HEADS up, Filipino Potterheads! 

Fans of the Boy Who Lived will soon be able to have a taste of the food and drinks offered by a gourmet tea and coffee house from Edinburgh, Scotland that has dubbed itself as the “birthplace” of the Harry Potter series.

The Elephant House will open a branch at the Greenhills Mall in San Juan City in December, the mall announced on its Facebook page.  

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora attended the contract signing between Ortigas Malls and Visum Ventures to bring the tea and coffee shop to the Philippines. 

Also present were Andrew McRae, The Elephant House International co-founder and chief executive officer, and David Taylor, owner of The Elephant House and project principal of The Elephant House Greenhills.

The Philippine location is The Elephant House’s first branch outside Scotland, said Zamora.

Established in 1995, The Elephant House has become a tourist attraction in Edinburgh following its association with the Harry Potter books about a boy wizard battling sinister forces. 

But how has it become known as its “birthplace?”

Author’s workplace

On its website, the Elephant House said it was where J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, wrote her tales. 

“Author J.K. Rowling had her first book published while she was writing in the back room overlooking Edinburgh Castle, making The Elephant House the ‘birthplace’ of the series of Harry Potter novels,” it said. 

It was in 1990 when the idea for the fantasy novels floated in Rowling’s mind while she was onboard a train. The first book of the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was published in 1997.

Rowling has clarified that the “true birthplace” of her series was a flat she rented in Clapham Junction. But she did write in The Elephant House, she said.

“I’d been writing Potter for several years before I ever set foot in this cafe, so it’s not the birthplace, but I *did* write in there so we’ll let them off!” she tweeted.

Pictures of Rowling, Harry Potter novels, and even writings on the toilet walls related to Harry Potter can be seen inside the Edinburgh coffee shop.

But it’s not just Rowling who frequented the cafe. Inspector Rebus author Ian Rankin and The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series creator Alexander McCall-Smith have also been visitors of The Elephant House.

Offers

The Elephant House in Edinburgh offers a variety of drinks, such as specialty hot drinks, coffees, teas, hot chocolates, beers, wine, whisky, and soft drinks.

It has cakes, muffins, ice cream, and cheesecake for dessert, and serves meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

In addition to this, the coffee shop also has merchandise like mugs, t-shirts, beanies, and tote bags.