The Great Leadenhall Market Wild Goose Chase returns for Easter
The City of London’s historic Leadenhall Market is giving visitors a chance to scramble once more for Old Tom’s trophy by completing a series of eggcentric market challenges, as The Great Leadenhall Market Wild Goose Chase returns for Easter.
Following the success of last year’s team event, the market has refreshed the range of challenges, with up to 100 tasks to take part in, from dressing-up, clue hunting and model making to puzzle solving and everything in between!
Running throughout April, The Great Leadenhall Market Wild Goose Chase is free to enter and open to all ages. 20 teams of any size can group together to take part in the eggciting tasks and the winners will not only get their hands on the coveted Old Tom’s trophy, but they will also receive £500 to spend at the Leadenhall Market outlet of their choice.
Those visiting the market over the Easter period can also expect to see beautiful stained-glass window displays that tell the tale of the legendary Old Tom. Legend has it that a gander in the 19th century from Ostend came to England by chance, due to his fascination with one of the female members of his flock. He escaped slaughter (when Leadenhall Market was a centre for poultry trade), and became a Market celebrity! He lived for 38 years, and was often found being fed at The Lamb Tavern. After dying in 1835, he lay in state in the market and was buried on site. The Lamb Tavern opened Old Tom’s Bar in memory of the goose – which is still open to punters today.
The Great Leadenhall Wild Goose Chase was inspired by the original 1920s treasure hunts put on by Bright Young Things* across the capital, which saw sisters Zita and Teresa ‘Baby’ Jungman setting the craze for the inventive team game. The Hovis factory made a loaf with a clue baked inside and Lord Beaverbrook was persuaded to print a special edition of the Evening Standard, concealing clues in imaginary news stories. Pranks abounded, including trophy hunts, in which participants had to bring back such impossible items as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s spectacles.
How to take part:
Tasks will go live 8am on 1st April, and submissions will close on 30th April at 10pm. Organisers reserve the right to remove teams that have been inactive for 7 days or more from the start of the competition, to allow new entrants to compete.
Participants can join in the game by following these simple steps:
1. Download the GooseChase iOS or Android app here.
2. Choose to play as a guest, or register for a personal account with a username & password.
3. Search for The Great Leadenhall Goose Chase or use join codes: BD755B or RD7MWP (try both codes as slots may be full on one but available on another).
4. Follow the prompts to create or select a team.
Those visiting the iconic Victorian market during the Easter holidays can also enjoy the boutique shops, restaurants and bars (including Old Tom’s Bar) among the cobbled alleyways, set under a beautiful wrought iron ceiling.