Romantik Hotel Scheelehof in Stralsund: bankruptcy after a brilliant appearance!

Romantik Hotel Scheelehof in Stralsund: bankruptcy after a brilliant appearance!

On November 4, 2025, the Romantik Hotel Scheelehof in Stralsund suddenly ceased operations. After more than a decade of existence, in which the charming hotel made up of five historic half-timbered houses accommodated over 100 rooms, 89 employees are now affected by the closure. The in-house restaurants, including the “Zum Scheele” restaurant, the “scheels” cellar bar and the “Kontor Stralsund” organic roastery, will also be closed.

This disaster is due to the massive financial difficulties of Scheelehof Operatorgesellschaft mbH, which had to deal with unpleasant causes such as the consequences of the corona pandemic, rising costs and significant water damage in the Brasserie Grand Café. The latter was closed in May 2025, which has already resulted in 30 layoffs. Legal restructuring proceedings were initiated in June, but a potential investor withdrew shortly before the contract was concluded, causing great disappointment for managing director Hendrik Alberts.

Historical heritage and splendor of bygone days

The Scheelehof was not just a hotel, but also a part of Stralsund's cultural heritage. The building complex includes the birthplace of the chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele and was extensively renovated in 2010 to offer guests 87 individually designed rooms. So also visited Dr. Angela Merkel visited the hotel in 2011 to celebrate the opening afterwards.

The sad news of the closure came as a surprise to many, especially at a time when the hotel and catering industry is trying to recover from the massive impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Statista, around 75 percent of companies in this area suffered a loss of sales in 2020, with the federal government implementing numerous aid measures. But compared to the real challenges, this was often inadequate. 65 percent of restaurateurs and hoteliers estimated that the help offered was not enough to compensate for economic losses.

Hopelessness and the next steps

Scheelehof Operatorgesellschaft mbH is now facing a mountain of challenges, including handling its business. Contracts with booking portals must be terminated and reservations that have already been made must be canceled. The removal of the facility has already begun and it remains to be seen whether a new investor will step in and continue the historic operations.

At a time when the hospitality industry is fighting hard for its existence both in Germany and globally, the Scheelehof case shows the fragile structures and the pressure that many companies are under. Whether and when the tide will turn remains uncertain, but one thing is certain: the industry needs new perspectives and innovative solutions to preserve this city and its local treasures.