A neighbourhood bar that grew into a creative refuge now faces an uncertain future — and its community is rallying to protect the space that has shaped friendships, art, and belonging for fifteen years.
An interview with Lawrence Snelgrove and Raphael Korn of Das Gift
Can you share the story of Das Gift – how it started? And what are your roles there?
Raphael: Das Gift was started in 2010, when Rachel Burns, wife of Barry Burns from the Scottish band Mogwai, took over this little Eckkneipe and reinvented it. The two of them brought in more music events, turned it into a hangout for expats, and started an English-speaking pub quiz that runs every Monday to this day. My own role now is a mix of ownership and stewardship. Together with Lawrence, it’s also about trying to protect a space that clearly means a lot to people.
Lawrence: I took over managing Das Gift at the beginning of September. I moved to Berlin four months ago and when I stumbled across Das Gift, I fell in love immediately. It just felt homely, welcoming, and just very very special. There’s a sense of community here – whether it’s creative, quiz-focused, or related to drag – and the space acts as a hub that enables all these communities to come together.
What kind of activities and events take place at Das Gift?
Lawrence: We host a wide range of events. Local artists exhibit their work in our gallery space, we have live music and comedy nights, and a pub quiz on Mondays that has become a community highlight. Every participant pays two euros: one euro goes to the quizmaster, and one goes into the jackpot. Winning teams pick a prize from options like a round of shots or the jackpot. The jackpot accumulates each week until someone wins it – recently, someone won over 900 euros! Mondays have become one of our most profitable nights, which is quite unusual for a bar. We also host workshops like origami and life drawing, Japanese-themed evenings leading into karaoke nights, writing workshops, and more.
What is the current state of the bar in terms of its future?
Lawrence: The situation is challenging. The owner of the building has been trying to close Das Gift for some time, wanting to sell it. If this were just a bar, I might accept it, but Das Gift is a unique community space, and I’m committed to saving it. Legally, we have a contract until the end of June, unless we can negotiate an extension. But this is part of a larger gentrification issue – the owner wants to sell, not necessarily negotiate, and the pressure to preserve spaces like ours is significant.
Donauwelle: Can you do something about it legally?
Raphael: What I can say is that our lease is not being renewed and that, after taking legal advice, it’s become clear that commercial tenants in Germany have far fewer protections than residential ones. So we’re focusing less on a legal fight and more on the moral and social question: what does it mean for the neighbourhood if a place like this disappears?
„If this were just a bar, I might accept it, but Das Gift is a unique community space, and I’m committed to saving it.“
Lawrence Snelgrove, Bar Manager
Apart from being the „friendliest bar in Neukölln“, what does Das Gift mean for its community and how is the upcoming move affecting the community?
Raphael: For me, Das Gift has always been about having an inclusive space. A creative, inventive, pioneering space. And that means not just ‘not being racist or homophobic’, but actively encouraging communities that don’t usually get a voice, and giving newer art forms a platform. People come here to be themselves, to try things out, to feel a bit less alone. The news that we might have to move has hit the community quite hard. Regulars tell us they’re afraid of losing their “safe place”. You don’t just lose a bar, you lose a place where people arrive and suddenly feel a bit less lost. A place where a quiet person can show up alone and read out their first poem and meet their first friends in Berlin. If our spaces go, there’s quiet for the neighbours but more loneliness in the neighbourhood. There’s a lot of sadness, but also a lot of love: people are checking in, showing up more, asking what they can do to get involved.
How can people support Das Gift right now?
Lawrence: We have a link where people can share their stories about the bar – memories, connections, and experiences. Many visitors have told me they met their partner here or discovered Berlin through Das Gift. Sharing these stories helps highlight the value of the venue and can contribute to efforts to keep it open. A lot of important community spaces in Berlin are being closed, and it’s a shame.
You can also sign the petition on change.org!
Dieses Interview ist Teil der erweiterten Online-Ausgabe der Donauwelle 12/2025. Die Donauwelle wird im Rahmen des Projektes „Wir sind der Donaukiez“ erstellt. Dieses Projekt wird gefördert durch die Bundesrepublik Deutschland und das Land Berlin im Rahmen des Städtebauförderprogramms Sozialer Zusammenhalt – Zusammenleben im Quartier gemeinsam gestalten.