Fans of the wizarding world who also enjoy the occasional pint are in luck – a "wizarding" pub is set to open in London next year.
A Kickstarter is launching on June 26 — the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter — until July 31 — Potter's fictional birthday — in an effort to fundraise the "Cauldron Wizarding Pub & Inn," a project from self-proclaimed geek and former reading teacher turn designer and technology entrepreneur Matthew Cortland.
According to Cortland, the pub will use technology and the Internet of things to bring the magic of the wizarding universe to life inside the "small and shabby looking pub" inspired by the works of J.K Rowling, J.R.R Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis.
However, he told Business Insider that there will be "no direct reference or use of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or Narnia specific terms" due to "obvious trademark and IP reasons."
The pub's "magic" will include the likes of wands using touch and voice control technology to control the lights or the fire, a bar using touch sensitive and auto-refill technology, candles that float in mid-air using magnetism, as well as moving photos on the walls. And, of course, food and drink inspired by the most loved magical stories. However, the magic and menu will be "fan-generated within the wider fantasy genre" and won't reference the texts directly.
The pub is aiming to raise $500,000 (£389,200), and also to get fans on board in helping to brainstorm ideas, design, and construct the pub. Cortland does not yet have the premises for the pub, and told Business Insider that the first step is "getting the funding and momentum behind the idea, but once we secure our initial funding we will be focused more on premises and licences."
He told Business Insider that the company has approached London property companies, and is ideally hoping for Central London in the Charing Cross or Tottenham Court Road area — which is where the $500,000 (£389,200) Kickstarter goal comes from.
"For properties in that area, most of our cost is going to go to actually securing premises," he said. "But tourists are also in that area. It would be great to be tucked off a side street, just like the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter — if you know it’s there, you can find it."
However, he added: "There’s a lot of unknowns with that — it will be a matter of what is available and suitable at the time."
If enough money is raised, the company will also build an inn which will use "magic wands" instead of room keys.
An editable wiki will also launch online where fans can submit ideas about how magical elements from fantasy stories could be brought to life. The company will also host "Wizarding Hackathons" around the world to give fans a chance to use the ideas from the wiki to attempt to invent "magic" to be used in the pub.
A podcast titled "The Magic of Things" will also document the entire experience.
There are a range of incentives for those who back the Kickstarter, from the less exciting laptop stickers, pint glasses, and bookmarks to having your own moving photo hanging in the pub, your name permanently inscribed on the wall, or gaining access to the pub's secret bar.
"Premium" incentives also include inventing a "magical cocktail," naming a snug, or renting the pub for an evening.
When the pub opens in March 2018, guests are being encouraged to bring their favourite book to donate to a reading classroom in need through a partnership with the Harry Potter’s Alliance’s “Accio Books” Campaign.
"The Cauldron is our chance to grant the wish of every wizarding fan: magic is real and you can be a part of it," Cortland said.
See how the project could come to life in the video below.
