COLCHESTER’S Monopoly board will include a hair salon, two fee-paying schools and a fancy hotel, the Gazette can reveal.

The board will be officially unveiled at a glitzy ceremony today at the Mercury Theatre.

It sees more than 30 Colchester organisations, including Alter Ego hair salon, in Church Street, Holmwood House School and Little Garth School, replacing the famous London squares in the Hasbro game.

But there is no space, for Firstsite, Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester Town Hall, Essex University and Colchester Royal Grammar School.

The top two squares on the board go to Jumbo water tower and Colchester Castle.

The Norman keep will make its home on the swish Mayfair while the historic water tower will sit on the coveted Park Lane square.

Colchester Zoo will take on the mantle of Old Kent Road while the town’s war memorial, in Cowdray Crescent, steps in for Pall Mall.

The Mercury Theatre is on Whitehall.

The town’s flagship store, Fenwick - formerly Williams and Griffin - has landed on Vine Street while the high-end Greyfriars is on Piccadilly.

The Dutch Quarter has been named as the town’s hippest place and will take on The Angel, Islington square - the trendiest square according to board developers.

Emma Lodwick, games executive at Winning Moves UK, which has created the game under licence from Hasbro, said: “The board is a celebration of Colchester and we would like to thank everyone who has voted for the landmarks that appear and star on it.

Gazette:

“It features the great and the good of Britain’s oldest reputed town and we are sure reflects its rich heritage.”

Ms Lodwick added Jumbo was backed to appear at the game summit by a “huge” margin after a public vote.

Paul Smith, Colchester Council leader, said: “With visitor numbers at record levels the Colchester Monopoly board will be a great reminder – and memento - of a visit to Britain’s oldest recorded town.”

Steve Mannix, executive director at the Mercury Theatre, said: “We’re delighted to feature prominently on the board and to be hosting the official launch of the game.

“The board has brought together some of the very best landmarks and locations in the town.

“It’s a great way to celebrate our fantastic town.”

St Helena Hospice and Colchester Zoo charity Action for the Wild will appear in the Community Chest squares.

The board is on sale from today from stores including Fenwick, The Range, Waterstones, WH Smith, Smyths and The Works.

It will also be available online at Amazon and Toys ‘R’ Us.