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Original poster

to tell anyone starting a Harry Potter business in York that

107 replies

chomalungma · 27/10/2020 17:31

The Shambles was not the inspiration for Diagon Alley.

I mean it's great. The Shambles looks the part. But seriously.

1 Harry Potter shop was good. Then there were 3. Then another one joined in. And now there's a potion shop.

Still, it brings in the tourists. And it's a change from Vikings.

OP posts:
MrsToothyBitch · 27/10/2020 23:30

@Choccyp1g I liked your cluster theory post. And as someone who used to work in Guildford, I can't help but wonder what used to be sold up Geoffreys Passage (snigger).

I was last in York in August. I gave the Potter shops- and the Scottish shop- a wide berth but they looked popular. I liked looking at the windows of some of the more touristy shops but they're not for me. Fair play if they make money. Friend and I had a lovely time at Hebden Tea (she's obsessed) and I was overjoyed with the Roast Co and my incredible takeaway cup of delicious crackling. "Roast co" just means wanky coffee bar down south! Found some amazing cocktail bars, too. Can't wait to go back!

FreezerBird · 27/10/2020 23:57

Are the otters pictured eating St Mary, or all in heaven together, jnuzzling her affectionately, giving her ottery kisses and occasionally gifts of haddock?

That rather depends on the church. In the more fire and brimstone places they're actually eating her. Elsewhere, the assumption is they’re all in Heaven now and have made up, so they’re just shown, as you say, milling about her, nuzzling her affectionately and offering her ottery kisses and gifts of haddock.

Goosefoot · 28/10/2020 00:17

@FreezerBird

I always used to wonder what it was about St Mary that was so ottery. Perhaps she had a snout? Flippers? Rudder-like tail?

St. Mary is the patron saint of Devon, and was famously martyred by being eaten alive by otters. She's always portrayed in pictures absolutely covered in otters.

Goodness! That seems an unusual and unexpected turn of events.
wheresmymojo · 28/10/2020 00:19

[quote MrsToothyBitch]@Choccyp1g I liked your cluster theory post. And as someone who used to work in Guildford, I can't help but wonder what used to be sold up Geoffreys Passage (snigger).

I was last in York in August. I gave the Potter shops- and the Scottish shop- a wide berth but they looked popular. I liked looking at the windows of some of the more touristy shops but they're not for me. Fair play if they make money. Friend and I had a lovely time at Hebden Tea (she's obsessed) and I was overjoyed with the Roast Co and my incredible takeaway cup of delicious crackling. "Roast co" just means wanky coffee bar down south! Found some amazing cocktail bars, too. Can't wait to go back![/quote]

Ah yes! So many sniggers at being 'taken up Geoffrey's passage'!

Iamthewombat · 28/10/2020 00:36

live in York and have done most of my life but hate the shambles. There is something very off about the street. I’m not catholic either I just can’t stand place. I’ve mentioned it to a few people and they’ve felt the same.

I’m catholic but when I visit York I find the awful touristy Harry Potter shops and the screeching hen nights from Middlesbrough much more distressing than proximity to the shrine of St Margaret Clitherow!

StanfordPines · 28/10/2020 07:12

And as someone who used to work in Guildford, I can't help but wonder what used to be sold up Geoffreys Passage

Me and DH had our first kiss in Geoffreys Passage!

As an aside red light streets used to often be called Gropecunt Lane.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gropecunt_Lane

emilyfrost · 28/10/2020 07:54

@chomalungma

I would love to know what person decides to open a HP business next to an identical HP business.
The kind of person with some business nouse who is aware of a busy shop, the fans that flock there and wants to capitalise on it.

What’s your issue exactly?

TheQueensCousin · 28/10/2020 08:28

In the days of old The Shambles was the domain of the butchers. That's why lots of the shops have deep wooden ledges at the front of the window.

Fluffybutter · 28/10/2020 08:32

@raddledoldmisanthropist

York gets huge numbers of a certain type of US tourist. The fly into London, get on a coach and get taken round London, then York, then Edinburgh.

They want to: have afternoon tea, buy tartan, buy Harry Potter stuff, buy red double decker buses, buy shortcake or find out they might be related to a Lord.

They don't care which of the three theme parks they buy which souvenir in- that's why all three sell the exact same stuff.

Shortcake ?? You mean shortbread ,surely?
StCharlotte · 28/10/2020 08:36

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

If you see a Harry Potter shop not doing very well you’d be bonkers to open another next door. If you see three all turning over £££ with more customers than they can fit in, why would you not?

