The structure of the Pflegersee mountain inn is dilapidated, which is why renovation is urgently needed. But as the owner, the Garmisch-Partenkirchen market would have to invest a lot of money. Now food monitoring is putting pressure on it: If something doesn't happen quickly, the gem will have to be closed down in the worst case scenario.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen – The main problem is the kitchen. The heart of a restaurant. At the Pflegersee mountain inn in Garmisch-Partenkirchen it has been causing a lot of concern for a long time. Under no circumstances because there are any hygienic deficiencies or something similar. The team around long-term tenant Volker Neuroth has been doing excellent work for over 35 years, as proven by countless positive reviews on online portals and feedback from guests in the tourist information centers. The inn is also part of “GaPa Tastes”, a culinary project run by the tourism region.
Numerous weddings, family and company celebrations take place. Locals and guests appreciate the gastronomy. No wonder, Christian Neuroth, a luminary who has been working as head chef since 2017, has already worked as sous chef in the then award-winning restaurant Castel Ringberg in Kaltern and as chef saucier in the Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin.
The building structure is completely outdated
The problems are structural in nature. The structure of the building is outdated and there are huge deficiencies. The building is partly in need of renovation. In addition, a lot of things are no longer up to date. Over the decades, the requirements for food processing companies have become significantly stricter. Some of the spatial layouts in the mountain inn would therefore have to be adjusted in order to remain sustainable. Among other things, there is no space for a barrier-free toilet, there is no heating, only tiled stoves.
“The district office’s food monitoring department has some requirements for the renovation of the property,” writes Silvia Buyer-Schropp, press spokeswoman for the market town. The danger: If something doesn't change quickly, the authorities could intervene and, in the worst case, even have the inn closed. A horror scenario.
Many people don't want to paint that black. “But the mountain inn is absolutely important for our region, for tourists as well as locals,” says Daniel Schimmer, district chairman of Dehoga, describing the importance of the restaurant. He is also a Free Voters market councilor. From a political point of view, he is not allowed to say anything, as the issue of Pflegersee is discussed in detail in non-public meetings.
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Working group has been created
Officially, the market town simply explains that a working group has been set up to deal with the topic of renovation and to draw up a corresponding concept with a schedule and cost overview. “This concept is intended to represent a contemporary and future-oriented renovation while retaining the original appearance of the inn.” Therefore, no concrete figures can be given at this point, “neither about the schedule nor about the costs,” says buyer-Schropp. “No concrete plans have been commissioned yet”.
What is certain is that only 75,000 euros are earmarked in the budget this year for the renovation of the inn. This raised eyebrows among some local councilors. No wonder, there were completely different sums in the 2023 financial plan: Two million euros were promised for the concept development for the conversion or partial new construction of the restaurant in 2024 and one million euros in 2025.
Leaseholder Neuroth does not want to make a statement until the market community has made a decision and would like to wait and see what the results bring. Even a Swedish royal couple has stopped by the Pflegersee mountain inn.