Warrington 'Passes GO' with its very own Monopoly game

VIDEO:WARRINGTON is set to become the first place in Cheshire to get its very own official Monopoly game – and members of the public have a chance to suggest famous landmarks to feature in the iconic board game.

While Palm Springs, Dubai and Sydney are amongst the most glamorous and glitzy places on earth and honoured with their very own official MONOPOLY game, the company with the license to produce these unique editions is now bestowing the same honour on Warrington.

Still a town, but bidding to win city status in this the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee milestone year, Warrington has seen off nine other places in Cheshire to become the first county place to land its very own official MONOPOLY game.

The Warrington edition of the world’s most popular and famous board game will see the typical addresses, landmarks and playing cards from the original MONOPOLY game, replaced by Warrington landmarks.

Although famed for being a ‘New Town’ that saw a population boom in the 1960s, Warrington’s history dates back to the eighth CENTURY. “We are going to be spoilt for choice with Warrington’s heritage putting this edition together,” says MONOPOLY’s Jennifer Lau.

Warrington becomes the very first Cheshire place to land its own official MONOPOLY game. In 2001 there was a part Chester one, with other Cheshire towns featuring too. No city or town in Cheshire has ever had its very own game. To land the honour Warrington has beaten nine other places including rugby rivals Widnes.

The Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Maureen Creaghan, says: “This is a really exciting opportunity for people to share their ideas about Warrington locations that should be included as part of this iconic game.

“Could we see a MONOPOLY board potentially with the Halliwell Jones Stadium included? Or Walton Hall and Gardens? Or perhaps Gulliver’s World? Our residents and families will have many memories and favourite places across our town, and I look forward to seeing what suggestions are proposed.”

Landmarks that are very likely to be tipped to feature in the board include:

Warrington Town Hall – maybe to land on ‘Whitehall’ from the game’s classic London original.
The Transporter Bridge – on a train station. The four train stations for this game are being handed over to a ‘travel’ theme.
Halliwell Jones Stadium – this could feature on a blue square bearing in mind Super League Warrington Wolves’ club colours.
Lymm Dam – this could appear on the Water Works square.
IKEA – in recognition of the Swedish firm’s first store in the UK – in Warrington in 1987 – this also could be on a blue or a yellow square (the colours of Sweden’s national flag).

“But everything is up for grabs,” adds Ms Lau from Winning Moves UK, who are the makers of this new version of MONOPOLY, who are producing the game under official licensing from Hasbro.

Over the last 25 years Winning Moves UK has been producing official versions of MONOPOLY all over the world from Palm Springs to Dubai, The Hamptons to Harrogate. Now the MONOPOLY dice are rolling upon Warrington

At today’s announcement that Warrington is landing the honour of its own customised MONOPOLY game, the public will be invited to suggest local landmarks to feature in the game. “The game will reflect the flavour and feel of these suggestions,” adds Ms Lau, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK, who are the makers of the board under official license from Hasbro.

“The public consultation process will last for ten days.

“The game will be themed in sets largely around different genres. From sport to shopping, business to heritage. Chance and Community Chest cards will be themed too. For example, one could send players ‘Back 3 Spaces’ for getting stuck in traffic on the M56 and M62.

The board will hit the shops this October (2022), in time for Christmas. But before it goes into production the public is being invited to suggest Warrington landmarks and cards to feature in the game, by either of these two ways: 1. By email to: [email protected] . 2 Via the official Warrington MONOPOLY Facebook page. Polling starts at 10am on Tuesday 1^st March and closes at 23.59pm on 9^th March.