The Circus GbR was founded in 1997, and operates The Circus Hostel, The Circus Hotel, and The Circus Apartments, on and around Rosenthaler Platz in the central district of Berlin-Mitte. The three houses provide beds for around 440 guests in a range of ac-commodation categories, from the traditional hostel dormitory to luxury, boutique apartments, via private doubles, junior suites and studios.

The philosophy that underpins The Circus concept ac-ross the three houses is a relatively simple one; hos-pitality based upon a radical service-orientated ap-proach, with emphasis on the social nature of travel and the desire for sustainability in all elements of the business. Ultimately The Circus aim is build places where people come together, where guests are wel-comed in a comfortable and clean environment, and where service and hospitality is not defined by age or how much money someone has in their pocket.

Both The Circus Hostel and Hotel can be found on Rosenthaler Platz, a central square in the district of Mitte. From the square it is possible to walk to all the major sights in the centre of the city, including Alexanderplatz and Unter den Linden, whilst a few minutes north is the bohemian Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood, a popular cultural and nightlife district of the city. Rosenthaler Platz is also on the edge of the “Scheunenviertel”, historically the centre of the Jewish community in Berlin. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall this neighbourhood of narrow streets has become home to some of Berlin’s most interes-ting galleries, independent shops, cafes and bars.

The Circus Apartments are located 200m from the square, on the quiet and leafy sidestreet of Choriner Straße.

“Actually, when I started this whole adventure, I mainly wanted to create a socially and emotionally healthy place. Free from tension and based on genuine hospitality. A peaceful environment that staff, guests, partners and neighbours perceive as a pleasant addition to their lives.”

Andreas Becker – Managing Partner

– The first Circus Hostel opens its doors on the street “Am Zirkus”, from which the hostel takes its name. The hostel has space for 40 guests.

– The Circus moves to Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße and a 90-bed hostel, reflecting the ever-increasing demand during the first two years of the company’s existence.

– Further expansion comes with the opening of the hostel at Weinbergsweg. The two locations can house over 300 guests in accommodation ranging from dorm rooms to roof-top apartments with ensuite bathroom and kitchen.

– Further renovation of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße hostel is undertaken in time for the Football World Cup, hosted by Germany.

– The hostel on Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße is sold and plans are begun to open the Circus Hotel.

– The Circus Hotel on Rosenthaler Straße opens its doors, on the other side of the Rosenthaler Platz from the hostel at Weinbergsweg.

– The Circus Hostel is closed for three months to undertake a complete renovation, including new interior design and infrastructure. With the re-opening, The Circus now has two fully renovated houses on Rosenthaler Platz, with room for over 350 guests.

– The Circus Apartments are opened, offering 22 luxury, boutique apartments for 2-6 people, aimed at those who require more space during their time in Berlin or the facilities for longer stays in the city.

– Re-design of the lobby and lounge area on the ground floor of The Circus Hostel, including new social spaces, service improvements and new techni-cal infrastructure.

Travel as a social activity is important to many people and is a fundamental part of The Circus philosophy. The chance to meet and share experiences with others is a reason why many people choose a dorm bed over a private room, or why they choose a hostel over other forms of accommodation. But this need not only apply to dorm rooms and hostels and The Circus has taken great care over the social spaces in all houses to allow for an atmosphere where people from all around the world and also Berlin itself can come together. It is also why the company delibera-tely chose not to offer classic hotel facilities such as fitness rooms or wellness areas – The Circus encou-rages its guests to make use of the facilities of the neighbourhood and experience Berlin as a Berliner does. It also informs the programme of cultural events within The Circus itself, which are open at all and which try to bring into the houses the creative energies of the city. This includes musicians, DJs, artists and others, such as the “Zeitzeugen” – a network of Berliners who come to The Circus once a month to share their eyewitness experiences of lives lived during the turbulent events that make up Berlin’s history.

