Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Department of Magic suitable for children and young people?
The tavern welcomes witches and wizards of any age and can make accommodations for strollers. Any child of 4 years old or younger can join adults without having to book an experience however table capacity is limited so please ensure this is confirmed in advance.
We also have a high-chair available for babies and toddlers however these spaces are also limited and not guaranteed.
Only confirmed participants will be guaranteed to be catered for outside of booking numbers.
Make sure to email our Administration Team at info@departmentofmagic.com before booking your experience so that we can check availability due to our limited capacity.
The atmosphere in the Magic Potions Tavern is more lively after 6pm, so younger visitors may wish to leave before then. Under 16s must leave by 10pm and under 18s must leave by 11pm.
Please also note that in order to reach the Magical Tavern you will need to walk down a short but steep stairwell.
Additional Details:
Escape Rooms:
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Families with children of under-12-year-olds need to have at least an adult present in the room.
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If the entirety of the group consists of under-12-year-olds then an adult is required in the room to supervise. In this case, the adult is considered a chaperone and therefore is not a paying customer. This only applies for up to one adult. Additional adults are considered paying participants and not chaperones.
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Under 16s need an adult in the venue.
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Any child of 5 years old or younger can join adults without having to book an experience.
Magical Tavern:
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Any child of 4 years old or younger can join adults without having to book an experience.
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This includes Magical Potions, Magical Bubblers and the Magical Afternoon Tea
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Please notify our admin wizards at info@departmentofmagic.com after making a reservation so that our Bar Staff can allocate the additional seating.
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Guests under the age of 16 are required to leave the premises before 11:00pm.
How to book;
You can book both alcoholic and non-alcoholic Magical Potions in a single booking directly from here:
Please access our Magical Potions page from here:
Department of Magic - Bubbler Cocktails & Magical Potions
Our Magical Afternoon Tea page from here:
Magical Afternoon Tea - Online Booking
Can extra participants join an experience without having to book a reservation?
All guests are required to book an experience in order to join the other participants.
An exception is made for children of 4 years old or younger (more information can be found here).
Please email our Administration Team at info@departmentofmagic.com so that our staff can confirm availability. Booking amendments have to be finalised via email and payment is required in advance.
Can children join adults without having to book a reservation?
Any child of 4 years old or younger can join adults at the table without having to book an experience.
Just make sure to reply to this email after the reservation so that we can add a seat for the younger participant.
Are dogs allowed in the premises?
Well behaved dogs are allowed in our Magical Tavern and in the Escape Room.
Can I pay directly on the day?
All bookings must be paid in advance because we offer live event experiences in a private space with dedicated Staff and unique, perishable potions ingredients that need to be catered accordingly.
Is the Department of Magic open in August?
Our Magical Tavern will be closed both during August in order to support the Festival Fringe activities of our sister company, Monkey Barrel Comedy. This may include days leading to and shortly after Festival Fringe.
However, our Dark Lord Resurrection Escape Room will always stay open.
The easiest way to make a reservation for the Dark Lord Resurrection Escape Room is to head over to our website, where you can see in real-time all available slots.
You can access our Escape Rooms page from here:
From the page you will be able to choose the time slot you would prefer, add the experience to your cart, and reserve the booking.
Prices are as follows:
Escape Room:
2 People - £50 (£25 per person)
3 People - £69 (£23 per person)
4 People - £84 (£21 per person)
5 People - £100 (£20 per person)
6 People - £114 (£19 per person)
Does the Magical Tavern have any closing dates in 2026?
The Magical Tavern will be closed from the 1st of August to the 3rd of September and the Prophecies Quest escape room will be closed from the 27th of July to the 6th of September. This is to support the Festival Fringe activities of our sister company, Monkey Barrel Comedy.
However, our Dark Lord Resurrection Escape Room will always stay open.
Do you accept walk-ins or should we book in advance?
It's best to book in advance.
