The Kölsch Crew, Owner: Michael Piel
As of: September 2, 2025
1. Scope, Contracting Parties, Contract Language
(1) These General Terms and Conditions (GTC) govern all contracts for the execution of city tours in Cologne and beer house tours, as well as individually agreed special programs (hereinafter collectively “Tours”) between The Kölsch Crew, Owner: Michael Piel, Schmiedegasse 30, 50735 Cologne (hereinafter “we” or “us”) and the customers (hereinafter “guest” or “guests”).
(2) Conflicting or deviating general terms and conditions of the guest shall not become part of the contract, unless we expressly agree to their validity in writing. Individual agreements take precedence over these GTC, insofar as they deviate from individual provisions.
(3) The contract language is German. Any translations are for better understanding only and have no legal effect.
2. Booking and Conclusion of Contract
(1) Bookings are generally made online via our booking portal Recras (iFrame integration on our website) or – especially for company tours and special programs – upon request by email or phone.
(2) By completing the online booking process (e.g., clicking “Book”/”Pay”), the guest submits a binding offer to conclude a contract. The contract is concluded as soon as we confirm the booking by email (booking confirmation/invoice). For individually requested tours, we first send an offer; the contract is concluded upon timely acceptance by the guest.
(3) The booking confirmation contains the date, time, meeting point, service, price including VAT, payment method, and, if applicable, special notes (e.g., rules of conduct, information on bachelor/bachelorette parties, safety, minors).
(4) For public tours, Section 5.4 (Minimum Participants) applies additionally.
3. Prices and Taxes
(1) Unless expressly stated otherwise, all prices are final prices including statutory value-added tax (VAT). The prices displayed at the time of booking are decisive.
(2) Our VAT identification number according to § 27a UStG is: (to be added as soon as available).
(3) Price changes before conclusion of contract are reserved; after conclusion of contract, adjustments are only permissible by mutual agreement.
4. Payment Terms
(1) The total price is – unless otherwise agreed – due immediately upon booking. The payment methods available in the booking process (e.g., via the payment service provider Mollie) are listed there; for company tours, payment by invoice/advance payment is possible.
(2) Company Tours: Unless otherwise agreed, 80% of the tour price is to be paid as an advance payment up to 14 days before the date; the remaining amount is due after the tour within 14 days.
(3) If due payments are not made, we are entitled to refuse service or withdraw from the contract in accordance with Section 10.5.
5. Scope of Services, Procedure, and Special Notes on Beer House Tours
(1) Start of Service and Meeting Point. Tours begin at the time indicated in the booking confirmation at the designated meeting point. Minor adjustments to the meeting point are possible for organizational reasons; in this case, we will inform you in good time – generally up to one hour before the start of the tour – by email or (if provided by the guest) by SMS/messenger.
(2) Nature of the Service. Our tours are guided experiences, some with an artistic touch. Content, sequence of stops, and situational program points are – within the described framework – at the professional discretion of the guide. Linguistic accents or different expressions are possible and do not constitute a defect.
(3) Duration. Public beer house tours generally last approx. two hours. Deviations – for example, due to crowds, weather conditions, events, or the house rules of the establishments – are possible.
(4) Minimum Participants for Public Tours. Public tours will be conducted if at least five (5) people have registered. If this minimum number is not reached up to two hours before the start, we may cancel the tour; in this case, we will refund the full tour price or, upon request, issue a voucher of the same value.
(5) Drinks/Tasting.
– For public tours, no drinks are included in the price.
– For private or specially designated tours, the services described in the offer or booking confirmation apply (e.g., number of Kölsch per person). Alternative drinks are a goodwill gesture and are not our obligation. Seating cannot be guaranteed; the house rules of the respective venues apply.
(6) Delays. The guide generally waits up to ten minutes. Without prior notification to us at least 15 minutes before the start of the tour, there is no right to participate; a claim for (partial) refund is excluded in this case. If timely notification is provided, we will endeavor – without legal claim – to find an appropriate solution (e.g., meeting point adjustment), as far as organizationally possible.
(7) Private Tours and Special Programs. Scope, duration, group size, price, and special content are agreed upon individually; otherwise, these GTC apply.
6. Rules of Conduct, Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties (JGA), Dress Code, and Safety
(1) Guests are obliged to contribute to a smooth process through their behavior and to respect the instructions of the guide as well as the house rules of the visited establishments.
(2) Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties (JGA). Auf public tours are JGAs generally not permitted. Should JGAs nevertheless participate in a public tour, the following is mandatory: inconspicuous appearance, no costumes, no JGA shirts. In case of violations, exclusion may occur; there is no claim for a refund. For JGAs, we recommend private tours.
(3) Dress Code and Costumes. Conspicuous costumes, uniforms, similar outfits, and in Germany forbidden symbols are prohibited. Planned costumes must be communicated at least 24 hours before the start of the tour; we may decline them for objective reasons.
(4) Alcohol and Sobriety. Participation requires sobriety. Heavily intoxicated persons may be excluded by the guide (see Section 8.2).
(5) Safety/Weather. Tours also take place outdoors. Guests are expected to consider weather conditions, crowds, and paths on their own responsibility and to choose appropriate clothing/shoes.
7. Minors
Participants under 18 years of age can participate in our tours only when accompanied by an adult. The serving of alcohol is exclusively subject to applicable law and is – in beer houses – at the discretion of the house staff. The guide may request proof of age.
8. Exclusion from Participation
(1) Disruption of the Process. In case of significant disruption or disregard of the rules of conduct (e.g., loud shouting/singing, disrespect towards staff, guests, or third parties), the guide may warn guests and, in case of repeated offense, exclude them from the tour.
(2) Intoxication. Heavily intoxicated guests may be excluded to protect the group.
(3) Legal Consequence. In case of exclusion, there is no claim for (partial) refund or re-performance of the service.
9. Involvement of Third Parties / House Rules
We may use auxiliary persons/guides for the execution of our tours. The visited beer house establishments, kiosks, or other locations are not our auxiliary persons; access, seating, and catering are exclusively subject to the house rules and responsibility of the respective establishments.
10. Booking Protection, Rebooking, Cancellation, and Withdrawal
(1) Booking Protection (optional).
– For public tours, booking protection can be added for a surcharge of €1 per person. It allows for cancellation up to 2 hours before the start with a full refund of the tour price (excluding the surcharge).
– For all other tours, booking protection can be added for a surcharge of 8% of the tour price; here too, cancellation up to 2 hours before the start with a full refund (excluding surcharge) is possible.
(2) Rebookings (even without booking protection).
– Up to 24 hours before the start of the tour: free rebooking (subject to availability) or voucher for the full amount (valid for 3 years from the end of the year).
– Between 24 and 2 hours before the start of the tour: Rebooking with a 25% fee (subject to availability) or voucher minus 25%.
– Between 2 hours and 15 minutes before the start of the tour: Rebooking with a 50% fee (subject to availability) or voucher minus 50%.
(3) Cancellations without booking protection are generally non-refundable, without prejudice to mandatory legal rights and Section 10.5.
(4) Termination by the Guest. Rejoining after leaving the tour is only possible with the guide’s consent; there is no right to extension or refund.
(5) Cancellation/Termination by us. We may cancel or terminate a tour if
– the minimum number of participants is not reached (Section 5.4),
– force majeure, security situations, weather conditions, or comparable unforeseeable circumstances (e.g., flooding, demonstrations) prevent a safe/proper execution,
– due payments are not received despite setting a deadline, or
– the guide falls ill and a replacement is not available.
In these cases, we will refund the tour price in full or – upon request – issue a voucher of the same value. Further claims (e.g., for reimbursement of travel/accommodation costs) are – as far as legally permissible – excluded.
11. Right of Withdrawal for Consumers
For contracts for the provision of leisure services with a fixed date/period, there is no right of withdrawal according to § 312g para. 2 no. 9 BGB. Only the provisions according to Section 10 apply.
12. Notification of Defects and Remedy
(1) Should the service, contrary to expectations, not be performed in accordance with the contract, this must be communicated to us – immediately and, if possible, during the tour – so that we can provide a remedy (e.g., adjustment of the procedure).
(2) If the guest is a merchant or entrepreneur, the duties of inspection and notification according to § 377 HGB apply additionally: defects must be reported immediately after the end of the tour; in case of violation, claims may be forfeited.
13. Liability
(1) We are liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence, as well as – mandatorily by law – for damages resulting from injury to life, body, or health, even in cases of simple negligence.
(2) In cases of simple negligence, we are otherwise only liable for the breach of essential contractual obligations (cardinal obligations); liability is then limited to the foreseeable damage typical for the contract.
(3) We are not liable for services or conduct of third parties (especially the visited establishments and their staff) and not for the loss of guests’ personal belongings.
(4) Guests are obliged, within the scope of their duty to mitigate damages, to take reasonable measures to avoid or reduce damages.
(5) The nature of service of a tour is a guided, situationally designed experience; content may vary. A claim exists for the key points described in the offer/booking confirmation (e.g., tasting, if included in the service).
14. Special Conditions for Axe Throwing (Only with Corresponding Booking)
(1) An der Aktivität Axe Throwing dürfen ausschließlich sober persons may participate. Guests who are under the influence of alcohol will be excluded without claim for refund from the activity.
(2) provider der Aktivität ist WoodCutter Köln GmbH, Habsburgerring 9–13, 50674 Cologne, cologne@woodcutter.de. Für diese Leistung gelten GTC of the provider apply additionally des Anbieters.
(3) Zur Organisation und Durchführung übermitteln wir die hierfür necessary personal data an die WoodCutter Köln GmbH. Für Leistung, Sicherheit und Verhalten im Rahmen der Aktivität haftet third-party provider alone; etwaige Ansprüche sind asserted against them geltend zu machen.
15. Photo/Video Recordings
During our tours, photo/video recordings may be made (e.g., for memories, social media posts). If you do not wish to be recorded or published, please inform the guide before the start of the tour; we respect this wish. Your own recordings are permitted, provided that the rights of third parties and the house rules are observed. Further information on data processing can be found in our privacy policy.
16. Vouchers
(1) Vouchers are – unless expressly stated otherwise – valid for three (3) years; the period begins at the end of the year in which the voucher was issued (§§ 195, 199 BGB).
(2) A cash redemption of the voucher value is – as far as legally permissible – excluded.
17. Data Protection
We process guests’ personal data in accordance with GDPR and TTDSG exclusively for the respective necessary purposes (e.g., booking processing, communication, legal retention). Details, including the rights of data subjects (access, rectification, erasure, objection, etc.), can be found in our privacy policy on the website.
18. Online Dispute Resolution / Consumer Arbitration
The European Commission provides a platform for online dispute resolution (ODR): https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr.
We are not obliged and not willing to participate in a dispute resolution procedure before a consumer arbitration board.
19. Applicable Law and Jurisdiction
(1) The law of the Federal Republic of Germany shall apply, to the exclusion of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).
(2) If the guest is a merchant/entrepreneur or has no general place of jurisdiction in Germany, Cologne shall be the exclusive place of jurisdiction. Legally mandatory consumer places of jurisdiction remain unaffected.
20. Severability Clause
Should individual provisions of these General Terms and Conditions be or become wholly or partially invalid or unenforceable, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected. In place of the invalid provision, the statutory or contractual provision that comes closest to the economic purpose of the invalid provision shall be deemed agreed.