The owners of The Circus have the ambition to make decisions relating to the company with a long-term outlook, and to make them as individuals and citizens first, and as business owners and managers second. On a practical level, this means that all staff members are fully-socially insured, have proper health coverage, and are paid a wage that allows them to live in the city without recourse to a second or third job. Wherever possible the company uses local suppliers, as well as small owner-operated repair and maintenance companies from the neigh-bourhood. Prices at The Circus are predictable and calculated – we believe – fairly. At the environmental level, The Circus is committed to burning as little resources as possible, without compromising comfort for the guests. There are li-mits, mainly relating to the structures of the buildings themselves, but a number of elements are already in place, such as a combined heat and power unit that greatly improves energy efficiency, a roof-top solar plant to produce energy, green electricity that comes from 100% CO2 free sources, and a commitment that all paper used is 100% recyclable.

24 hour reception (Hotel and Hostel)

16 hour concierge service (Apartments)

Free WiFi throughout all houses and internet terminals

City maps and jogging routes

City tours and alternative Berlin tours

Secure underground parking

Available for the guests:

Getting Around: Bicycles, Pedelecs, Elmotos, Segway

Technology: DVD players and Berlin film library, mobile phones, skype phones, laptops, cameras and iPods

Practical: Adapters, irons, hairdryers and straighteners, kettles, babyphones

Berlin: Guidebooks, iPods with Berlin music and tours

Play Time: Games, Table Tennis, Chess, Books, Magazines, Yoga equipment

Information: Daily delivery of international newspapers

The Circus Apartments are located on the quiet and leafy Choriner Straße, just a short walk from Rosen-thaler Platz, and range in size from a comfortable 60m² to a spectacular 118m² deluxe four person apartment complete with 100m² roof terrace offering breathtaking views across the city skyline. The buil-ding itself is brand new and built to the highest standards, to which Circus designer Sandra Ernst has brought her typically eclectic touch.

The personal approach for which The Circus has long been known is provided by the concierge service, with a deliberately small team who are personally involved with the guests from the moment of booking through to the end of the stay. Whether it is a reservation for Tim Raue or Themroc, transport to the Artforum or the Berlinale, or simply the best delis and grocery stores in the city for that perfect meal, the team are on hand to make it happen.

Combining the luxury of space, facilities designed to enable fully independent living in the city, and the classic Circus philosophy of hospitality, The Circus Apartments provide a truly unique offer right in the heart of Berlin’s most creative neighbourhood.

Opened: December 2011

Address: Choriner Straße 84 10119 Berlin Germany

No. of Apts: 22

Reservations: +49 (0) 30 2000 3939Online: www.circus-apartments.deSkype: circus-berlinEmail: info@circus-berlin.de

Owners: The Circus GbR Andreas Becker, Andreas Digel, Christian Göppert, Andrew Hadfield, Tilman Hierath

All apartments include fully-fitted kitchen, indepen-dent access and post-box, separate sleeping and living space, and balcony. Prices from:

2 Person Apartment (1 bedroom, from 62m²) 3-6 nights: €140 per night from 7 nights: €130 per night

2 Person Deluxe Apartment (1 bedroom, from 90m²) 3-6 nights: €180 per night from 7 nights: €170 per night

4 Person Apartment (2 bedrooms, 104m²) 3-6 nights: €220 per night from 7 nights: €200 per night

4 Person Deluxe Apartment (2 bedrooms, 118m²) 3-6 nights: €300 per night from 7 nights: €280 per night

6 Person Apartment (3 bedrooms, from 132m²) 3-6 nights: €320 per night from 7 nights: €300 per night

“The ideal guest is someone who is looking for a connection to the real energies of the city rather than simply a prestigious address, someone who is look-ing to integrate with the life of the city rather than remaining on the outside, and someone who refuses to accept the division between “visitor” and “local” that shapes the approach of much of the hospitality industry”.