While we do accept walk-ins we can't guarantee availability unless we hold a reservation. This is because we run a live booking system and availability may change over time (especially during weekends, a time when reservations sell out very quickly).
Do you offer an open bar?
We don't offer an open bar and all of our experiences are organised in sessions.
This means that in order to reserve a table our guests should book a Magical Potion & Smoking Shot Experience or a Cocktail Bubbler. Participants can then order more drinks during their experience.
You can find more details about our cocktails in our menu:
Department of Magic - Magical Tavern Menu
Is the Department of Magic wheelchair accessible?
Unfortunately our Magical Tavern and our Prophecies Quest Escape Room are not wheelchair accessible.
This is because the locations are below ground level and our guests have to walk down a short but steep stairwell to get in the premises.
Our Dark Lord Resurrection Escape Room is in a different location, about 150 meters from our Magical Tavern, and it is wheelchair accessible.
One or more players in Dark Lord Resurrection will be required, at some point during the adventure, to crawl for a short time. However, during said section at least one player is expected to stay in the main chamber to help.
How can I pay?
We only accept payment by card, debit cards included.
Please note that we do not accept cash.
Where are you located?
The Department of Magic is home to a Magical Potions Tavern, the Prophecies Quest Escape Room and the Dark Lord Resurrection Escape Room.
The Magical Potions Tavern and the Prophecies Quest Escape Room are located in 9 Blair St, Edinburgh EH1 1QR.
The Dark Lord Resurrection Escape Room is instead located in 150 Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1RP.
Please note that regardless of your booking all guests should meet at our Magical Potions Tavern where our staff will introduce you to your experience.
Wheelchair accessibility note: if you have booked the Dark Lord Resurrection Escape Room and you’d like to meet your Game Master Wizard directly at 150 Cowgate EH1 1RP, please let us know by emailing our Administration Team at info@departmentofmagic.com right after your booking.
What if I’m running late?
If you believe you are going to be late for your reservation please let us know as soon as possible by emailing the Administration Team at info@departmentofmagic.com.
Escape Rooms:
Groups arriving no more than 10 minutes late should be able to play the Escape Room adventure regularly.
Please note however that for longer delays our Game Masters reserve the right to detract time from the game or to cancel the game altogether if it's too late to start. This is to guarantee our schedule with the groups that follow.
Magical Tavern:
The table will be reserved for 75 minutes regardless of the time of your arrival.
Please note that in order to properly enjoy your Magical Potion & Smoking Shot we recommend a stay of at least 45 minutes.
Can I reschedule or refund my booking?
Rescheduling:
Rescheduling for the Prophecies Quest Escape Room, the Dark Lord Resurrection Escape Room, the Magical Potion & Smoking Shot (Alcoholic or Non-Alcoholic) and the Magical Afternoon Tea must be requested at least 72hrs in advance.
Refunds:
Refunds for the Prophecies Quest Escape Room, the Dark Lord Resurrection Escape Room, the Magical Potion & Smoking Show (Alcoholic or Non-Alcoholic) must be requested at least 48hrs in advance.
Refunds for the Magical Afternoon Tea must be requested at least 72hrs in advance.
Refunds for the following must be requested at least 48hrs in advance:
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Prophecies Quest Escape Room
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Dark Lord Resurrection Escape Room
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Magical Potion & Smoking Show (Alcoholic or Non-Alcoholic)
As per our terms and conditions, we do not issue refunds and reschedules outside of the notification period described above because we offer live event experiences in a private space with dedicated Staff and unique, perishable potions ingredients that need to be catered accordingly.
Where can I find more details in regards to dietary requirements and allergens?
Below you can find the ingredients of each item available in our experiences:
Department of Magic - Allergens & Dietary Requirements (Afternoon Tea)
This also includes dietary requirements such as suitability for Vegetarian and Vegan participants.
Please note that menu items that are not labelled with “Contains Gluten” could still contain traces of Gluten, and menu items that are not labelled with “Contains Nuts” could still contain traces of nuts.
