- A new wizarding pub has opened in Manhattan's financial district.
- The pub is home to a "Tree of Life" which dispenses beer and working wands which act as your bar tab.
- Here's what it was like to visit The Cauldron on its opening night.
During a visit to Manhattan's financial district, you probably wouldn't expect to end up in a magical pub with working wands — but that's exactly what I did while in New York City last month.
The Cauldron, a "fantasy-inspired molecular cocktail bar and gastropub," opened on Manhattan's Stone Street in February, the same location where cofounders Matthew Cortland and David Duckworth launched a fantasy-themed cocktail-making class in September last year.
The entire project began as a Kickstarter in June 2017 to fundraise for what was, at the time, set to be a "wizarding" pub called the "Cauldron Wizarding Pub & Inn." The cofounders wanted to use the Internet of Things — or what Cortland called "The Magic of Things"— to bring the magic of the wizarding universe to life inside a "small and shabby looking pub" inspired by the works of J.K Rowling, J.R.R Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis.
The concept first rolled out in London in the form of a potions class with "magic" working wands, bubbling cauldrons, and colour-changing alcohol — and after selling out, the idea was brought to New York.
Now, at the same time as the London experience has launched in a new location, the initial dream of launching a full wizarding pub has become a reality in Manhattan.
The two-storey pub is home to a walk-in bar (The Apothecary) on the main floor as well as the ticketed potion-making cocktail experience upstairs.
Here's what it was like to visit on The Cauldron's opening night.
The Cauldron is situated on historic Stone Street in Manhattan's Financial District. It's pretty easy to spot because of the lion statue outside.
The pub is pretty quirky at the front, complete with lots of foliage and lights.
There's also a giant fake tree growing out of the middle of it, which was guarded by a wizard when we arrived.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider