The great pub death: Where are the last traditional ones in the LDS?

The great pub death: Where are the last traditional ones in the LDS?

In recent years, the pub culture in German villages has suffered greatly. A particular focus is on the Dahme-Spreewald district, where traditional inns are increasingly disappearing from everyday life. The MAZ went in search of the “most quaint restaurant” in the region and uncovered the worrying figures: between 2010 and 2023, almost 40 percent of the village restaurants here closed their doors. Of what were once 29 inns, only 18 remain, which raises the question of where the last retreats for the village community are. [maz-online.de]. Königs Wusterhausen, two well-known pubs succumbed to the pressure of time in 2023.

The closure of the “Zur Pumpe” by Karin and Norbert Schulze after over 30 years and the “Anne” restaurant after 31 years shows how difficult it has become for the innkeepers to survive economically these days. High prices for gas, electricity and food are a problem for operators, and the search for successors is often hopeless. Perdita and Gerd Schmidtbauer, who ran “Anne”, were unable to find a successor and closed their doors due to a lack of prospects.

Why the village restaurants are dying

The “death of pubs” is a nationwide phenomenon: between 2011 and 2017, over 4,000 pubs in Germany had to close. rtl.de points out that the reasons for this are varied. A changing way of life, reflected in mobility and the trend towards “to go” offers, has pushed visits to restaurants into the background. In addition, traditional events, such as the popular bowling evenings, are becoming increasingly less important.

The situation of restaurateurs is not made any easier by high operating costs and strict requirements. More and more innkeepers are faced with the challenge of meeting new legal requirements regarding hygiene and documentation requirements, while the demand for qualified staff is constantly falling. [the-germanz.de].

The loss of culture and identity

The closures lead to a gradual loss of cultural identity in the villages. Village pubs are not just places to eat; they are meeting places for neighbors, friends and clubs. The empty buildings make the villages appear desolate and weaken the sense of community. A report from maz-online.de highlights how important this is ornate corner bars for local social life.

The isolation caused by social media and emerging mobility contribute to the exodus of young people, who often move to the cities while the old pubs have to close. The enormous challenges that innkeepers have to overcome today - from finding suitable staff to rising energy costs - make it difficult for restaurants to become popular under these conditions.

What will the future of pub culture look like? Initiatives to preserve and promote traditional restaurants have already started in some regions. It remains to be hoped that there will be a return to the pub as a social center and that the death of pubs will not progress any further.