Monopoly asks Newbury if it is ‘too posh’ for an Old Kent Road

Monopoly might need its own Get out of Jail Free card after finding itself struggling to fill its own Newbury edition board.

The London-based games company Winning Moves cannot secure an ‘Old Kent Road’ equivalent in Newbury.

Newbury came out top in a competition against other high-profile UK market towns to secure its own Monopoly board earlier this year.

But after inviting public suggestions for local landmarks to fill the board, the game bosses found themselves scratching their heads.

Votes poured in for the Newbury ‘Mayfair’ equivalents to feature on the game’s top spot but business was almost non-existent for an Old Kent Road – the lowest ranking square on the board.

“Newbury may well be too well-heeled for an Old Kent Road equivalent,” said custom games executive at Winning Moves John Keen-Tomlinson.

“Monopoly without an Old Kent Road would be like playing the game without dice.

“The Old Kent Road square from the classic London original is, as far as we are concerned, extremely high cachet because it is high profile, much talked about and features on the box lid.

“There’s a card ‘sending’ players back to this space in the game meaning it’s much well frequented. The deadline for design and production is only a few weeks away.

“At this rate, I could end up in the Monopoly jail over this.”

It is hoped that the game will be out in time for Christmas.

Until then, Winning Moves is opening up a snap one-week consultation process to find its Old Kent Road.

Mr Keen Tomlinson added: “Maybe the oldest place in Newbury could feature on the square, or somewhere that is thrifty, bearing in mind the square is Monopoly’s most affordable location.”

Suggestions can be sent to newbury@winningmoves.co.uk or via the official Newbury MONOPOLY Facebook site.

The consultation period began today (Thursday) and will run until midnight on Wednesday, May 31.