The 13th August 1961: The Circus: Don‘t Hassel the Hoff

As 13^th August keeps getting closer, it’s hard not to travel back in time and remember the era when Berlin represented separation and division. The Wall was sadly erected in 1961, which is a very long time ago, but the memory is still very much alive, especially along the many remaining bits of the wall that are today as important of a landmark as the TV Tower and Brandenburg Gate! If you don’t believe us, try finding a Berlin guide that doesn’t mention East Side Gallery as a must-see.

But The Wall holds a deeper meaning at The Circus. To us, there is more to it than bricks and concrete. At The Circus, we always put people first, and we think you already know who we are about to mention. Yep, it’s The Hoffand okay, it may have taken a while before the Hoff got round to (helping) to pull it down in 1989 but it came down in the end. Hence our love for the Hoff.

Welcome to The Hoff Museum!

It all started about 15 years ago as a joke. One of our bar staff, being a devoted fan of the man who brought chest hair back, thought it would be an excellent idea to place an oversized framed portrait of the man in the middle of our Microbrewery! And let us say, excellent it definitely was! As time went by, we witnessed more and more guests crowding said portrait in a mixture of awe and disbelief that such a thing could even exist in Berlin.

We gradually realized that the famous portrait needed more space. The little space down the hall was free, so that’s where we put it. Then an unexpected thing happened. People from all over started contributing and leaving random Hoff-related items, from a miniature Knight Rider car to postcards and board games. It also turned into a give-and-take kind of relationship, as we found a couple of things missing as well, like giant wall portrait’s real chest hair (don’t ask) or the piano scarf (pinned safely to the shelf since, don’t worry). But the giving prevailed, and what started as a shrine slowly turned into what it is today – a tiny version of a museum. We have a couple of Hoff related souvenirs available for those looking for something extra special to take away from Berlin including a custom made “Bringing down walls since 1989” Hoff Bier mug for €12. Not only those people who purchase the mug have impeccable taste they also have a warm heart because all of the money goes to the Circus charity project.

And for all you newbies out there, The Hoff Museum is free for all, open for all and all you have to do is take the stairs to the left of reception and turn left at the bottom of it. Chances of getting lost are non-existent, mainly thanks to the giant full-body portrait of the man himself welcoming you to the place in his leopard printed slippers, because how else would you greet a guest?