brian Sylvester and mayor Nigel Foot, to present each group their own game.

The most important guests, however, were the four local charities that take up the Community Chest spaces on the board.

Swings and Smiles, Newbury Soup Kitchen, Eight Bells for Mental Health and Time to Talk were chosen by a public vote to appear on the board.

The latter had been announced in September, with the final three charities announced today.

A representative from Eight Bells said: “[It has been] the hardest secret I’ve had to keep.”

Meryl Praill, CEO and founder of Newbury Soup Kitchen, said: “We are thrilled to be on the board.

“Our aim is to nourish hope and rebuild lives and at the moment that’s what our sole mission is.

“It’s never been more needed than now and to feature prominently on such an iconic board as Monopoly is fantastic for our profile.”

Acknowledging the fact that the soup kitchen – which was set up in 2017 and has since provided approximately 30,000 meals to local people – features on the most populated part of the board, Ms Praill said: “Being in such a busy part of the board is apt as we are the centre of our community.

“Newbury Soup Kitchen serves as a pillar of support for those in need in Newbury and West Berkshire.

“Our approach is holistic, addressing not only the physical hunger but also the emotional and social needs of each person we encounter.”

Speaking to Newburytoday at the launch, Ms Praill added: “This is the great and the good and the moneyed side of the community… but you still have to remember the poverty and the hunger.”

There are over 30 Newbury landmarks on the board, including Highclere Castle, Newbury Racecourse, Parkway and Victoria Park.

This follows the public being invited to send in suggestions for landmarks and organisations to feature in the game earlier this year.

Greenham Common takes up occupancy on ‘Old Kent Road’, which in May the makers of the game said they had initially struggled to fill.

At the other end of the board, Donnington Castle gets the highest-value space on ‘Mayfair’.

They are accompanied in the prestigious final two spots by Newbury Racecourse, which hosted the launch event today.

Our very own Newbury Weekly News fittingly takes up the ‘Fleet Street’ spot.

The board is themed in sets, ranging from heritage and tourism, to shopping and sport.

One of these sets is education-themed, with three of Newbury’s schools making up the penultimate green set including St Gabriel’s School.

Head of Lower School Rebecca Wright said: “We’re really excited to be part of it… alongside so many amazing charities.”

Ms Wright, accompanied by two of the school’s Year 7 students, pledged that their game would be donated to their school board games club.

Camp Hopson has rolled a double, meanwhile, with the popular Newbury department store not only featuring on the most landed-on set on the board, but selling the game too.

Store manager Jo Wakeman said: “We are so thrilled to be part of such an exciting opportunity and journey.

“With Monopoly being such a household name, for Camp Hopson to feature on Newbury’s very own official edition is an absolute honour.

“Not only do we get our very own square, but we also have the privilege of being able to sell the game to our customers.”

The store revealed at the launch that it had already sold 135 sets of the game.

Another fixture of Newbury’s Northbrook Street – Newbury Building Society – features on the board.

It said at the launch: “There’s a square that makes you save; make sure that’s real money, not just Monopoly money.”

The four train stations from the traditional Monopoly board proved a challenge, with the lack of main line train stations to choose from in Newbury.

Instead, these spots took on a travel theme, including Newbury Rail Station and the M4’s Chieveley services.

Even the Chance and Community Chest cards are customised for Newbury – one sees players penalised after their car breaks down on the Robin Hood roundabout.

Custom games executive at Winning Moves UK John Keen-Tomlinson said: “We have been wonderfully spoiled for choices putting this game together.

“The board is a celebration of Newbury’s past, future and present – from the earliest of times to the modern day.”

At the launch, mayor of Newbury Nigel Foot said: “Monopoly in this format usually only applies to big cities.

“Now it features all the places we know and love, and the organisations that we depend on.

“Newbury is delighted to have its very own Monopoly game and to be associated with such a world famous brand.”

Monopoly: Newbury Edition is available at Camp Hopson, The Entertainer, Ryman, Waterstones, No 96 Home & Gifts and The Works,

For those hoping to spend their Christmas playing the game with family and friends, Mr. Monopoly himself confirmed exclusively to Newburytoday that it is an official game rule to collect money whilst in jail.