Fabled JK Rowling café to begin new chapter in China

By ELYSIA TAYLOR-HEARN FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL Published: 20:19, 31 May 2026 | Updated: 20:19, 31 May 2026 A Scots café linked to JK Rowling aims to exploit the Far East’s obsession with her Harry Potter books by launching a global expansion bid. The Elephant House, where the author is said to have written part of her wizarding series, has announced plans to open a branch in China later this year. The Edinburgh café’s co-owner, Andrew McRae, says eastern audiences want their own taste of the fabled spot, which has become a pilgrimage site for Potterheads from across the world. Speaking at a launch party for the Suzhou café alongside Chinese consul general Zhang Biao, Mr McRae said: ‘The Elephant House has always been rooted in Edinburgh, but its story has travelled far beyond our city. JK Rowling told of writing her early books at the Edinburgh cafe in the late 1990s The Elephant House has announced plans to open a branch in China later this year  Thousands of Harry Potter enthusiasts have visited the cafe where Ms Rowling wrote her early books  ‘China has been asking for this for years, and the demand from fans there has been extraordinary.’ Thousands of Hogwarts enthusiasts have flocked to the café, known as the ‘birthplace of Harry Potter’, on George IV Bridge since Ms Rowling told of writing her early books there in the late 1990s. The room where the author used to sit now displays her portrait, while fans are invited to leave graffiti tributes to her books in the toilets. Mr McRae said the new café in the tourist city​ of Suzhou will feel ‘deeply, unmistakably Edinburgh’. It will showcase places across the capital that are thought to have influenced the Potter books, such as George Heriot’s School and Victoria Street. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.