Coronavirus Restrictions Cause Popular “Potter” Pilgrimage Spot to Close

The coronavirus pandemic and resulting national and local lockdowns in the United Kingdom have meant that a popular Potter location has closed its doors for the foreseeable future.

Spoon, a café in Edinburgh, is recognized as one of the birthplaces of the Potter series. The café, which was once called Nicolson’s Café, is one of the locations in the city in which J.K. Rowling wrote early parts of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Unfortunately, it was revealed earlier this month that as a result of the financial impact of the new coronavirus restrictions enacted in Scotland, the café is no longer able to operate.

In a post on the café’s Facebook page, the team at Spoon shared their heartbreak at having to close their doors to customers. Despite making it through the UK-wide lockdown in the spring with a severe drop in business, the new restrictions put in place in Scotland, which mean that establishments have to close by 6 p.m. and can no longer serve alcohol, appear to have caused Spoon to make the difficult decision to close.

After ten years of operating in the city, the café had built up a loyal customer base and was a pilgrimage for Potter fans from across the UK and around the world. In 2019, the ride-sharing company Uber revealed that the café was number eight on its list of most visited Potter-inspired and related locations. This also included Edinburgh’s Balmoral Hotel (where Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was finished) at number 5 and fan-favorite Platform 9 3/4, King’s Cross station, London, in the top spot.

We’re sorry to see this important Potter location close, but it appears that the team at Spoon is already trying to make the most of the situation. There are currently plans for the space to be used for two pop-up workshops in November, so keep an eye on the café’s social media for more information.