London MONOPOLY makers say the new official MONOPOLY: Bradford Edition is coming about following the city recently being crowned the very first ‘UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) City of Film’ as well as officially becoming ‘England’s curry capital’.

The city had been on a general MONOPOLY shortlist for a remake and revamp for 2011 alongside many other regional locations from the East of England including Doncaster, Halifax, Huddersfield, King’s Lynn, Lincoln, Ripon, Scarborough, Wakefield and Wetherby.

But now Bradford is Passing GO, having beaten all these cities and towns, to get its very own game for this Christmas.

The game will hit shop shelves in October (2011).

The public will be asked to vote to shape the new board in general – with around 30 regional landmarks replacing the likes of Oxford Street and Park Lane – as well as offering suggestions for the board’s most expensive site in particular, which is exclusive Mayfair.

The game’s makers say Bradford, Ilkley, Saltaire and Haworth will all feature on the board, which will see the famous MONOPOLY London streets taking on a distinct Bradford flavour and feel, as well as other customised themes.

So perhaps:

• City Hall – the seat of local ‘government’ – could replace Whitehall from the original traditional London MONOPOLY game?

• Or a newspaper could land on Fleet Street, traditional home of the British newspaper industry?

• Kirkgate Shopping Centre could maybe take up occupancy on Oxford Street (home of British shopping)?

• Although all the traditional playing pieces remain the same - the old boot and dog for example – already in pre-polling some of the public have suggested a film-reel or chilli should become a counter.

• Leeds Road - Bradford’s ‘Curry Mile’ - could even appear on a red (hot) site such as Trafalgar Square which appears on a red location on the original board. Price to purchase: M240. On the original traditional MONOPOLY board the prices were in sterling but now they are in an international MONOPOLY ‘M’ currency.  

And as far as the top price Mayfair space is concerned already in advance polling by the game’s makers they have shortlisted the following five landmarks as contenders to occupy the board’s loftiest position, which is priced on the board at  M400. So in alphabetical order the five are:

• Alhambra Theatre

• Bradford City Hall

• Brontë Parsonage Museum

• National Media Museum

• Salts Mill 

Other leading landmarks set to appear on the board include Odsal Stadium, St. George’s Hall and Valley Parade. The famous winding cobbled street in Haworth Village is also in the running to feature on the new board, along with Ilkley Moor.

Winning Moves UK is the leading games company with the license from MONOPOLY owners Hasbro to produce this customised game. xx from Winning Moves UK says:

“We are delighted to be making this announcement. It was always a case of when we did Bradford rather than if. But the recent film and curry awards and accolades made it a very easy decision for us for this year. The board will include the wonderful landmarks of the region - not just of Bradford but Ilkley, Saltaire and Haworth as well.”

The spirit and shape of this customised edition will remain the same as with the traditional MONOPOLY board game that was first introduced in 1935 when Parker Brothers began selling the MONOPOLY property trading game. It would quickly become a cultural phenomenon. Seventy-six-years later, more than one billion people in 111 countries have played the game.

The MONOPOLY: Bradford Edition will be available at leading stores from October (2011) including at: Amazon.co.uk, Asda, all four Bradford Visitor Information Centres, Debenhams, HMV, PLAY.com, Tesco, Toys R Us, Waterstones and  WH Smith.