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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Lucy Garcia

Edinburgh cafe where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter to re-open after fire

A CAFÉ where JK Rowling wrote parts of the Harry Potters series of books is set to reopen after a devastating fire.

In August 2021, the Elephant House café on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh was engulfed by fire and severely damaged.

It forced the building into closure as widespread repairs were needed to make it safe. n However, the reopening of the much-loved café was delayed after the landlord of the building fell into liquidation.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, David Taylor – who has owned and run the café for more than 28 years – said work on the property could not go ahead until the structure was made safe.

“I’m feeling unimaginable relief,” he said.

“If the liquidator is as good as their word then the renovations can happen quite quickly once the structural work has been completed.

"We are talking late spring early summer for its reopening.

"It has been a terrible few years and I could have walked away with the insurance money but I would never have done that as I want to see it thriving again.

"I would always stand by my cafe."

The desk where Rowling wrote parts of the iconic series was restored after being damaged in the fire.

It now sits in a second Elephant House café which looks down onto Victoria Street in the capital.

The street is believed to be where Rowling got the inspiration for Diagon Alley.

Once the original café reopens next year the desk will be relocated to its original location.

It comes after Taylor announced The Elephant Café International franchise, which will see a café open up in Manila in the Philippines in February.

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