The latest outlet with an other-worldly air to open there is The Potions Cauldron, whose staff greeted their first customers at the end of October. You'll find it at 9¾ Shambles, the site of the former Cuffs and Co. men's accessory store.
This apothecary-themed shop sells a wide range of tasty beverages for discerning magic-users of all ages, including the immortality-granting "Serpent's Venom Poison" and, of course, an "Elixir of Love". In addition to drinkable concoctions, shoppers can also buy an array of intriguing gifts, such as bewitching bath potions and a "Flask of Festive Joy".
According to the legend created by Phil Pinder, the owner of the shop, the potions are made using the recipes of a French witch, Agnes de Molay, which were brought back to England by a wizard named Phileas Fry. Potion purchasers can gain access to a secret room within the store where outlaw wizards used to hide, and wannabe wizards and witches can even try out their own potion-making skills.
The Potions Cauldron is the fourth wizard-themed shop to appear in the Shambles. However, as some people claim that the street was the inspiration for Diagon Alley, the outlet for wizards seeking magical supplies in the Harry Potter franchise, the amount that have opened there isn't really a surprise.
In addition to visiting the Potions Cauldron, Potterheads can explore The Shop That Must Not Be Named, which has been in business since May 2017. This gift store, which is located at 30 The Shambles, stocks an extensive selection of official Harry Potter merchandise, including everything from replica wands to packets of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. If you can't find what you're looking for there, don't worry. The Boy Wizard at 22-24 Shambles is also packed with Harry Potter products, as is World of Wizardry at number 27.
The refreshing thing about the Potions Cauldron, however, is that it isn't just another Harry Potter merchandise shop. As this York store has its own mythology, products and interactive elements, shopping there should be a unique and entertaining experience.
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