A Melbourne pub has found itself on the losing side of a battle with transnational corporation Warner Bros for using Harry Potter intellectual property without permission.

The Imperial Hotel has been ordered tear down its rooftop Harry Potter installation and turn off the taps on its Buttah Beer after the multinational demanded the pub remove all wizard-themed decorations and references.

The pub – on the corner of Bourke and Spring streets, a few doors down from the Princess Theatre where the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play runs eight times a week – featured six “magical stores” adorned with spell books, almanacs and colours from the film series.

Warner Bros have told the Imperial Hotel that the magic can no longer happen at the pub without permission. Credit:The Age

The “Vertic Alley” – a reference to Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley – was set up in February with a wizard-themed menu featuring Buttah Beer and “Harry’s platter”.