Our preferred time and date is sold-out. Could you still fit us in?
Our online booking system is updated in real-time, so if there isn’t availability on the website it means that the date and time of your choosing is sold-out.
Please also note that we don't have a waiting list. However, last minute cancellations will show up on the booking system so you can check from time to time to see if there is any availability.
How many people can I bring in for the Magical Potion & Smoking Shot and Cocktail Bubblers?
Our online booking system allows you to book for up to eight participants for the Magical Potion & Shot Experience and Bubbler Cocktails, and up to six participants for the Magical Bubbler Cocktails.
We welcome larger groups for the Magical Potion & Shot Experience, however due to seating arrangements and catering requirements our staff needs to check for availability in advance.
If your group is larger than 8 participants, please fill the following form:
Group Bookings | Department Of Magic
Our Administration Team will then review availability and get back to you as soon as possible.
If your group has up to 8 participants, please book online from our Magical Potions & Bubbler Cocktails page:
Department of Magic - Bubbler Cocktails & Magical Potions Online Booking
Do I need to speak English to read the potion making instructions or to play the Escape Rooms?
The Magical Potion recipes are written in English and the Escape Rooms have puzzles that rely on clues written in English.
Our Magically themed Escape Rooms also have additional audio cues meant to provide immersion that however aren't required for the resolution of the puzzles.
Due to the above a moderate understanding of the language is recommended.
Our wizards (the game masters) will introduce the teams to the game and they are great at making people feel at ease. There is no limit on hints and our Game Masters will always do their best to help you out.
Can I book both Magical Potions and the Escape Room experience at the same time?
You can book both experiences in a single reservation!
Please keep in mind that the times for the Escape Rooms and the Magical Potions do not always match.
Depending on availability, you should be able to book the escape room and the potions next to each other (either by having potions first or afterwards).
The easiest way to make a reservation is to head over to our website, where you can see in real-time all available slots.
To book both the Escape Rooms and the Potions in a single booking, please book the first experience and then click the "add another booking" button before checkout.
You can access our Escape Rooms booking page from here:
Please access our Magical Potions & Bubbler Cocktails page from here:
Department of Magic - Bubbler Cocktails & Magical Potions
From the page you will be able to choose the time slot you would prefer, add the experience to your cart, and reserve the booking.
Why can’t I add enough participants even though there is availability for my preferred date and time?
Our online booking system allows you to book for up to eight participants for the Magical Potion & Shot Experience and Bubbler Cocktails, and up to six participants for the Magical Bubbler Cocktails.
If the booking system doesn’t let you add availability for your group size, then it means that you can only book the remaining capacity and that all other tables for your preferred date and time are sold-out. Please choose a different date and time.
How many people at once can play the Escape Rooms?
Groups are capped at six players, exceptionally up to seven for the Prophecies Quest Escape Room.
If you’d like to book the Prophecies Quest Escape Room for 7 participants, please book it online and then email our Administration Team at info@departmentofmagic.com and we will amend the booking for you.
Additionally, if the entirety of the group consists of under-12-year-olds then an adult is required in the room to supervise. In this case, the adult is not counted towards the group total.
Do you have waiting lists? My ideal time and date is sold-out.
Unfortunately we don't have a waiting list.
However, our online booking system is updated in real-time and last minute cancellations will show up on the booking system.
How to book
Please access our Escape Rooms page from here:
Our Magical Afternoon Tea page from here:
Magical Afternoon Tea - Online Booking
And our Magical Potions & Bubbler Cocktails page from here:
Department of Magic - Bubbler Cocktails & Magical Potions
Can I bring food or a cake in the Tavern?
Food and cakes can't be brought in the Tavern due to allergy guidelines.
However, in the early afternoon we also have the Magical Afternoon Tea Experience which includes the following:
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A Tea Tower full of smoking delights and delicious treats for a sensational start to your day.
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A Choice of Magical Make It Yourself Tea.
