Berghain given same "high culture" status as museums and theatres

The Guardian reports that the court decided that the club wasn't just for "entertainment events" and "produces work of cultural significance" - this puts it in line with "high culture" venues such as concert halls, museums, and theatres. They ruled that for tax purposes Berghain should be reclassified, meaning it can pay a substantially lower rate - 7% as opposed to 19%.

This move isn't hugely new but rather reverting to an old status - Berghain actually paid this reduced VAT rate up until 2008, when the Berlin finance ministry decided that clubs should be paying more.

Although primarily a club, Berghain occasionally hosts classical music, fashion shows, ballet, and art exhibitions.

Many users on Twitter have noted the disheartening comparison between the treatment of Berghain and Fabric, one of London's best-loved clubs. The ruling to change Berghain's tax status was made the same day Fabric was forced to close.

On the day Fabric closed down, Berghain won appeal to pay less tax & got reclassified as high culture in the process https://t.co/BvVTtJYroq

— Philip Oltermann (@philipoltermann) September 12, 2016

Compare treatment of #fabric to that of #Berghain in Berlin...just got same tax status as concert venues

— wayne holloway (@waynex) September 12, 2016

Berlin proving once again why it attracts so many young, creative minds.
We close Fabric, they protect Berghain. https://t.co/fcuYoAmCfe

— Chris Hemmings (@Hemmch) September 12, 2016