Ayr in celebration as it wins first prize in Scottish beauty contest with new themed MONOPOLY game
It’s the home of Scotland’s National Bard Robert Burns. It hosts Scotland’s most prestigious racecourse - and race.
And it boasts some of the most stunning coastline in the UK with Royal Troon – where many of the world’s biggest sporting stars have played – its’ crown jewel.
And yes – and it’s the only place in Britain that Elvis Presley ever stepped foot in, coincidentally EXACTLY 60 years ago to the day (if only for two hours!).
Ayr has won a Scottish ‘beauty contest’ – seeing off 19 other places (yes 19!) - to land its very own official version of the MONOPOLY game, it will be announced at 10am on Tuesday (3rd March 2020).
The region is celebrating after games’ bosses studied 19 other Scottish places from The Shetlands to Inverness .. and St. Andrews to The Borders. But it is Ayr ‘Passing GO’ with a game out this October, in time for Christmas.
George Shrimpton, from the game’s makers Winning Moves UK, says:
“We are delighted that the MONOPOLY dice are rolling on Ayr. It has beaten 19 other great Scottish places in a very exciting contest. We studied twenty Scottish places. Very many congratulations to Ayr. We discovered it has lots of hidden treasures – absolutely essential as we need around 30 leading landmarks to fill the board.
“This edition will feature the great and the good of Ayr.”
And the region is queueing up to sing its own praises as the news that Ayr is being honoured with its own official MONOPOLY board – or bard ! – is being hailed as a way to showcase Ayr to the world.
Caroline Smith, the National Trust for Scotland’s Operations Manager at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, says of the news:
“It’s entirely fitting that Ayrshire should have its own version of Monopoly given how much of Scotland’s story was shaped here.
“Ayrshire is chock-full of important landmarks from Culzean Castle to Burns Cottage among many others. As the birthplace and home of Robert Burns, Ayrshire shapes our national culture and international image to this very day.
“Burns himself was in love with the county and wrote: ‘Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a town surpasses, For honest men and bonnie lasses’.
“I’m sure today’s men and lasses of Ayrshire will be delighted with this new themed version of the Monopoly game.”
The new game is set to feature the likes of “everything” Robert Burns including his birthplace, Ayr Racecourse, the airport, some of the very many Castles in Ayr including Culzean Castle. They will get to replace the famous London MONOPOLY classic property spaces like Mayfair and Park Lane. “Ayr has very many crown jewels from racecourse to airport to very many of its Castles and of course absolutely everything Robert Burns,” adds Mr Shrimpton.
“We are sure a great board – or even Bard – will be coming off the production line in time for Christmas. I am sure we are going to be spoilt for choice putting this very special edition together.” Following the announcement, the public will be invited to vote for Ayr landmarks to feature in the game over a two-week period.
The new game will be themed in sets: from tourism to heritage, culture to shopping, hotels to sport, education to business, charity to travel – and more.
There may even be a special Robert Burns set of either two, three or four landmarks honouring him (MONOPOLY sets are either two, three or four).
It would certainly be poetic justice for the literary genius familiarly and lovingly known as – variously – The National Bard, the Bard of Ayrshire – even the Ploughman Bard. He was born in 1759 in Alloway. His most famous work which has been adopted the world over is Auld Lang Syne.
The Chance and Community Chest cards are being Ayr customised too. One card could penalise players for getting stuck in the rough at Royal Troon, Another could reward players for winning first prize in an Elvis lookalike competition.
As every avid British pub quizzer knows – and most Scots too – Elvis Presley’s only ‘visit’ to the UK was on 3rd March 1960, exactly 60 years ago. He was finishing his American army national service in Germany when his plane and he stopped off in Prestwick at the then Prestwick Airport, en route back to the US. During his two-hour stay he was mobbed by fans, some of whom still recall that memorable moment to this day.
Mr Shrimpton, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK - who are producing this game under official license from the MONOPOLY brand, owned by Hasbro – adds:
“We can’t wait to see the suggestions for the MONOPOLY property spaces and cards. Not just specifically which Ayr landmarks should feature – but also on what coloured locations.
For example, a shopping centre on the Oxford Street space? Or a newspaper on Fleet Street? Maybe a local government building on Whitehall? Or somewhere very old on Old Kent Road?
“All of the multi-coloured MONOPOLY property spaces – 22 in total – will be exclusively customised to Ayr leading landmarks and organisations. Additionally, the four train stations will take on a travel theme and most of the Chance and Community Chest cards will be Ayr themed.”
Ayr saw off 19 other Scottish places to land the MONOPOLY honours.
There is a famous Community Chance card in the original MONOPOLY version which says: ‘You have won Second Prize in a Beauty Contest’. Well Ayr has now very much won FIRST prize!
The edition will be available at all major retailers, as well as very widely online including Amazon.
Votes for Ayr landmarks and cards to feature in the game via three ways: 1. By email to:
ayr@winningmoves.co.uk . 2 To the official Ayr MONOPOLY Facebook page. 3. Or by good old fashioned post to: Ayr MONOPOLY, Winning Moves UK, 7 Praed Street, London W2 1NJ. Polling starts at 10am on Tuesday 3rd March 2020 and closes at 23.59pm on 16th March (2020).