ON Saturday, November 2, family run Axminster business Swish and Flick filled the town’s streets with Hogwarts aspirational witches and wizards.

Sometimes being a Harry Potter fan living in the South West can leave you feeling a little far away from all the magic.

To combat this, ever since 2021, Swish and Flick have run Harry Potter events twice a year, including Harry Potter themed days.

The most recent Harry Potter day held on Saturday, November 2, continued this tradition, with the main event being a town-wide Harry Potter scavenger hunt involving all of the town's independent businesses.

Participants were encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters and solve clues to lead them to an Axminster business, where they’ll find a hidden Harry Potter item.

This year everyone got involved, with several hospitality businesses went all out with decorations and creating their own magical menus.

The George Hotel served their own secret Butterbeer recipe that was “straight out of the books”, and Higgler Coffee redecorated their café, transforming it into Azkaban prison, complete with lightning across the ceiling and gravestone chairs.

Other businesses making up the trail included Castle Garage, who built a Harry Potter Lego display in their shop window.

In collaboration with Axminster Library, Swish and Flick also co-hosted an origami morning where visitors made origami roses out of old Harry Potter book pages.

To continue the festivities, crowds of young readers gathered at Axminster Heritage Centre and Archway Bookshop where local author R. E. Brooker read chapters from her new Harry Potter inspired book Will Worthington and the Black Rainbow.

Francesca Dowdeswell, owner of Swish and Flick said: “Each year it’s getting bigger and bigger, and people are coming from further afield. Customers and staff love dressing up for the event.”

Some swish and flick stand out costumes this year included Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Stan Shunpike, and a book accurate Hermione in her Yule Ball dress.

Francesca added: “The creativity of participants is never ending, and one visitor even crafted his own moving dragon.”

The event rounded out with a final Harry Potter quiz at The George Hotel that according to Francesca, “challenged even the biggest of Harry Potter fans”.

Francesca added: “The day wouldn’t work without the community spirit that makes up Axminster itself.

If you would like the join in next time, come and visit Axminster on July 26, 2025. Mischief managed.”

The Swish and Flick team received extremely positive feedback overall, an event attendee said: "I just wanted to thank you for a fantastic day. My niece, has been excited for your Harry Potter day for months. She was so happy that I am sure she will never forget it.

I also think you should be very proud of your contribution to the community. Bringing businesses together takes a lot of effort but it really paid off"