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Louise Brown, born in England, living in Germany since 1987
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Last Orders for Germany's Secret Society ?
Many a foreign student in Berlin may have been intrigued by the sight of flickering candles on a windswept, deserted pavement. Little did they know that for insiders, these solitary candles were pathfinder lights, leading to a hidden location, tucked away in a backyard. Secret gatherings in dimly lit flats have dominated Berlin nightlife for years. However, this type of club culture - the so-called "sitting room bar" - already famous among party-goers all over the world - is now in danger of extinction. A few old chairs, an ancient dinner service, a battered ghetto-blaster: Not much is needed to furnish a sitting room bar. What you must have though, is ample space - something that was ubiquitous after the Berlin Wall came down, but is becoming harder to find today. The legend of the capital's sitting room bars goes back as far as 1975. In the 1970s, the East German government started resettling inhabitants from the city centre to newly built blocks of flats on the outskirts of the town, making room for what could be put to - in the eyes of the government - better use.
After the collapse of communism, West Germany began reclaiming houses that had been confiscated by the communists, and before them, the Nazis. The result was that no one knew who owned what, therefore numerous buildings remained empty. However, it didn't take long for young people to realise the potential of these buildings. Martin, an Australian student started cooking for friends in a disused apartment block several years ago. It didn't take long before his backyard bar accommodated more than 40 people, from students to artists, to young businessmen. Other popular secret bars were also soon confronted with sanitary and management problems. It was crucial for them to remain hidden - not only to keep their secretive touch, but simply because none of them were licensed. Finding your way to an illegal bar was therefore like taking part in a treasure hunt. These clubs relied on discreet mouth-to-mouth propaganda and flyers giving only vague details as to their exact location. These days, with building development at its height, the search for club space has turned extremely difficult. This also goes for other German cities, especially in the former East of Germany, which for many years were also proud of their secret nightlife.
Students in Berlin often frequent the legendary club "WMF", but especially newcomers to Berlin do not know that this club was once illegal and had to move locations many times before settling down. Before these hidden gems in the capital's nightlife die out - or as an alternative - turn commercial, student night owls should make it fast to this forever-changing city: However, it is no use looking for information as to the whereabouts of hidden meeting-places on student blackboards. Keeping one's eyes and ears open for hidden signposts is all part of the game....
Louise Brown
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