Snack trouble!

Beer garden near Munich breaks with ancient tradition - "hospitable and un-Bavarian"

Created: 04/22/2022, 05:26

By: Claudia Schuri

In the Schloßallee Haag, food that you bring with you causes trouble.

Now there is a ban.

© Lehmann

It's a tradition: You can bring your own food to the beer garden.

But some hosts complain about problems - and in a garden the food is no longer desired.

Munich - sunshine and Easter holidays - perfect for a beer garden visit.

So Silke Botzenhardt (56) and Werner Riesinger (60) from Munich got on their bikes and set off for the Freising district.

Their destination: the Schloßallee Haag beer garden.

"We know the beer garden from before," says Riesinger.

"He always had an excellent reputation."

But a sign awaited them at the entrance: "Consumption of food and drinks you have brought with you is prohibited." Botzenhardt and Werner Riesinger had a snack with cheese, bread and eggs with them.

"We didn't unpack them, but left them in the basket," he says.

"We just had a drink and later ate at home." The rule annoys him.

"In no other beer garden in Munich have we seen such hostile and un-Bavarian behavior," he says.

"Other guests were also surprised."

Werner Riesinger and Silke Botzenhardt took their snack home with them.

© Oliver Bodmer

Beer garden operator complains about exploiting tradition: "That's not the point"

Alexander Moser, one of the operators, on the other hand emphasizes: “The sign polarizes.

But of course you can bring a small snack with a piece of cheese, cold cuts, bread or radishes and eat it if you like.” It’s more about guests who have overdone it.

Some came with roasts and dumplings in heated boxes, set up buffets at several tables, had pizzas delivered or even brought a grill with them.

"That's not the point, nor is it tradition," he says.

He also points out: "Our stands also want to do business."

Guests use the beer garden as a "nice place to sit".

"There are always guests who only use the beer garden as a nice place to sit," says Frank-Ulrich John, spokesman for the Bavarian hotel and restaurant association Dehoga.

"It's understandable if the landlord imposes restrictions.

After all, he has to be able to make a living from something.” After all: “In most cases it works well.” The fact that you can eat your own snack in beer gardens dates back to the 19th century.

At that time, the beer was mainly stored on the banks of the Isar.

Many innkeepers were only licensed - and so that people could tolerate the beer better, they were allowed to take their own food with them.

The rules of the Bavarian beer garden regulation

Today, the Bavarian beer garden ordinance regulates that you can eat your own snacks in real beer gardens.

"This means simple dishes," explains DEHOGA spokesman Frank-Ulrich John.

Requirement: It is a real beer garden and not a pub garden.

Criteria for this are, for example, the garden character with large trees and unpaved ground as well as self-service.

"Then the innkeeper can open later in the evenings," explains John.

The time for beer gardens is from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

If the host does not make use of this special right, he could theoretically ban all snacks brought along.

"It is part of the house rules to say that only food bought there may be consumed."

Munich beer gardens handle things in their own way: "We don't have any problems because of that."

In many Munich beer gardens with a self-service area, however, the tradition is still maintained.

"We don't have any problems because of that," says Silja Schrank-Steinberg from the Hofbräukeller.

“Most people bring a salad with them, for example, and then buy something from us anyway.

I think it's really nice when the guests unpack their tablecloths, for example.” You can also bring your own snack in the Hirschau.

"That's what makes a beer garden what it is," says landlord Lukas Spendler.

"But there aren't that many guests who do it anyway.

And of course the drinks are then bought on site from us.”

Petra Vogler from the Augustiner-Keller also emphasizes: "We cherish and maintain the beautiful tradition that guests can take their snacks with them in the self-service area." Smuggling drinks in.” Johann Eichmeier from Hirschgarten also experienced this.

"Then we talk to people," he says.

You can bring food with you.

But it is annoying when the garbage is left behind.

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