just seen this nice little film on rbb about berliner eckkneipen, thought some on here may enjoy it, think ive been in pretty much all the boozers featured in it, some proper class places id recommend to anyone http://www.rbb-online.de/doku/die_rbb_reporter/beitraege/berliner-eckkneipen.html
Thanks Gavin for posting. Basically, these Eckkneipen (corner pubs) are still everywhere in Germany but they're dying out. In the 80s, when smoking was ubiquitous and you couldn't find a place that wasn't full of smoke, I visited these often though I myself never smoked. However, maybe it's due to being older and now having a real hate for smoke-filled bars, but I absolutely refuse to enter what they today call Raucherlokal, or "smoker's bar." Most of these Eckkneipen are today Raucherlokal; thus I avoid them for that reason.
i understand the smoking thing, and if im with my wife we cant go in these places as she hates the smoke. although im a non smoker i have to say it doesnt bother me too much, i absolutely love these pubs though and lots of the people ive met in them, i hope lots of them can survive. the last time i was in berlin i already saw 2 of my old favourites had closed since i was last there
Is there a 'trend' reason for these closings? Or is this just a fact that some individual businesses close from time to time? Cheers!
My guess would be gentrification of neighborhoods has more to do with closings than smoking laws. As rents go up these pubs are forced to close (or change to something more upscale)
i can only speak for what i see in berlin but yes, gentrification is the main culprit, when i was last over, two pubs that i used to in had closed but had been taken over by more modern, bland, international bars/cafes/craft beer joints. really dissapointing for me. these were in sort of central areas where rents are increasing and demographics are changing. i spent quite a lot of time in some areas further out, eg gropius stadt and the kneipes stillseemed to be flourishing there
I've also witnessed with some weird Eckkneipen in some corners of the city that they survive by getting a really young crowd in the later times. Always seemed weird, the music, the outdated HO rustic interior, the cheap beer, nothing changes. But somehow, instead of the odd handfull of older,weird characters,dozens and dozens of younger people come and drink and drink.......
Serious question - has it been a success? I've not seen anything either way but I have noticed Stone beers readily available in UK supermarkets now.
The recent announcements about Stone layoffs alluded to some recent projects not generating expected revenues -- but stopped short of naming Berlin directly. Only other evidence I have is anecdotal: a few friends and family members that live in Berlin have gone a couple of times and said it was quite empty when they were there, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything, of course. No idea how off-premise sales are going.
Hmmm... maybe Stone needs an old-school Kneipe with big Berliner Weisse goblets and an electric dartboard.
The Eckkneipen die out because their customers die out. In downtown Berlin (=Mitte) there are only a very few left, and same in the tourist quarters Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. But if leave the city center you still can find some very nice places. I have five Eckkneipen within 10 min walking distance, and in summer they all have some chairs outside. That is perfect if you like the sun, do not like smoke, want a fair beer and like to watch and comment on people passing by.
correct me if im wrong but you are in wedding right? i spent a bit of time there last time i was over, some good eckkneipen and a couple of breweries aswell. i plan to spend more time there next time im over
Right, it's Wedding (the most beautiful district in Berlin, but do not tell). Wedding has two notorious breweries (Eschenbräu and Vagabund) but the Eckkneipen are worth a visit. I'll ive you the names if you like.
that would be great thanks, always happy to have new pubs to visit. last time i was over i visited eschenbrau and a kneipe called zum schinken, is vagabund worth a visit?
