Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep within the thick woods, lived a witch known for her hair-raising powers. The villagers whispered tales of her sinister spells, and everyone feared crossing her path. It was a chilly autumn evening when a young girl named Lily wandered into the forest, in search of her lost kitten. As she ventured further into the eerie woods, she felt a tingling sensation down her spine, as if someone was watching her. Unbeknownst to her, the notorious witch had taken notice of her presence. Lily stumbled upon an old, dilapidated cottage, concealed behind a curtain of tangled branches and leaves.
The venue reminded me of the Leaky cauldron with its long fireplace, scattered tables and miss-matched chairs. Décor was quite minimal, but the wizard theme was obvious, with ivy covered walls, dusty cabinets filled with mysterious looking artefacts, broomsticks, cauldrons, and lots of photo frames and cobwebs. There were even a few Harry Potter books dotted about in case you hadn’t realised the experience was inspired by the boy wizard.
And whilst I rarely leave a stone left unturned in the geeky activities department, a few things will occasionally slip under my radar The Magic Potions Tavern being one of them. If you wanted to visit the Potions Tavern and enjoy some of these magical cocktails with your friends, it s highly advised to prebook your visit as it s really popular.
Lily stumbled upon an old, dilapidated cottage, concealed behind a curtain of tangled branches and leaves. Curiosity getting the better of her, she cautiously pushed open the creaking door. Inside, she found herself surrounded by a clutter of spell books, potion jars, and peculiar artifacts.
The Magic Potions Tavern | Brewing Cocktails in Edinburgh’s Old Town
I like to think of myself as a some sort of magical travel genie when it comes to planning trips away because I somehow manage to find the craziest things, no matter where we go. And whilst I rarely leave a stone left unturned in the geeky activities department, a few things will occasionally slip under my radar – The Magic Potions Tavern being one of them.
Department of Magic is a relatively new company in Edinburgh who are the owners of two Harry Potter inspired Escape Rooms, as well as the Magic Potions Tavern – a wizard-themed cocktail bar, where you can brew your own potions. I’ve had a go at brewing potions before at The Cauldron in London, and whilst it was a lot of fun – you get to run around in robes whilst stirring drinks with the wave of a wand – the experience was slightly marred by the incredibly long wait times, and how ridiculously overpriced it was.
Even so, I was actually considering visiting their Edinburgh branch – because Harry Potter – until I was made aware of the Department of Magic, who were offering virtually the same thing at less than a quarter of the price, so it was ‘Goodbye Cauldron and Hello Potions Tavern – please don’t be shite!’
And shite it was not.
After having a little trouble booking a reservation – you can’t book a slot in house, so have to do it over the phone, but not on Sunday’s, even though the venue is open? – Me, Jess, and his parents; Anita and Geoff, descended to the basement bar down Blair Street, just off the Royal Mile, and got our pick of the room. We opted for a corner booth because of its board game strewn table and comfy looking chairs.
The venue reminded me of the Leaky cauldron with its long fireplace, scattered tables and miss-matched chairs. Décor was quite minimal, but the wizard theme was obvious, with ivy covered walls, dusty cabinets filled with mysterious looking artefacts, broomsticks, cauldrons, and lots of photo frames and cobwebs. There were even a few Harry Potter books dotted about in case you hadn’t realised the experience was inspired by the boy wizard.
We were each given menus and asked to pick a cocktail, and with four to chose from it wasn’t an easy decision. They were all Harry Potter themed and inspired by different lessons in the book, so you had Herbology 101 to test your green thumbs, The Dark Lord which promised blood and brains, Potion No. 9 for a colour changing treat, and Liquid Gold for.. liquid gold.
They were also centred around different spirits, so I opted for Potion No. 9 because it was gin based, Anita went for Herbology 101, and both Jess and Geoff chose the rather ominous sounding Dark Lord because it was meant to be the strongest.
In the meantime we were brought out a little chest filled with shots and dry ice whilst we waited for our potion ingredients. I don’t remember exactly what they were, but we chose one of each, ranging from the ridiculously strong, to one that just tasted like baileys. It was fun opening the chest to reveal the little drinks as smoke rolled onto the table.
The cocktails came out on trays with a set of very detailed instructions, and every single ingredient was in its own little container, so it really did feel like you were in a potions lesson. The boys drinks came first with four different coloured liquids, a glass skull, and what looked like a shrivelled eyeball – though I’ve since been informed it was a peeled plum.
Anita’s, which was my favourite, came with its own adorable plant pot to mix everything in, stoppered vials and a pestle and mortar for grinding up raspberries. It was definitely the most hands on out of the three – she really had to put a bit of wellie into it.
My cocktail came out already bubbling with a tiny jar of fairy dust and three colourless bottles. Each one changed the colour of the cocktail as you added them to the glass until it became this iridescent purple, it was really quite magical. It tasted great too, which is unusual for something so theatrical.
We were told the session would last about half an hour, but we ended up spending around 2 hours in there all together – it was a great way to break up a long day exploring Edinburgh, especially since it was so close to all of the main attractions.
It’s definitely a must for any Harry Potter fans visiting the city, and if you can tie it in with a Potter inspired tour, that’s even better. But you know what, if you’re not a fan of the books, you’d still get a kick out of this because it’s so different and hands on that it would be hard not to enjoy yourself, and at only £6 a ticket if you grab one through Groupon, it would be rude not to check it out.
Address | Magic Potions Tavern, 9 Blair Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QR
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As she tiptoed deeper into the cottage, Lily stumbled across a dusty mirror. Her eyes widened as she beheld her own reflection - her once smooth, golden locks now tangled and frizzy. Panic welled up inside her, realizing that the witch's curse had befallen her. Determined to break the spell, she decided to confront the witch herself. Tracking down the witch's lair was no easy task. Lily sought the help of the village elder, who provided her with an ancient map of the forbidden woods. Armed with the map and her unwavering determination, she trekked through the tangled maze of trees. After what felt like an eternity, she stumbled upon a decrepit cabin, emanating an aura of pure evil. Stepping inside, she found the witch hunched over a cauldron, stirring a concoction that emitted a putrid smell. Taking a deep breath, Lily found her voice and boldly demanded that the witch reverse the curse. The witch's eerie laughter echoed through the cabin, sending shivers down Lily's spine. With a flick of her gnarled finger, she cast a spell that trapped Lily in a whirlwind of darkness. Panicking, Lily thought her fate was sealed. But just as all hope seemed lost, a burst of courage surged within her. She summoned all her strength and fought against the darkness. Gradually, the whirlwind subsided, and Lily found herself standing face to face with the witch once again. This time, she refused to back down. With unwavering determination, Lily pleaded with the witch to undo the curse. Surprisingly, the witch contemplated Lily's request, her eyes flickering with a fleeting glimmer of sympathy. Realizing the error of her ways, the witch finally lifted the curse, returning Lily's golden locks to their former glory. From that day forward, the witch realized the power she held could be used to bring happiness rather than fear. She pledged to use her powers for good, mending broken hearts and granting wishes instead. The villagers had misjudged her all along, and she became a respected member of the community. And so, the tale of the hair-raising witch became a story of redemption and forgiveness, teaching the villagers a valuable lesson about not judging others based on appearances. Lily, forever grateful for her fateful encounter, continued to cherish her restored locks, a reminder of the bravery and compassion that ultimately triumphed over darkness..
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