No more pub gardens?

- CSU calls for the dismantling of the orphaned bar areas

Created: 12/21/2021, 8:10 AM

From: Katharina Mira Hinsche

In the Corona crisis, pavement gardens were at times a tolerable solution for restaurants.

© Sigi Jantz

The colder and more uncomfortable it gets, the less the pub gardens are used.

Now they are to be dismantled.

Munich - Originally, they were supposed to help pandemic-stricken hosts to generate more sales.

But the charming pub gardens have long since become a political issue.

At the end of November, the bar areas on public land were to be dismantled, but on November 25, the city council decided at short notice to extend the special use permit for restaurant areas in parking lots until March 31, 2022.

Use of radiant heaters included.

Many diners are unwilling to dine outside in single-digit temperatures

Obviously, not many guests are willing to dine outside at single-digit temperatures.

The result: Many pub gardens remain unused, but are not dismantled by the landlords - as actually intended according to the guidelines of the city council for "permanently unused" areas.

This leads to frustration among the residents who, when looking for a parking space in the dark season, come across an orphaned pallet structure instead of a free space.

Only the CSU in the city council had shown no understanding for the extension.

Because they saw the trust of the residents in politics lost due to unfulfilled commitments, the Christian Socials in the district committee (BA) Altstadt-Lehel Rabatz.

Pub gardens in Munich: "We stand by the people there"

“We stand by the people,” says Bernhard Wittek (CSU).

Because it was not until November 23 that the BA unanimously declared in response to a public concern that the special regulations for free bar areas in parking lots in the district will expire as planned at the end of November and that the district committee will actively campaign for compliance with the relevant regulations.

In a specially submitted application, the CSU parliamentary group called for the extension by the city council to be reversed - that would be the end of all pub gardens in winter.

In addition, local restaurateurs are to reduce their unused space.

Many BA members understood the parking lot problem, but the first part of the CSU application with the request to the city to reverse the extension of the special use permit was rejected. After all, some pub gardens, such as those around Gärtnerplatz, are still in use, noted Philippe Louis (Greens). However, the majority voted in favor of permanently dismantling unused areas. The aim is to speak directly to hosts who obviously no longer need the space they have made available.

But that must happen from the BA side and not privately, demanded CSU man Wittek.

But what does “permanent” actually mean?

"You have to clarify the term," said Wolfgang Püschel (SPD).

Markus Stadler (Greens) suggested that every pub garden that is not used for a week should be dismantled.

For many it seemed too short.

During the contemplative days, the committee will continue to think about the interpretation of the word "permanent" and the further procedure.

In the “Pepenero”, however, a lot of money was paid for expensive carpentry work

But what do affected restaurateurs say?

Sarang Alimardani, owner of “Pepenero” with four branches in Munich, finds it difficult to go back and forth.

First the pub gardens are to be dismantled, then again not, but now.

But: “The space is really not being used at the moment.

I wouldn't find it so bad to dismantle everything over the winter. "

Some innkeepers would not have gone to great lengths to furnish the pub gardens - it was actually only intended for a short time.

In the “Pepenero”, however, a lot of money was paid for expensive carpentry work.

And that will be damaged by the winter weather.

Therefore, dismantling would be expensive, but okay.

A permanent solution, a permanent installation made of metal, would be even better, says Alimardani - but that is not allowed.

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