Re the comment about Pudding Lane etc, I wish we still did that and you could just work your way down Shoe Street instead of having to go all over town.

Grin
Hoppinggreen · 28/10/2020 08:42

I think there are worse ways to die than being eaten by otters, it’s an oddly specific punishment though

Original poster
chomalungma · 28/10/2020 08:50

@FreezerBird

I always used to wonder what it was about St Mary that was so ottery. Perhaps she had a snout? Flippers? Rudder-like tail?

St. Mary is the patron saint of Devon, and was famously martyred by being eaten alive by otters. She's always portrayed in pictures absolutely covered in otters.

That's brilliant Grin
OP posts:
dementedma · 28/10/2020 09:10

Royal Mile in Edinburgh is just a row of tartan themed tourist tat shops

MrsToothyBitch · 28/10/2020 09:13

I'm glad to see some Geoffreys Passage love on this thread! I used to quite enjoy giving directions. I will think of you whenever I go up (or down!) @StanfordPines!

To answer the Catholic chat on this thread, I was staying with a friend who is an ardent Catholic and whilst I found them interesting to window gaze but wasn't interested in going in, she was quite uncomfortable with the places suggesting ghosts or witchiness or using it as a gimmick. She could just about tolerate Harry Potter.

terrywynne · 28/10/2020 09:15

I've always been underwhelmed by The Shambles... It's talked about as this great feature but it's just a narrow street full of tourist shops (and the Earl Grey Tearooms which are nice)! I also noticed the excess of HP last time I was there. Oxford also suffers from an excess of HP tat, and London/the Queen themed tat (it's starting to resemble Leicester Square type area with long thin shops selling identical tourist tat) but only 2 HP shops. And I don't know if they survived Covid.

My favourite shop in York was always the sword shop - no idea what it was called but it had three floors of swords for sale (including replicas of 'famous' swords) and other weapons. I hope that still exists!

CorianderLord · 28/10/2020 09:44

Yes I agree. I used to spend hours on the shackles looking at the trinkets and now half of it is HP based! And I love HP but surely one shop is enough??

Original poster
chomalungma · 28/10/2020 09:47

My favourite shop in York was always the sword shop - no idea what it was called but it had three floors of swords for sale (including replicas of 'famous' swords) and other weapons. I hope that still exists

Still there.

OP posts:
CorianderLord · 28/10/2020 09:48

My favourite shop in York is the tea shop with hundreds of loose leaf teas and tea pots.

Toddlerteaplease · 28/10/2020 10:11

Couldn't agree more OP. I was lamenting the amount of Hardy potter crap last time I went down the Shambles.

Toddlerteaplease · 28/10/2020 10:17

Re the comment about Pudding Lane etc, I wish we still did that and you could just work your way down Shoe Street instead of having to go all over town.

The shambles was originally a street of butchers shops.

RonObvious · 28/10/2020 10:24

[quote StanfordPines]And as someone who used to work in Guildford, I can't help but wonder what used to be sold up Geoffreys Passage

Me and DH had our first kiss in Geoffreys Passage!

As an aside red light streets used to often be called Gropecunt Lane.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gropecunt_Lane[/quote]
A most informative thread indeed. I may now be behind in my work, but have gained knowledge of far greater importance!

bruffin · 28/10/2020 10:27

@chomalungma

JK Rowling on it

www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18467443.j-k-rowling-speaks-tweet-suggests-shambles-inspiration-harry-potters-diagon-alley/

It might have inspired the film setting....

Part of the film setting was Leadenhall Market
bruffin · 28/10/2020 10:40

@FangsForTheMemory

I thought Diagonal Alley was meant to be off the Charing Cross Road?
Yes Cecil Court and Knockturn Alley is Goodwins Court

Also Gringotts bank is based on the South African Embassy on the corner of Trafalgar Sqaure.
In St Martins Lane there is a pub sign which is the inspiration for The Leaky Couldron, it is above what is now The Real Greek

Fluffybutter · 28/10/2020 10:44

I think some are getting confused .
Yes diagon alley is in London (in the book and films) but the idea of how it looked came from somewhere else .. I had also heard Gandy street in Exeter

bruffin · 28/10/2020 10:51

Fluffybutter

JKR worked in the area of Charing Cross for a while which is why the london locations make sense