Author George Bernard Shaw once observed, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” The classic stories read in our childhoods like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, inspired us as children to not only appreciate the magic in life but to create our own magic. There are some places left in the world that can help us relive such magical moments; some are crafted by the earth and others are locations crafted by those with vivid imaginations. The Cauldron Bar in London is one of those places designed by those wanting to attain that childlike sense of wonder once more.

The Cauldron is an immersive cocktail experience where guests can transport themselves to a fantastical world reminiscent of beloved childhood stories while concocting beautiful cocktails through skill and a bit of magic. Experts in design, food, and beverages teamed up to create a unique experience for each guest who enters the doors. The Cauldron combines elements of molecular mixology, science, and technology to create the ultimate cocktail-making experience. From actual smoking and bubbling cauldrons to test tubes to essences of floral and herbal extracts, the authenticity of every element in The Cauldron is unmatched. Every detail put into The Cauldron is deliberate. Since the first day it opened up, the goal of the Cauldron has been “to bring fantasy to life with science, technology, and design, and to create an inclusive community of people who believe that magic is possible—it’s just a matter of perspective.”

The Cauldron began its journey in London in 2017 when it opened as a pop-up lounge in central London after a Kickstarter campaign helped it launch its first step as a business. Co-founders Matthew Cortland and David Duckworth had always wanted to bring their love of classic fantasy novels to life in an immerse way. Little did they know just how many others wanted the same thing. The immediate success of the launch turned the pop-up lounge into a permanent bar shortly after.

The success and fame of The Cauldron didn’t stop there, however. As people began to rave about the bar, The Cauldron was soon heard of internationally. Now, The Cauldron has four permanent locations worldwide: two in London, one in Edinburgh, Scotland, and one in New York City. The Cauldron held a grand opening for its New York City location in September 2018. The Cauldron has also opened a pop-up lounge in Dublin since then. Since first opening in 2017, The Cauldron has seen over 200,000 guests walk in the doors of its locations across the world.

The high quality of every element put into the experience found at The Cauldron is why it has become one of the most recommended cocktail bars to visit in London. The cocktails provided and made are nothing short of impressive. At the door, guests receive a magic wand that will embark them on their cocktail creating and tasting adventure. The wand allows guests to receive an exclusive cocktail found only at The Cauldron. This selection of exclusive cocktails is found at the Divination Fountain. A donned up row of taps, four magical creatures’ heads jut out from the wall with mouths open, ready to dispense one of its four iconic cocktails.

A unique drink corresponds to each of the four creatures, and with the wave of a wand, guests can choose what cocktail they would like to try first. With a glass in hand, the chosen magical animal will pour the desired drink out of its mouth and into the glass. The magical creatures change regularly but the cocktails that come from them are famous for their flavors. The four creatures typically dispense four iconic drinks that guests rave about: a lager or ale with changing flavors from pineapple to dill, a gin cocktail with rosemary and apple essence, a fiery rum cocktail, and a mango and elderflower mocktail.

From there, guests can choose two options from a menu of cocktails to brew, each cocktail using different spirits and flavors. The menu is dynamic, always changing to coincide with the seasons and the customers’ needs. Guests can determine what potion cocktail they want to create with the help of the menu’s descriptions of the sweetness, sourness, bitterness, or smokiness of each cocktail.

The saying that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover is the best way to describe The Cauldron. While the exterior of The Cauldron is unassuming and almost easy to miss, the interior is anything but that. Guests are immediately met with the most interesting decor, staff, and overall atmosphere. Walking down a tiled hallway lined with flickering lights on the walls gives the entire lounge a mysterious air that leaves the guests wanting more. As the guests descend the stairs to the basement, everything comes into view. While an intimate setting, the entire room is also buzzing with conversations, oohs and aahs from guests creating their own cocktails, and the clinking of glasses as guests take their first sips. Dark drapes hang from the walls, which have been designed to look centuries-old, and guests sit at long wooden tables with old-fashioned oil lamps adorning each table. Topped off with vintage furniture along the walls, guests forget they are in the heart of modern-day London.

The Cauldron also has a Tea Experience at their London and Edinburgh locations for those wanting that same magical experience but with tea instead of cocktails. Tea-making is an art in itself with many flavors available to test and taste, and the process of concocting the perfect tea potion is no different. The tea experience uses the same molecular mixology and technology to create a memorable time for every guest. Guests of the tea experience are also provided a wand where they can unlock a puzzle chest filled with the ingredients to make different tea concoctions. The experience includes a selection of two teas from a brew menu, with one specifically designed to allow guests to explore their palette and creative skills. In addition to homemade scones, finger sandwiches, cupcakes and other delicious desserts, guests will leave feeling as if they just stepped into a world reminiscent of beloved childhood stories.

There is never a time when we should stop having fun in life. Our childlike sense of wonder has never left us, and The Cauldron allows us to embrace this part of us once again. To have the chance to tap into that playful side of us that once dictated our imaginations is rare. The Cauldron succeeds in making each guest feel as if they returned, however briefly, to their childhood when fantasy stories held our imaginations and inspired our creative minds.