You can access our Magical Afternoon Tea page from here:
Magical Afternoon Tea - Online Booking
From the page you will be able to choose the time slot you would prefer, add the experience to your cart, and reserve the booking.
What is included in the Department of Magic Table reservation?
The Magical Potion & Smoking Shot experience includes a Magical Potion, a Smoking Shot and a table reservation lasting 75 minutes.
What are the prices?
Prices are as follows:
Escape Rooms:
2 People - £50 (£25 per person)
3 People - £69 (£23 per person)
4 People - £84 (£21 per person)
5 People - £100 (£20 per person)
6 People - £114 (£19 per person)
7 People (Prophecies Quest Only) - £133 (£19 per person)
Magical Potions:
Magical Potion Experience & Shot: £18.50 per person
Magical Potion: £14 per person
Smoking Shot: £4.5 per person
Non-Alcoholic Magical Potion Experience & Shot: £10.5 per person
Non-Alcoholic Potion: £7.5 per person
Tipple (non-alcoholic Smoking Shot): £3 per person
Magical Afternoon Tea Experience:
Magical Afternoon Tea: £25 per person
Magick Tea: £4.5 per person
Magical Bubbler Cocktails:
Alcoholic Magical Bubble Cocktails: £8 per person
Non-Alcoholic Magical Bubbler Cocktails: £6 per person
Other Drinks:
Shaken Cocktails: £10 per person
Butterbeers: £4 per person
Do you have a menu?
Yes, you can find our menu here:
Department of Magic - Magical Tavern Menu
Do you have Butter Beer?
Absolutely! What sort of magical tavern would we be without both Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Butter Beer!
Can I book two Magical Tavern experiences for the same date and time?
You should only book one experience per time slot.
If you are booking a Magical Potion & Smoking Shot experience or a Bubbler Cocktail you will be able to order more drinks directly on the day. This means that you don’t need to make two separate bookings. Please note that additional drinks will be paid directly to our Bar Staff on the day.
Please note that you can’t order both a Magical Afternoon Tea and a Magical Potion & Smoking Shot for the same date and time. If you’d like to experience both, please book the experiences one after another.
How to book both a Magical Afternoon Tea and a Magical Potion Experience:
The easiest way to make a reservation for both is to head over to our website, where you can see in real-time all available slots.
You will need to book the Magical Afternoon Tea and the Magical Potion Experience separately.
Depending on availability, you should be able to book the Magical Afternoon Tea and the Magical Potion Experience next to each other (either by having Afternoon Tea first or afterwards).
To book both the Afternoon Tea and the Magical Potion Experience in a single booking, please book the first experience and then click on the "Add Another Booking" button before checkout.
You can access our Magical Afternoon Tea booking page from here:
Magical Afternoon Tea - Online Booking
And our Magical Potions booking page from here:
Department of Magic - Bubbler Cocktails & Magical Potions
From the page you will be able to choose the time slot you would prefer, add the experience to your cart, and reserve the booking.
How many experiences should I book per person?
Please book one experience per person. Participants can then order more drinks during their experience.
Do you offer Vegetarian or Vegan substitutions for the Magical Afternoon Tea?
Currently we don't offer vegan and vegetarian options or other substitutions for our Magical Afternoon Tea.
Below you can find the ingredients of each item available in our experiences:
Department of Magic Allergens & Dietary Requirements
You can also find our menu here for additional information:
Department of Magic - Magical Tavern Menu
What is included in the Magical Afternoon Tea?
Participants will be offered a tea tower full of smoking delights and delicious treats and a choice of Magical Make It Yourself Tea.
Is the Magical Afternoon Tea the only food option available?
The Magical Afternoon Tea is the only option that includes sandwiches and pastries.
However, during your Magical Potion & Smoking Shot experience or during a Bubbler Cocktail reservation you will be able to order various treats including snacks such as crisps, peanuts, almonds and cashews and treats such as Chocolate Frogs, Choc Honeycomb, Choc Raising and Lemon Sherbets.