Andreas Becker – Managing Partner

6 Person Apartment

Friends and family can spend some quality time together, with three bedrooms and a separate dining room. And as all our kitchens come with a dish-washer, no-one is left with the washing up. * indoor living space: 132-164m² (1421-1765ft²)* balcony/terrace: 9-27m² (97-291ft²)* three bedrooms* two bathrooms, one with bathtub, one with shower, stocked I&M organic bathroom products* separate living room * fully-fitted kitchen* iPad loaded with music library, city guides and a range of apps* multimedia docking station* flatscreen television with Bluray player* wireless connection and working space* balcony 3-6 nights: €320 per nightfrom 7 nights: €300 per night

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4 Person Deluxe Apartment

You would be hard pressed to find an equivalent offer anywhere else in the city. How many 100m² roof terraces do you think there are in Berlin Mitte? Yup, not so many, and here you can have one all to yourself. * indoor living space: 118m² (1270ft²)* balcony: 16m² (172ft²)* roof terrace: 100m² (1076ft²)* two bedrooms* two bathrooms, one with bathtub, one with shower, stocked with I&M organic bathroom products* separate living room * fully-fitted kitchen* iPad loaded with music library, city guides and a range of apps* multimedia docking station* flatscreen television with Bluray player* wireless connection and working space 3-6 nights: €300 per nightfrom 7 nights: €280 per night

The Kitchen is the café and lounge on the ground floor of The Circus Apartments, where the guests can meet the concierges, read the newspaper, grab a bowl of organic muesli, or check out the world according to Monocle with a class of wine or a cool beer. The Kitchen was designed by Rani al Rajji, an architect from Beirut, and he has created a truly extraordinary space combining tiles from Blatt Chaya in Lebanon, with lighting from Flos and Cai and furniture from Magis and Kartell.

The menu of the cafe is intentionally small, with the greatest emphasis placed on the quality of the products. The bread, for both breakfast and our sandwiches, comes from Edna, whilst our fair-trade coffee is from a small, independent roaster and cafe in Berlin-Kreuzberg Five Elephant. Breakfast is served each morning from 7.30am, and there is a range of snacks and light meals available throughout the day. All cafe offers can of course be delivered up to the apartments.

“What we are trying to do is to offer a retreat, a place to unwind that carries with it the charac-teristics of Berlin that make us love this city, na-mely a liberal and unpretentious approach that values individuality over conformity, the chance for close relationships to develop rather than a stiff, formalised approach, and one which stri-ves for intimacy and authenticity in all aspects, from the design through to the service. It is what we have always understood as the essence of hospitality.”

Andreas Becker – Managing Partner

Each of the 64 rooms has a bathroom with rain shower, television, WiFi, telephone and a safe for valuables with integrated power outlet. Alongside this, every room has been individually designed and furnished by the interior designer Sandra Ernst. Out-side the rooms, The Circus offers a range of services designed to make a guest’s stay in the city truly spe-cial. Guests can make use of iPods loaded with Berlin music, laptops and DVD players, Segway and bikes…all of which are available at reception.

Walking tours of the city leave daily from the Hotel, and the staff are on hand 24 hours a day to answer any questions as well as any number of tips and tricks to help the guests make the most of their time in Berlin. Further information and personal recom-mendations from The Circus team are available in the in-house “C Magazine”, which is produced annually. For those who need some time out from the hustle and bustle of the city streets, the peaceful courtyard provides a comfortable space for respite and relaxa-tion.

I wanted something beyond the ordinary, bright and cheerful, with individual pieces and elements that are hand-crafted and carefully selected. Each room should be a space I would like to live in myself. Most of all art and design should not be ‘in your face’...it should be there to discover and explore should you want to and take the time to look.”

