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Destination Portsmouth board game celebrates tenth anniversary

Board game brand Destination Games have unveiled a tenth anniversary edition of Destination Portsmouth, celebrating a decade since founder Rachel Lowe released the city-themed tabletop game.

Gameplay across all versions of Destination involves players competing to race through the streets of respective cities in minicabs.

Businesses throughout Portsmouth have signed on to sponsor the award-winning game, including local radio station Express FM, events and clothing brand Love Southsea, and taxi firm Aquacars.

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Rachel said: “It’s been amazing. I’ve been overwhelmed with the response that we have had from people. Not only have we got lots of previous sponsors which have re-booked, but we have got some new ones too. I am really proud to be involved with so many lovely people. It’s a good representation for Portsmouth.”

The entrepreneur, now aged 38, thought up the game whilst working part-time as a taxi driver in Portsmouth, while studying law at the University of Portsmouth.

Rachel (pictured left) was famously rejected when she presented the concept of Destination Games to the investors on TV show Dragons’ Den. But she went on to successfully launch Destination Portsmouth locally at Cascades Shopping Centre, selling out on the first day.

Following the success of Destination Portsmouth, Rachel and her new Destination Games brand went on to create games for London and several other cities across the UK and beyond before signing a deal with Warner Bros. to produce a Harry Potter-themed game: Destination Hogwarts.

It was at this point that the recession took its toll and Rachel ended up losing her house and enduring a breakdown, but she picked herself back up and as things starting falling back into place, she was given a motivational boost in the form of an MBE, which she was awarded for her work in promoting business in schools.

Rachel managed to launch the Harry Potter iteration of the game just in time for the release of the final film in the movie franchise — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II.

The Destination brand has also launched a Disney•Pixar game, a Downton Abbey game, and a London 2012 Olympics game.

On top of all of these successes, Rachel established her own company, She Who Dares UK, which now owns the Destination brand.

“It’s a unique way of marketing your business,” Rachel went on. “We don’t want it to be purely business, it has to represent the city. It has to include all the attractions that make the city what it is.”

“It’s also great to be able to involve independent businesses to have their place on the board. They contribute to the city’s economy.”

Destination Portsmouth and other editions of the game, including Destination Christmas, will be available at the Love Southsea Street Markets in Palmerston Road on Thursday 12th November — when the precinct’s Christmas lights switch on — and Saturday 12th December.

Rachel’s fragrance brand She Who Dares will also be at these markets.

Find out more about Destination Portsmouth and the wider brand on the Destination Games website »