
Part of Harry Potter’s sustained presence in the minds of adults and children alike is the constant stream of fan theories about the magical world.
It’s also because of J K Rowling’s commitment to conversation – sharing little anecdotes, publishing stories on Pottermore and talking to fans online.
A widely held-belief is that the Leaky Cauldron, a pub in the magical fantasy world, was inspired by a pub called The Old Firehouse in Exeter, where she attended the local University.
Except the truth isn’t quite so poetic.
J K Rowling quickly shut the theory down in a tweet:
If you want real fantasy, go to an estate agent. Never visited this pub in my life. https://t.co/vzZcIejJVH— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1516179167
Instead, she offered the names of pubs she did frequent.
Red Cow, Black Horse, Mill on the Exe, the Artillery Inn (now sadly gone), but never that one, I'm afraid. https://t.co/Dy05HbApAu— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1516181026
Rowling had dismissed the myth after an article on the DevonLive about the sale of the pub (which reportedly went for between £3m and £4m) suggested it had inspired the author.
Picture: Giphy