Sandra Ernst – Interior Designer

Opened: October 2008

Address: Rosenthaler Straße 1 10119 Berlin Germany

No. of Rooms: 64

Reservations: +49 (0) 30 2000 3939Online: www.circus-berlin.de Skype: circus-berlinEmail: info@circus-berlin.de

Owners: The Circus GbR Andreas Becker, Andreas Digel, Christian Göppert, Andrew Hadfield, Tilman Hierath

General Manager: Katrin Schönig

Single from €75 Double-Economy from €85Standard Double/Twin from €95Junior Suite from €1102-Room Apartment from €1203-Room Apartment from €170

All prices include VAT.

Breakfast is available Monday - Saturday from 7am to 1pm and Sunday from 8 am to 1pm in Fabisch Restaurant. Breakfast buffet for €8.

“As a Berliner it is important for me that the guests experience Berlin – not only the Wall and

the Brandenburg Gate – but also other, less well-known corners of the city, such as the cafes around

the Zionskirche, the relaxation park in Marzahn, or the lakeside

beer garden on the Orankesee. Our receptionists are as diverse

as the city itself and that is why they are there...to help our

guests see the very different sides Berlin has to offer.”

Katrin Schönig – General Manager, The Circus Hotel

Also on the ground floor is the restaurant Fabisch. Head Chef Roman Bigalke and his team have put together a menu that reflects a commitment to modern, healthy German cuisine. Much attention is placed on sourcing local ingredients that are in season, as well as the use of suppliers committed to the highest standards of sustainable agriculture and treatment of animals. Fabisch is also home to a team of international and highly trained bartenders, who have developed a cocktail menu that has already placed Fabisch firmly on the nightlife map, as well as being featured in Mixology, Germany’s leading magazine for bar culture.

Fabisch also is home to a wide-ranging and varied programme artistic and cultural of events, such as live music every Friday and Sunday evening, and the monthly eyewitness history talks in collaboration with the ZZB (Centre for Witness to Contemporary History).

“Fabisch stands for seasonal products and German character – especially for our foreign guests,

for whom we want to offer an insight into German cuisine. In

developing our concept, especially when it comes to breakfast, we

have focused on what is healthy. It is for this reason we have selected

products that are organic, or otherwise untreated.”

Roman Bigalke, Head Chef

Tripadvisor Traveller‘s Choice Award winner 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. As of August 2013, rated Number #1 of all Berlin hotels on Tripadvisor.

“A successful venture into the world of hotels from the excellent hostel over the road. Plenty of smart, cheerful rooms and communal spaces, which include a beer garden. Free wi-fi.”

ROUGH GUIDE TO BERLIN

“With this stylish outpost, the Circus crew have upped the ante once again. There are lots of progressive touches to make life on the road as comfortable as possible, from the personalised welcome letter to the library stocked with Berlin books and, of course, good-sized and stylish rooms with ensuite bath. You can rent all sorts of equipment, including an iPod, DVD, laptop, bicycle, rollerblades and even a smart car. Green credentials range from rooftop solar panel-ling to energy-efficient windows; to reduce wastage, there are no toiletries in the bathrooms (although they’re available for free at the reception). The onsite restaurant Fabisch is named for the Jewish family that used to operate a men’s clothing store in the building. A small exhibit in the basement of the hotel chronicles their story.”

LONELY PLANET BERLIN

The accommodations range from single and double rooms to junior suites and apartments with full kitchens. Local artworks, mirrors that swivel to reveal shoe racks and fresh flowers on the windowsill swap the sterile style of so many chain hotels for a more intimate, if temporary, living experience.

Circus doesn’t shirk on services either, offering a selection of Berlin-themed DVDs, iPod chargers and bike or Segway rentals. Adjacent to the in-hotel restaurant Fabisch, The Library boasts an international collection of books and magazines, where world-weary travelers can curl up in a well-worn leather chair with Christopher Isherwood’s “The Berlin Stories” and review the circuses of the city’s vibrant past.

