Putting Brum on the map
Birmingham… UK’s 2nd city… More canals than Venice… Inspiration for Middle earth… Home to comedian Joe Lycett… and talking about that, now celebrated yearly at The International Day of Birmingham.
Not one to do things normally, this year the IDoB is the 24th AND 25th of September. Clearly Birmingham is too large and culturally significant that it’s ‘day’ had to be extended to two to fit it all in.
Now anything Birmingham related has to mention Board Games, if only for one very good reason and that’s 9 Stanley Road, Kings Heath.
Disembodied heads on counters… check.
Still here? Wondering what the blazes we’re on about? I’ll give you a CLUE (but only if you’re American).
Yeah, I was going to suggest that you name a person, place and item next but that’s pushing it a bit too far, we’re talking Cluedo the 1949 game originally by Waddingtons.
Designed in the above mentioned location during the 2nd World War there’s a lot of lore about this classic game. Here’s a few tasty titbits…
Originally there were 10 characters, 11 rooms and 9 weapons. Once released it could no longer be Mr. Gold in the Gun Room with the Shillelagh!
The name is a portmanteau of Clue and the Latin for “I play”… Ludo.
They struck a deal shortly after release with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate to licence the it as “The Great New Sherlock Holmes Game” but it didn’t last.
There are a few Junior versions and to make it more kid friendly the theme changed to “Who ate the cake?” in one version and “Who broke the toy?” in another.
Dice and Discs? Luck and Logic…. NO!
So who could really do this game justice at IDoB, that would be Chance & Counters!
If you find yourself free on Thursday or Friday and near the Council House then pop by and visit them in The Drawing Room up to 7pm for some fun and games, they’ll have Cluedo set up and some other parlour games.
‘but Chance & Counters was originally from Bristol’, I hear you cry… well, yeah… BUT… The idea for the café was formed in Moseley, Birmingham during the founders University days so it truly is a Brummie born and bred board game café!
There’s plenty of other stuff on around the Council House too…. so do check out their website for a full programme… celebrate this most excellent of cities in style and throw a dice for us!
