Leaky Cauldron (2024)

Warning! At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery& Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells& Harry Potter: Magic Awakened. As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

The Leaky Cauldron was a popular wizarding pub and inn located in London. It was the entrance to Diagon Alley and, indirectly, Knockturn Alley. The rear of the pub opened up onto a chilly courtyard that contains the entrance to both alley ways.^[2]

The pub was built by Daisy Dodderidge, the first landlady, in the early 1500s "to serve as a gateway between the non-wizarding world and Diagon Alley."^[3] It had a bar, several private parlour rooms, and a large dining room.

To Muggles, the pub appears to be a broken-down old shop front on Charing Cross Road. This, however, was not the case prior to the imposition of the Statute of Secrecy and, prior to this, Muggle visitors were neither turned away nor made to feel unwelcome.^[1]

History[]

Early history (1500s–1692)[]

The Leaky Cauldron was built in the 1500s by Daisy Dodderidge.^[3] The pub was there long before Charing Cross Road was even planned. Its true address is number one Diagon Alley, and it is believed to have been built along with the rest of the wizarding street. Created some two centuries before the wizarding world community made the joint decision to go into hiding, the Leaky Cauldron used to be visible to Muggle eyes.^[1]

While the pub was, from the first, a place for witches and wizards to congregate — whether Londoners or out-of-towners up for the day to shop for the latest magical ingredients or devicesn— Muggles were not turned away or made to feel unwelcome, even though some of the conversations, not to mention pets, caused many an unwary Muggle to leave without finishing his or her mead.^[1]

With the imposition of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy in 1692, Minister Ulick Gamp permitted the pub to continue its existence as a safe haven and refuge for members of the magical community.^[1] Though insistent on numerous concealment spells and good behaviour from all who used the pub, Gamp was sympathetic to the need of wizards to let off steam during this difficult time, and further agreed to give the landlord permission to let people into Diagon Alley from his backyard, because the shops behind the Leaky Cauldron were now also in need of protection.^[1] Out of gratitude, the landlord created a new brand of beer, Gamp's Old Gregarious, which tasted so disgusting that even with a one-hundred-Galleon incentive, nobody could finish a pint.^[1]

In 1887,^[6] the pub was faced with the possibility of being demolished when the Muggles set in motion the construction of Charing Cross Road. The Minister at that time, Faris Spavin, had become certain that this was the end of the pub, and given a melancholy, seven-hour speech in the Wizengamot about why the establishment could not be saved, only to receive a note from his secretary the moment he sat down, informing him that the magical community had rallied and, through the mass use of Memory Charms, had altered the entire route of the new road to accommodate the Leaky Cauldron, leaving the architects confused as to why there was a blank space on the design, and why said space did not appear to the naked eye.^[1]

Recent history (1900–2020s)[]

The Leaky Cauldron had changed little over the years; it was small, dingy and welcoming, with a few bedrooms above the public bar for travellers who live a long way from London. It was the ideal spot to catch up with wizarding gossip if one happened to live a long way from the nearest magical neighbour.^[1]

In the summer of 1899, Albus Dumbledore and Elphias Doge stayed at the Leaky Cauldron, in preparation to depart for Greece, when Albus received word of his mother's death.^[7]

During the 1990–1991 school year, Zenith Xeep held a Meet-and-Greet for her beauty-and-lifestyle business, Xeep, at the Leaky Cauldron, and promoted her hair care potion, Xeep's Luscious Locks Solution. Rita Skeeter, Bilton Bilmes, Jacob's sibling and Garrick Ollivander attended.^[8] Around the same time, a wizard went to the Leaky Cauldron to chat with Tom when the wizard saw the Muggle Artefact Smuggler.^[9]

Later during that school year, Jacob and their sibling had an awkward dinner in the Leaky Cauldron with their long lost father Peregrine.^[10] They later met with their father in the inn to discuss their findings about Dai Ryusaki.^[11]

On July 31 1991, Harry Potter and Rubeus Hagrid passed through the pub on their way to Diagon Alley. Tom, the innkeeper, greeted Hagrid there like an old friend. This made it seem that Hagrid was something of a regular. Some other witches and wizards who were there at the time were Doris Crockford, Dedalus Diggle, and Quirinus Quirrell and they took a great interest in Harry, queuing to shake his hand.^[2]

In the summer of 1992, Harry Potter and the Weasley family travelled to Diagon Alley by Floo Powder. Harry mispronounced "Diagonally", and therefore travelled to Knockturn Alley instead. After doing their shopping, Harry and the Weasleys departed through the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace to the Burrow.^[12]

In the summer of 1993, as well as stopping there for drinks, Harry Potter stayed at the inn for a time, having accidentally blown up his Aunt Marge. He also met Cornelius Fudge in a private room for the first time.^[13][14]

While the Leaky Cauldron was a favourite hangout for the magical community, its patronage took a turn for the worse in the summer of 1996, during the beginning of the Second Wizarding War. With Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters moving in the open, many witches and wizards avoided public places as much as possible, including the Leaky Cauldron. When Harry Potter, Rubeus Hagrid, and the Weasley family passed through the Leaky Cauldron that summer on his way to Diagon Alley, they noticed that the bar was empty with the exception of Tom.^[15]

