'Harry Potter Café' Set to Reopen Three Years After the Fire at Edinburgh's George IV Bridge

The Elephant House cafe in Edinburgh, known for being one of J.K. Rowling's writing spots for the Harry Potter series, is set to reopen in summer 2024, following a three-year closure due to a significant fire on George IV Bridge in August 2021. The reopening has faced delays as the building's owner went into liquidation, complicating the structural safety work necessary for the cafe's refurbishment. Owner David Taylor, who has been at the helm for 28 years, expressed relief at the prospect of reviving the cafe with an estimated cost of £1m and plans to begin work soon.

Meanwhile, Taylor has opened a secondary location nearby on Victoria Street, offering the famed Butterbeer from the Harry Potter universe. This new Elephant House overlooks Victoria Street, which fans associate with Diagon Alley from the books. A notable feature saved from the original cafe is the table at which Rowling wrote, which will return to the George IV Bridge site once it reopens.

Taylor, in partnership with Andrew McRae, has also initiated The Elephant Cafe International franchise. They're launching a franchise in Manila this February, where Rowling's salvaged writing table will be showcased for a month, and are exploring further expansions in Asia.

Currently, the original Elephant House's structure is supported by temporary scaffolding provided by the City of Edinburgh Council. The fire is thought to have originated in the Patisserie Valerie cafe, which is not expected to reopen. The Elephant House was one of two locations frequented by Rowling during the creation of her now-iconic series in the mid-1990s.