Putting a spin on the traditional Easter egg hunt and reviving the roaring twenties’ craze for London-wide treasure hunts, the City’s historical Leadenhall Market is sending Londoners and visitors on a wild goose chase to win some eggciting prizes this Easter!
Running from 1st – 30th April, The Great Leadenhall Market Wild Goose Chase will include quirky in-market challenges, clue hunting and dressing up. Free to enter, with 100 challenges to take part in, from Harry Potter homages to stylish photography, dance feats, goose faces and culinary constructions, teams of all ages will face a wide range of tasks for the honour of winning the inaugural Old Tom’s Golden Egg trophy and a first prize valued at £500.
The Goose Chase is in the spirit of the original 1920s treasure hunts 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.
But who is Old Tom?
Legend has it that during the 19th century, when Leadenhall Market was a centre for poultry trade, ‘Old Tom’ – a gander from Ostend who came to England by chance, due to his fascination with one of the female members of his flock – escaped slaughter and became a Market celebrity! Over the years, the goose was a popular character, often found being fed at The Lamb Tavern. After dying at the age of 38 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 Market Wild Goose Chase is free to enter and open to all ages. To take part, sign up to register your team and receive details on the different challenges via https://leadenhallmarket.co.uk/easter-at-leadenhall-market/. Participant numbers are limited and availability is on a first come, first served basis.
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
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.
4. Follow the prompts to create or select a team.
Those visiting the iconic Victorian market during the Easter holidays can also enjoy the 35 boutique shops, restaurants and bars (including Old Tom’s Bar) among the cobbled alleyways, set under a beautiful wrought iron ceiling.
For more information visit: www.leadenhallmarket.co.uk.
Leadenhall Market is owned and managed by The City of London Corporation.
