Edinburgh's Elephant House announces Chinese expansion following fire rebuild
The café reopened in December after a major fire gutted the building
An Edinburgh café famous for its links to the Harry Potter books is to open a branch in China.
Owners say the Far East venture will feel "deeply, unmistakably Edinburgh", and will showcase city locations associated with JK Rowling’s wizarding world.
The Elephant House Café on George IV Bridge confirmed the news at its reopening ceremony on Thursday night, five years after the venue closed due to a devastating fire.
The café, which has become a pilgrimage spot for Harry Potter fans, reopened to the public in December.
But last night the venue hosted the Lord Provost Robert Aldridge and Chinese Consul General Zhang Biao for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony as owners confirmed that a Chinese branch is set to open in Suzhou later this year.
They said the Chinese outlet is being designed to feel “deeply, unmistakably Edinburgh”, with plans to showcase the city locations most closely associated with the Harry Potter books, including George Heriot’s School, Greyfriars Kirkyard and Victoria Street.
Fans believe the Edinburgh private school was the inspiration behind the majestic grandeur of Hogwarts Castle, while Victoria Street is widely believed to have influenced Diagon Alley.
These touchpoints are understood to feature heavily in the design of the new branch in Suzhou, a major tourist destination in the Jiangsu province of Eastern China.
Elephant House co-owner Andrew McRae said: “The Elephant House has always been rooted in Edinburgh, but its story has travelled far beyond our city.
“China has been asking for this for years, and the demand from fans there has been extraordinary.
“Our first franchise will celebrate JK Rowling’s connection to Edinburgh and bring the iconic streets and buildings that shaped her imagination to a whole new audience.”
He added that the attendance of both the Lord Provost and the Chinese Consul General “highlighted the cultural significance of the café and the strength of Edinburgh’s creative influence internationally”.
Fans flocked to the café in December for the reopening, which coincided with Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
The venue became a popular tourist attraction after author JK Rowling described working on her early books there in the late 1990s.
The room where she reportedly used to sit now displays her portrait, and customers are encouraged to leave a graffiti tribute to the author and her work in the café toilets.
The venue was one of several properties damaged in a blaze on George IV Bridge in August 2021.
The front room was completely gutted and the back room, including JK Rowling’s table, was severely damaged.
The table was able to be salvaged and has since been restored.
At the December opening, owner David Taylor said: “Seeing the doors open again is nothing short of a dream come true.
“After everything the café has been through, to stand here at Christmas with the lights on, the coffee brewing, and people coming back through the door, it’s very emotional.
“This place has always meant so much to so many, and I’m overjoyed that its story continues.”
The owners said the construction of the Chinese branch is nearing completion, but an opening date has not yet been set.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.