Welshpool is on the front page of Britain’s national media.... but don’t panic as the town’s iconic Powis Castle has been taken over by the Beano comic!
In a massive tourism coup for the 800 year-old attraction, Dennis the Menace and his sidekick Gnasher are let loose on the castle which is splashed across the latest edition of the world-famous comic.
On the dazzling front cover (pictured), Dennis and Gnasher are pictured in front of a stunning recreation of the castle and, inside, the dastardly duo cause chaos as they fool National Trust staff to become King for the day.
The edition is the result of co-operation between the comic and the castle’s keepers – The National Trust – and has been celebrated with the announcement that two children per adult can enter the attraction for free throughout August (except Bank Holiday weekend).
Staff were understandably happy this morning after finally receiving their copy of the comic.
Spokesperson Alison Dyer (pictured) said: “We are delighted to open our doors to The Beano and all of its mischievous characters. The National Trust and The Beano are both British institutions and we are hoping the news that we have opened our doors to them all will encourage families to take a leaf out of Dennis’ book and organise a trip to one of our places.
“Wherever we can we have tried to take away ropes and show the fun side of our places with everything from mazes to talking portraits. We are certain that real-life Dennises will find that it is not all ‘please don’t touch’ anymore.”
John-Paul Murphy, Head of Brand Marketing of The Beano publishers, D.C. Thomson, added: “We couldn’t think of a better way to prove what fun kids can have at ‘Gnashional Trust’ properties by letting the world’s most famous menace and his friends from Beanotown loose on them. Dennis hasn’t let his own 60th anniversary affect his ability to cause his own brand of havoc and it is a fitting birthday treat for him to become ‘King of the Castle’ at Powis. We’re sure Beano readers will have just as much fun as the characters have when they visit the venues featured in our comic this summer.”