On 1 May 1998, at the height of the war, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, with the assistance of Griphook the goblin, staged a break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. While passing through the Leaky Cauldron on the way to the bank, they noted that it was nearly empty. Tom bowed in fear at the sight of Hermione, who was disguised as Bellatrix Lestrange at the time.^[16]

At some point after the end of the Second Wizarding War, Tom either retired or passed away. Hannah Abbott then became the new landlady.^[4]

The Leaky Cauldron began to sell Stewed Mandrake Quiche during the Calamity in the late 2010s or early 2020s. The dish was described as "disruptive" and nausea-inducing, with a Calamity Investigator working for the Statute of Secrecy Task Force believing that the food had resulted in a recent uptick of Traces in the area. In response, the investigator convinced management to modify their menu. The same Calamity Investigator later ran into Harry Potter at the Leaky Cauldron and engaged in a lively discussion about potions with him. Harry taught the investigator Severus Snape's method of preparing Sopophorous beans by pressing them with the flat side of a knife to release more of their juice, which they used to reduce the brew time of their Dawdle Draught.^[17]

Minister for Magic Hermione Granger later gave an impromptu talk about the Calamity at the Leaky Cauldron, which was attended by the same Calamity Investigator. From this talk, the investigator learned about the ineffability of the Calamity, from which they figured out a new way to improve their Trace Charm. The same Calamity Investigator also met George Weasley in the Leaky Cauldron, who discussed his affinity for pyrotechnics with them, resulting in their power increasing when having cast a critical blow.^[17]

Structure[]

Located at 1 Diagon Alley,^[1] The Leaky Cauldron was nested between a Muggle bookshop and a record store. Inside the pub, it was dark and shabby, with a bar and a number of tables in the shadows of the corners. In stark contrast to the grubby downstairs of the pub, there were some unexpectedly pleasant rooms upstairs where passing wizards and witches could stay for the night. These rooms were reached by way of a handsome wooden staircase, and contained comfortable beds, highly polished oak furniture, a crackling fire which was always burning in the grate to welcome the visitor to their lodgings, and, in Harry's case, a talking mirror.^[2]

A cellar was located beneath the ground floor,^[18][19] that held barrels containing the beverage supply for the establishment as well as a chest for holding reserve Floo Powder.^[20]

Known rooms[]

A Private parlour was located behind the bar at the ground-floor. It had a desk, a window and a little table and two somewhat uncomfortable chairs. In 1993 Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge borrowed the room so he could talk to Harry Potter about his safety and that he didn't have to worry about Sirius Black (who was thought to be a mass-murderer). He also told Harry that two men from the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad were sent out to puncture Marjorie Dursley and modify her memory after Harry lost control in Vernon Dursley's home, and that running away was irresponsible.^[13]

Room 10 was a room at the first-floor. In 1993, the day maid was about to clean the room when its owner roared at her and closed the door.^[21]

Room 11 was a room at the first-floor which had a bed in the middle, a fireplace, a talking mirror, and a window. In 1993 Harry Potter and his owl Hedwig stayed in the room after Harry ran away from Privet Drive and was picked up by the Knight Bus.^[13]

Menu[]

Dishes[]

Dishes served at the Leaky Cauldron included:

Beverages[]

Beverages served included:

Behind the scenes[]

• Charing Cross Road (where the Leaky Cauldron is located) is actually several centuries younger than the Leaky Cauldron itself. Charing Cross Road was created in mid 18th century by rebuilding and merging two elder streets. This also means that Leaky Cauldron cannot be located in the middle part of the road (between the intersections with Carnbour Street and Shaftesbury Avenue) because this is the part that was most transformed and reshaped by the creation of Charing Cross Road. The Leaky Cauldron can be located in its southern third (formerly known as Castle Street) or in its northern third (formerly known as Crown Street or Hog Lane). The exact location is unknown, there is only a brief mention in the first book that it is located between a bookshop and a record store that were in Charing Cross Road in the early 1990s.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, as Hagrid and Harry approach the front door, the sign for the Leaky Cauldron clears from a blank, black cut-out to a stylised design with a cauldron in the background. In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a different doorway, with a different sign is shown. It is never shown whether this is supposed to be an alternate doorway or a "new" main entrance. Also, Tom the landlord was recast for the third film. In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the Leaky Cauldron is shown to be located between 48 Charing Cross Road (Quinto Bookshop) and 12 Great Newport Street (Ashley Associates Chartered Surveyors), London. In real life, there is no building in between 48 Charing Cross Road and 12 Great Newport Street, which can be seen in the following image, but possibly because in the real world it is "concealed". It is possible that as they were all three different door-ways, that the Leaky Cauldron had a door-way for every single part of London.
• Chapter Four of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is titled "The Leaky Cauldron".
• In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, the Leaky Cauldron has a basem*nt, notice board, cinema room, and a back door.
• In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery and LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4/LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, The Leaky Cauldron is a shop in Diagon Alley, not the entrance.

Appearances[]

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (GBA version only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play) (Mentioned only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault (Mentioned only)
• Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Appears in the spell book)
• The Art of Harry Potter Mini Book of Graphic Design

Notes and references[]

The Leaky Cauldron
Founder Daisy Dodderidge
Owners	Tom (formerly) · Hannah Abbott	Residents	Neville Longbottom
Employees
Maids	Day maid · Night maid · Young maid	Others	Bartender · Cleaner · Cook · Male toilet fixer
1 Diagon Alley, England, Great Britain