Mining history yes - mining romance for its own sake no. This is the philosophy of Irene Bakker and Haakon Herbst, who opened the hotel friends at Zollverein in summer 2019. Original objects from the mining era and several rooms, each dedicated to a miner and their individual life story, can be found here, but not only. Because friends in Essen doesn't want to be a Disneyland of the coalfields and has set out to become a living room for all local residents, where people enjoy meeting up and where the idea of a neighborhood is lived out.

Where do you go when you come home from an event at one or two in the morning? The answer is friends, because the lounge and hotel bar in the immediate vicinity of the Folkwang University of the Arts should be full of life around the clock. Many a prominent face has been seen here and ended the evening with a musical serenade on the piano. The cozy foyer and the open bar are perfect for this. There are inviting armchairs and sofas by the warming fireplace, as well as art that the owners have discovered on their travels. Everything has its own character and yet somehow fits together. This uncomplicated charm is appealing and encourages walkers and business people to come in for a coffee or a drink, have a chat with the barman and discover the outdoor area with its colorful cushions when the first rays of sunshine appear. However, it is not entirely without reminiscences of the mining industry, as the miniature mine on the bar shows.

www.hotelfriends.de

Photos:

Karin Freislederer

(Published in CUBE Ruhr Area 01|20)