Overview
- The number of rural dining venues in Germany fell from 4,101 in 2010 to 3,697 by 2023, with closures accelerating in Brandenburg this month.
- Demographic shifts and younger customers’ preference for varied off-premise options have undercut traditional pub-style menus in village inns.
- Poor rural transport links and high energy and labor costs have squeezed margins, contributing to a 4.6 percent real revenue decline in May.
- Dehoga Bavaria’s president warns that half of the region’s inns could vanish without targeted relief, citing rising insolvencies and investment shortfalls.
- A government decision to cut VAT on dining from 19 percent to 7 percent in January 2026 offers relief potential, though its impact on consumer prices is unconfirmed.