Freyung-Grafenau: Proven restaurateurs are fighting against the death of pubs!

Freyung-Grafenau: Proven restaurateurs are fighting against the death of pubs!

On July 6, 2025, the hoteliers and restaurateurs of the Freyung-Grafenau district office met to re-elect their board of directors for the next three years. The decision to continue the proven team around chairman Bernhard Sitter was made due to the positive cooperation. Sitter and his management team have proven themselves to be stable and reliable in the past and continue to advocate for the interests of the restaurant industry in the district. The PNP reports that This continuity in the board is particularly important in times of economic uncertainty.

However, the catering industry, particularly the pub culture, is facing major challenges. According to an article in the Bavarian state newspaper The death of pubs is a well-known problem in Bavaria. More and more pubs are closing due to financial difficulties, high costs and the psychological stress caused by the pandemic. In many places in the Freyung-Grafenau district, dining options are severely limited. For example, there is a brewery in Grafenau that is having difficulty finding a tenant for its Jägerwirt and the Bräustüberl.

The crisis of pub culture

The consequences of this development are serious. There are only a few pubs in the region that are open on weekdays. Only the “Zum Stodbärn” inn remains as a contact point for the community. Many other inns have closed in recent years or are only available for weekend events. Following the pandemic, many older publicans have not reopened their establishments, leading to a decline in social gatherings.

The challenge for the catering industry is further compounded by the socio-economic gap between cheap takeaways for socially disadvantaged groups and expensive restaurants for the wealthy. In the long term, this could lead to vacations in the Bavarian Forest becoming unaffordable for average earners. The warning expressed by Bernhard Sitter about the possible ruin of 2,400 businesses in Bavaria if VAT was increased illustrates the urgency of the situation for the local catering industry.

Investments and future prospects

The economic situation in the catering industry is tense. Especially in recent years, many pubs have had to make significant investments in order to remain competitive. The Lang Bräu cooperative, for example, had to invest heavily in its Bräustüberl. However, the expenses are often not worthwhile, especially since many descendants choose not to take on the family traditions and opt for more secure jobs in industry. The training of young gastronomers is usually neglected, which further endangers the future of the industry.

Walter Eggmüller, who has taken over a traditional inn, is trying to secure jobs with a self-service concept. He employs many foreign employees and has also accepted loss-making contracts in order to keep the business afloat. Nevertheless, the optimization of gastronomy in view of rising prices and falling household incomes is essential in order to maintain the region's attractiveness as a tourist destination.