UNLIKE.COM REVIEW

What comes across, from the receptionists to (Hotel Manager) Schönig to the hotel‘s five owners, is their pride in Berlin and their belief that travel should be defined by experience, not price.

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, March 2011

“The Circus Hotel in the Mitte district is the grown-up alternative to a popular hostel that shares its name, just across the square”

FROMMER’S BUDGET TRAVEL MAGAZINE, November 2009

“Magnificent value with plenty of aesthetic style”NEW YORK TIMES, July 2009

The Hostel offers beds and rooms in many different categories, from dorm-style eight-bed rooms to pent-house apartments, fully fitted with kitchen, en suite bathrooms and balcony views across the roof-tops of the city. The interior of the hostel was designed by Sandra Ernst, as part of a full renovation of the building that took place in early 2010.

The 24-hour reception offers a range of services to travellers, such as tickets for walking tours which pick-up each morning in the hostel, special free tours run by the hostel itself to off the beaten track corners of Berlin, football tickets for the Olympiastadion, as well as information and tickets on different cultural and nightlife events in the city. There is free WiFi internet access throughout the hostel, as well as the opportunity to rent mini-laps and skype phones. The Circus has a bike rental service, plus Segways and Smart cars available to hire. The international team working The Circus come from around the world and have a variety of different interests, and all have different tips and tricks to help travellers enjoy the city as much as they do.

“It is our belief that just because someone travels on a budget and pays €19 for a bed in a dorm-room, it does not mean that they should get treated any differently to someone staying in a five-star hotel. Low budget should not mean low quality or a lower standard of service.”

Andrew Hadfield – Managing Partner

Opened: December 2001 (full renovation, Spring 2010)

Address: Weinbergsweg 1a 10119 Berlin Germany

No. of Beds: 230

Reservations: +49 (0) 30 2000 3939Online: www.circus-berlin.deSkype: circus-berlinEmail: info@circus-berlin.de

Owners: The Circus GbR Andreas Becker, Andreas Digel, Christian Göppert, Andrew Hadfield, Tilman Hierath

Hostel Managers: Andrew „Jim“ Hadfield Jurgen Breedijk

Bed in Hostel-Style Rooms (all prices per person)

8/10-Bed Room from €194/5-Bed Room from €233 Bed Room from €27Double/Twin Room from €29Single Room from €46

Ensuite Room Prices (all prices per room)

Single Room from €56Double/Twin Room from €752-person Apartment from €904-person Apartment from €150

All prices include VAT.

Breakfast is available each morning from 8.30 am to 1pm in the Circus Cafe and costs from €2 to €5.

Alongside the reception on the ground floor is The Circus Café, with its own street terrace spilling out onto the pavement. Breakfast is served each morning until a leisurely 1pm, including the famous Circus All-You-Can-Eat buffet. The cafe also offers a selection of sandwiches and warm meals from lunch-time into the evening, hot and cold drinks, games, a book exchange, and a selection of international newspapers and magazines.

In the basement of The Circus Hostel is Goldman’s Bar, the meeting point for travellers and the place to let loose after a hard day stomping the streets. Designed by members of the bar team, Goldman’s Bar reflects the artistic and creative scene in Berlin, with the backroom of the bar laid out in a typical wohnzimmer (living room) style. As well as the wine, long drinks and beer – including the infamous 2-Litre Boot – Goldman’s Bar is the venue for a series of regular events, including live music, DJs, sports events on the big screen, and the legendary Saturday evening Karaoke Klub.

As of August 2013, rated at 93% by users of Hostel-world, the world’s largest hostel reservations website, and categorised as a “Top-Rated Hostel in Berlin” and a Top 5 Hostel Worldwide.

“Top-notch hostel in fantastic location, with particu-larly helpful staff and good facilities. Rooms are plain though bright, with large windows and high ceilings, and with the advantage of not having bunk beds. The hostel has its own, decent bar, Goldmans, downstairs.”

