A month after Warner Bros. sent them a dirty great big cease and desist, Melbourne’s Not Directly Associated With Harry Potter “wizard bar” has magically reopened on the rooftop of the inner city Imperial Hotel.
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The original version of the bar, named Vertic Alley, was struck down by Warner in early May after the Potter overlords decided they weren’t terribly keen on the pub profiting off of their IP. Now, however, the bar has mysteriously re-appeared, and appears to readjusted its operations to the point where legal interference is just barely out of reach.
Timed to coincide with the arrival of Harry Potter & The Cursed Child, which is currently in residence at the Princess Theatre which lies a mere handful of metres up the road from the Imperial, the original Vertic Alley strayed a little too close to the Potter sun in a number of reasons, not least of which was the stairwell leading up to the bar which was plastered in the direct book/film quote “I solemnly swear I am up to no good.”
The reopened version of the bar appears to be more of a Great Value Hareth Parter bar, with only vague allusions to the wizarding universe they are not legally allowed to associate with.
The new unnamed rooftop wizard bar features “four new stores,” including Messrs Moores & Meager Magical Fashions, Parliament Wands, and MacArthur Broomsticks. In addition, the pub is promoting a revamped cocktail list, which includes drinks like FireWhiskey, Chuckle Juice, True Love Potion, and an Abra Martini, along with others carrying generic magical names that will likely not get them in any more trouble.
It’s very unclear as to whether the bar was able to strike some sort of deal with the Potter overlords that would allow the bar to reopen, or whether they’re just being very cheeky by getting as close to the line as they possibly can without going over.
Either way, if you’re up for a literal magical evening, there you bloody go.