You can find more details in our menu:
Department of Magic - Magical Tavern Menu
Can I get a partial refund if the number of attendees change?
We can offer partial refunds provided that we have been notified at least 72 hours in advance.
Please email our Administration Team at info@departmentofmagic.com so that our staff can finalise the refund.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind?
We can offer refunds provided that we have been notified at least 72 hours in advance.
Please email our Administration Team at info@departmentofmagic.com so that our staff can finalise the refund.
How long does it take to receive a reply after I send an enquiry?
Our Administration Team works from 9am to 3pm from Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday and Sunday.
While we may exceptionally reply outside of office hours, please contact us during the times specified above if you’d like a reply on the same day or if you have a high-priority enquiry.
Please also note that while we usually aim to reply within 48hrs we may need more time depending on our volume of enquiries.
What’s the difference between the Magical Potion & Smoking Shot experience and Bubbler Cocktails?
Magical Bubbler Cocktails are easy to brew but spectacular, while the Magical Potion Experience is more slow-paced and fascinating.
For the Magical Potion Experience our guests will be given a whimsical recipe that needs to be followed closely in order to create a concoction to drink.
The Magical Potion Experience includes one Magical Potion & one Smoking Shot. You can order more drinks during your experience.
Our Potion Master will explain everything before the experience, and will always be available for guidance.
Are there non-alcoholic options?
Absolutely! We do have non-alcoholic options for our Magical Potions & Shots, for our Cocktail Bubblers and for our Butterbeers.
While the ingredients will differ, the experience will be the same for both the Non-Alcoholic and the Alcoholic options.
Here you can find our menu for more details about our Magical Tavern offerings:
Department of Magic - Magical Tavern Menu
Are there differences between the Non-Alcoholic and the Alcoholic Magical Potion Experiences?
While the ingredients will differ, the experience will be the same for both the Non-Alcoholic and the Alcoholic options of our Magical Potion & Smoking Shot Experience.
In both cases our guests will be given a whimsical recipe that needs to be followed closely in order to create a cocktail that then will be ready to drink. Our Potion Master will explain everything before the experience and will always be available for guidance.
Do you offer treats and snacks?
During your visit you will be able to order snacks such as crisps, peanuts, almonds and cashews and treats such as chocolate frogs, choc honeycomb, choc raising and lemon sherbets.
How many people can I bring in for the Magical Afternoon Tea?
Our online booking system allows you to book for up to six participants for the Magical Afternoon Tea.
We can’t accommodate larger groups due to seating arrangements and catering requirements.
Can I get substitutes for the afternoon tea experience?
Currently we don't offer vegan and vegetarian options or other substitutions for the Magical Afternoon Tea.
Please consult the following page for more information regarding the ingredients:
Department of Magic - Allergens & Dietary Requirements (Afternoon Tea)
Our Menu:
You can find our menu here for additional information:
Department of Magic - Magical Tavern Menu
How many people can I bring in for the Magical Potion & Smoking Shot and Cocktail Bubblers?
Our online booking system allows you to book up to eight participants for the Magical Potion & Shot Experience and Bubbler Cocktails, and up to six participants for the Magical Bubbler Cocktails.
We welcome larger groups for the Magical Potion & Shot Experience, however due to seating arrangements and catering requirements our staff needs to check for availability in advance.
If your group is larger than 8 participants, please fill the following form:
Group Bookings | Department Of Magic
Our Administration Team will then review availability and get back to you as soon as possible.
Why have I not received a confirmation email?
Confirmation emails are sent automatically after finalising the booking.
Please double-check your spam inbox if you can't find any.
Please make sure also that you are checking the same inbox used for the reservation.
If you can’t still find a confirmation email, it may be possible that the email address hasn’t been typed correctly or that there may have been a different issue. Please email our Administration Team at info@departmentofmagic.com and they will check the reservation details with you.
How much time does it take to receive a refund?
Refunds may take 5-10 days to appear in your account.