Edinburgh's 'birthplace of Harry Potter cafe' to get major facelift

The cafe where JK Rowling wrote many of her early Harry Potter books is to undergo a major revamp.

The view through the front window. Pic: The Elephant House

The Elephant House, in the city’s George IV Bridge, is famous among Potter fans as the place where Rowling wrote her early novels in the back room.

And new artist impressions have been shared on Facebook by the owners which reveal that the phrase 'Birthplace of Harry Potter' will be prominently displayed through the front window.

A view of the interior. Pic: The Elephant House

The cafe will be closed from tonight for work to be carried out, with the reopening planned for Saturday December 1st.

JK Rowling used to sit in the cafe in the 1990s before she achieved international fame.

Popular with tourists, the Elephant House often has lengthy queues and groups posing for selfies outside.

Many Facebook fans of the cafe have been reacting to the planned refurbishment.

One fan, David Spiers, wrote: "Good luck, hope it all goes well."

Another, Jessica Budija, said: "Don’t change the toilet wallsss."

Two years ago, the Evening News reported how the owners had to stop re-painting the loo walls because die-hard Harry Potter fans kept covering them in graffiti.

The messages, many written in foreign languages, covered the sinks, sanitary bins, hairdryers and handwash dispensers. Mirrors and even a frosted window had been used as space ran out.

The owners of the cafe were contacted for comment yesterday but did not respond.