Launch of Highland and Islands edition of Monopoly

The new MONOPOLY: Highlands and Islands Edition was launched today (Tuesday) at Loch Ness, which has grabbed the top property usually occupied by Mayfair, on the new game. Ben Nevis lands on ‘Old Kent Road’ and the Town House at Inverness also features. The customised board, featuring more than 30 Highlands and Islands landmarks, was unveiled by Mark Marriott, Commercial Director of the game’s maker Winning Moves UK – along with The Provost of Inverness Jimmy Gray. 

Mr Marriott said: “Without the great Highlands and Islands public this game could not have been produced so we would like be formally thanking everyone now.”  

David Bremner, Director of The Loch Ness centre and Exhibition, said: “We are delighted that Loch Ness has been chosen to represent the ‘Mayfair’ site on the new official Highlands & Islands version of MONOPOLY. Every year our beautiful area continues to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world and all of us at the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition feel very honoured to fill this most prestigious space.  It’s a great promotion for the area – and great news for the length and breadth of the Highlands.” 

The spirit and shape of this customised edition remains the same as with the traditional MONOPOLY board game that was first introduced 75 years ago. In 1935, Parker Brothers began selling the MONOPOLY property trading game, which would quickly become a cultural phenomenon. Seventy-five-years later, more than one billion people in 111 countries have played the game.

Provost of Inverness Jimmy Gray, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee, said: “We are delighted that Inverness Town House features in the Highlands and Islands edition of MONOPOLY. We hope that this new edition will entice more people to come and visit the area and see for themselves the magnificent quality of environment and lifestyle that we have here in the Highlands and Islands.”  

Priced £25, the game goes on virtual and shop shelves at 10am on Tuesday (19th October 2010) including at: amazon.co.uk, Asda, cultandcool.com, HMV, PLAY.com, Shop Direct, Tesco, The Works, Toys R Us, Waterstones, WH Smith and other leading stores. And it is proving very popular so far – before even a copy has been sold - with advance orders.                                                                                                                                                 -ends-