Well, LeedsBID have only gone and done it again! After turning the city centre into a giant MONOPOLY game in 2024 and then Wonderland in 2025, 2026 sees them tackle Trivial Pursuit. The aim is the same, in that people are challenged with visiting various landmarks in order to answer a question and fill in a game card, but this year the execution is even more spectacular.
2026 marks 400 years since the signing of the charter by King Charles I, which bestowed City Status on Leeds, so the questions are based on the conurbation. Most of my readers outside Yorkshire won’t be aware of the birthday, as we don’t need to go over the top in trying to impress people, like those 250 year-old youngsters across the pond. We know – and that’s all that matters.
As with the board game, the object of the exercise is to fill a hub – in this case an entry card – by answering questions on various subjects; each correct answer earns you a wedge – a sticker. When the hub is filled, there is one final question, on a random category, needed to complete the game. Once this is done, the card is entered into a weekly draw for a prize. In addition to this, if you are at the final destination at the right time, there is a Golden Question which could also win you a fabulous prize.
Like all board games, the real point is to bring people together and interact in a competitive, but friendly, way. It also needs to be cross-generational and this is achieved by the utilisation of two sets of questions, one for the adults and the other for the kids.
The event was launched by Martin Dickson, Director of Brand and Innovation at LeedsBID, which is a non-profit making organisation funded by businesses in the city to encourage people, both residents and tourists, to the centre. He was accompanied by Hannah from Hasbro, the company which owns MONOPOLY and Trivial Pursuit. They were so impressed by the success of the former’s incarnation that they were all for this take on the latter’s and afforded LeedsBID every assistance in making it a success.
Martin and Hannah, being trivial.
The presentation kicked-off in Trinity, which is the site of the quiz machine with the Entertainment wedge at stake. When the question is displayed there are three answers to choose from and you get two chances, so the odds are in your favour. Worry not, should you fail to come up with the correct one, you can have another go. Whatever the outcome there are no losers as you will have learned something about the city I love.
The hub which shows you the location of the quiz machine. This one is on the bridge in Trinity.
There is also a display of fascinating facts about the city.
Obviously, the idea is to get you to see as much of Leeds as possible with each wedge being obtained at a different site. The next on our list was at Wellington Place, which used to be the old railway lifting tower when I was a lad, and is where you can collect the Geography one.
The entrance is round the back, inside the museum dedicated to the place. Another piece of history brought to life. This morning there was a surprise for us.
Yes, it’s Pudsey Bear, and not only the current one, but the original which was created in Pudsey and first used in the Children In Need telethon in 1985; he has been a regular ever since. Here he is in front of the fact display cabinet chaperoned by Quiz Pine and Trivia Newton-John. Don’t blame me for those names.
It’s worth hanging around, although not literally, to see the amazing tower in all its glory.
When you have got all six wedges; the other four are Sports & Leisure at Merrion Centre, Science & Nature at Victoria Gate, History at Royal Armouries and Art & Literature at Leeds Corn Exchange, you need to make your way to Leeds City Museum, the central hub. This is where you will need to answer a seventh, random, question to complete your challenge.
This is also the place you get your mind blown! The hall in which the quiz machines are situated has been turned into a huge Trivial Pursuit board with screens all around showing videos of aspects of Leeds. They play simultaneously although only one at a time will have the sound on but all display subtitles. When we were there it was the Entertainment category which we could hear; Alex Zane recounting the many musical treats at Roundhay Park over the years, from the Dave Clarke Five, through the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Ed Sheeran, to this year’ festival starring Pitbull and Lewis Capaldi.
Having answered the final question, you hand your game card to one of LeedsBID’s assistants who will make sure it is entered into the draw. The prizes change every week, so you can keep coming back to play all over again. For a limited time there is also a daily Golden Question when the screens turn gold and one of those present gets the chance to answer to win a £500 holiday voucher from Hays Travel. The time of this varies and the category is random.
That man Martin again, having just answered – or guessed – the Golden Question correctly. Sadly no prize as the game didn’t go live until the following day. Right place, wrong time.
If you find that the distance between the locations is too great, or that you have not allowed enough time to enjoy the experience to its fullest, it doesn’t matter as you can take as many days as you like to complete the hub. If you enjoyed playing the game, then you are welcome to do it again, as many times as you like. It’s free.
As I started by saying, LeedsBID have only gone and done it again.
For full details of the game please click on the link below
To find out more about LeedsBID see https://www.leedsbid.co.uk/
For everything you want to know about Leeds, and what is going on, it is https://welcometoleeds.co.uk/
Photographs by Stan Graham
Tyke It To The Limit 