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An iconic café in Edinburgh, renowned as the place where JK Rowling penned parts of the Harry Potter series, has reopened over four years after suffering extensive fire damage. The Elephant House, located on George IV Bridge, was severely affected by a blaze in August 2021 that damaged several nearby buildings. Despite the destruction, the café has retained its significance for visitors who associate it closely with Rowling’s early writing days.
JK Rowling famously described the café as the spot where she worked on her initial Harry Potter books during the late 1990s, frequently sitting at an antique wooden table that miraculously survived the fire. Over time, The Elephant House has turned into a pilgrimage site for fans of the series, maintaining its allure even during the long period it remained closed. Curious visitors continued to stop by to take photographs outside, often with its windows still boarded up.
Owner Mr Taylor, who has managed the café for three decades, shared the overwhelming enthusiasm from around the world during the closure. “People have been asking to come in too, it’s just been non-stop, it’s a Mecca for Harry Potter fans,” he explained. He also spoke about the emotional journey the business has gone through since the fire occurred. Legal difficulties arose because the portion of the building housing the café was owned by a company that went into liquidation shortly after the incident, which delayed the £500,000 renovation. However, the situation resolved when the new building owners agreed to a 20-year lease with Mr Taylor.
Mr Taylor recalled Rowling as a shy but pleasant regular in the 1990s, before her rise to fame. “I was only introduced to her when her first book was published. We knew her but she wasn’t famous at that point so we congratulated her that she had had her book published. She was really lovely but just another customer at that point. She kept herself to herself.” His connection with the author extended to hosting an interview with her at The Elephant House, which resulted in photos of her seated at that now-famous table. Today, the room also features portraits of other celebrated Edinburgh writers such as Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith, and Irvine Welsh, who have all been regular visitors and incorporated the café into their work
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