ROUGH GUIDE TO BERLIN

“In business since 1997, this hostel still fires on all cylinders, especially after a recent makeover. Clean, cheerfully painted rooms, abundant showers and competent, helpful staff are among the factors that keep it at the top of the hostel heap. Stay in dorms, private rooms (some with ensuite baths) or one of 10 penthouse apartments with kitchen and terrace. The downstairs cafe serves inexpensive breakfast, drinks and small meals, while the basement bar puts on different activities nightly. Upmarket touches include laptop and iPod rentals, laptop-sized in-room lockers with electrical plug and a staff-written touch-screen Berlin guide in the lobby. To download a free self-guided city tour go to www.circus-berlin.de/bustour.”

LONELY PLANET BERLIN

“Jetzt glänzt es in farbenfrohem Design und mit umweltverträglicher Haustechnik”

GEOSAISON, May 2010

“The standard by which other hostels should be measured, the Circus is a rarity – simple but stylish, warm and comfortable,”

TIME OUT BERLIN, 2009

“We like the youthful energy of the hostel and area, the helpfulness of the staff, the conviviality of the bar”

DAILY TELEGRAPH, February 2008

The Circus Hostel was also selected in the Five Best Hostels in Europe (The Guardian, 2006) and in the Lonely Planet Bluelist for the World’s Hippest Hostels (2005).

The Circus GbR is a private unlimited company established in Berlin in 1997. It is owned by five shareholders, who all represent the company fully and individually, with unlimited signing rights. All five are working for the company full-time.

Andreas BeckerBorn in Westphalia, in rural Germany bordering the Netherlands, he is the only one of the four founding partners still with the company. He is in charge of company development and is the driving force behind new projects.

Andreas DigelSwabian by birth and by nature, he comes from a region in Germany famed for its efficiency and no-nonsense approach. A partner since 2001, he is Office Manager and responsible for all questions relating to accounting and finance.

Christian GöppertThe only true “Berliner” amongst the owners, he became a partner of The Circus in 2001. Amongst the partners, he is responsible for the hotel, infrastruc-ture and property management of the three houses.

Andrew ‘Jim’ HadfieldA true Mancunian from the north of England, he has been with the company since 1998 and a partner since 2007. His principle responsibilities lie with guest services, and is the managing partner respon-sible for the hostel.

Tilman HierathBringing the solidarity and sobriety of Northern Germany, with a hint of Austria added to the mix, he is responsible for all technical questions relating to all houses and is managing partner responsible for the apartments. He has been a partner of The Circus since 2007.

Managing Partners of The Circus GbR: Tilman Hierath, Christian Göppert, Andrew Hadfield, Andreas Digel, Andreas Becker

General Manager – The Circus Hostel: Jurgen Breedijk

General Manager – The Circus Hotel: Katrin Schönig Interior Designer Hostel, Hotel & Apartments: Sandra Ernst and Julia Stone

Head of Maintenance: Dietmar Neeb

Head of Housekeeping: Dina Strauss-Tarazona

Reservations Manager: Torsten Lorenz

Entertainment Manager: Andrew Rowley

Company Communications: Paul Scraton

Head Chef – Fabisch: Roman Bigalke

Service Manager – Fabisch: Jens Neu

Manager – The Circus Cafe: Emma Gruber

Bar Manager – Fabisch and Goldman’s Bar: Jared Goldman

Manager – The Kitchen Cafe/Bar: Stephanie Zimmermann

For further information please contact:

Paul ScratonCompany Communications

The Circus GbRWeinbergsweg 1a10119 Berlin, Germany

Tel: +49 (0)30 2000 3939Email: paul.scraton@circus-berlin.deWeb: www.circus-berlin.de

Print and Web quality images can be downloaded from our press page: www.circus-berlin.de/photodownloads

To find out what is currently going on at The Circus, visit the Circus Blog: www.circus-berlin.de/blog