General Terms and Conditions (GTC)

The Kölsch Crew, Owner: Michael Piel
As of: March 1, 2026

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 referred to as “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 text form. Individual agreements take precedence over these GTC, insofar as they deviate from individual regulations.

(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 e-mail or telephone.

(2) By completing the online booking process (e.g. clicking on “Book”/”Pay”), the Guest makes a binding offer to conclude a contract. The contract is concluded as soon as we confirm the booking by e-mail (booking confirmation/invoice). For individually requested tours, we will first send an offer; the contract is concluded with timely acceptance by the Guest.

(3) The booking confirmation contains the date, time, meeting point, service, price including sales tax, method of payment and, if applicable, special instructions (e.g. rules of conduct, information on bachelor parties, safety, minors).

(4) For public tours, section 5.4 (minimum number of participants) also applies.

3. Prices and Taxes

(1) Unless expressly stated otherwise, all prices are final prices including statutory sales tax (USt). The prices shown at the time of booking shall apply.

(2) Our sales tax identification number according to § 27a UStG is: DE350215474.

(3) We reserve the right to make price changes before the contract is concluded; after the contract is concluded, adjustments are only permitted by mutual agreement.

4. Payment Terms

(1) The payment deadlines according to the following regulations apply. The payment methods available in the booking process (e.g. via the payment service provider Mollie) are shown there; for company tours, payment by invoice/advance payment is possible.

(2) Company tours (product category): Company tours within the meaning of this contract are exclusively the products offered as such (“Company Tours”), regardless of whether the customer is a consumer or an entrepreneur.

a) Customers based in the European Economic Area (EEA): 80% of the tour price is due as a down payment within 14 days of confirmation of the booking, but no later than before the booked date. The remaining amount is payable within 14 days of the booked date.

b) Customers based outside the European Economic Area (EEA): The total price is due in full within 14 days of confirmation of the booking, but in any case before the booked date.

(3) All other tours: For all other tours, the total price must either be paid directly as part of the online booking or within 7 days of confirmation of the booking, but in any case before the booked date.

(4) If payments due are not made, we are entitled to refuse the 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 stated in the booking confirmation at the meeting point specified there. Minor adjustments to the meeting point are possible for organizational reasons; in this case, we will inform you in good time – usually up to one hour before the start of the tour – by e-mail or (if provided by the Guest) by SMS/messenger.

(2) Nature of the service. Our tours are guided, partly artistically influenced experiences. The content, sequence of stations 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 usually last about two hours. Deviations – for example due to crowds, weather, events or house rules of the establishments – are possible.

(4) Minimum number of participants for public tours. Public tours will take place if at least five (5) people have registered. If this minimum number is not reached by two hours before the start, we can cancel the tour; in this case, we will refund the full tour price or issue a voucher of the same amount upon request.

(5) Drinks/tasting.

– No drinks are included in the price for public tours.

– For private or separately marked tours, the services described in the offer or booking confirmation apply (e.g. number of Kölsch per person). Alternative drinks are a gesture of goodwill and are not owed by us. Seats cannot be guaranteed; the house rules of the respective locations apply.

(6) Delays. The guide usually waits up to ten minutes. Without prior information to us at least 15 minutes before the start of the tour, there is no right to participate; a claim for (partial) reimbursement is excluded in this case. If information is provided in good time, we will endeavor – without legal entitlement – to find a reasonable solution (e.g. follow-up meeting point), if organizationally possible.

(7) Private tours and special programs. Scope, duration, group size, price and special content are individually agreed; 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 and the house rules of the visited establishments.

(2) Bachelor parties. Bachelor parties are generally not permitted on public tours. If bachelor parties nevertheless participate in a public tour, the following applies: inconspicuous appearance, no costumes, no bachelor party shirts. In case of violations, exclusion may occur; there is no claim for reimbursement. We recommend private tours for bachelor parties.

(3) Clothing and disguises. Conspicuous costumes, uniforms, similar outfits and symbols prohibited in Germany are prohibited. Planned disguises must be communicated at least 24 hours before the start of the tour; we can reject these 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 required to take weather, crowds and routes into account on their own responsibility and to choose suitable clothing/shoes.

7. Minors

Participants under the age of 18 can only participate in our tours when accompanied by an adult. Alcohol is only served in accordance with applicable law and – in beer houses – at the discretion of the house staff. The guide may require proof of age.

8. Exclusion from Participation

(1) Disruptions to the process. In the event 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 the event of a repeat offense, exclude them from the tour.

(2) Intoxication. Heavily intoxicated guests may be excluded to protect the group.

(3) Legal consequence. In the event of exclusion, there is no claim for (partial) reimbursement or subsequent performance.

9. Involvement of Third Parties / House Rules

We can use vicarious agents/guides to carry out our tours. The visited beer house establishments, kiosks or other locations are not our vicarious agents; access, seating and catering are exclusively the responsibility of the respective establishments.

10. Rebooking, Cancellation, Rate Conditions, Group Size, and Cancellation

10.1 Applicable conditions per booking (Rate / Cancellation & Rebooking rules)

(1) The conditions displayed during the booking process apply to every booking (in particular regarding free cancellation, cancellation fees, rebooking, voucher regulations, deadlines, and any rate-dependent restrictions). These conditions are displayed in the booking form before the contract is concluded and are part of the contract. They are also documented in the booking confirmation or in the offer (for inquiries).

(2) If different rates are offered during the booking process, cancellation and rebooking rights may vary depending on the selected rate (e.g., “flexibly cancellable” vs. “low-cost rate without refund”). The selected rate and the associated conditions are determined by the booking process and the confirmation/offer.

(3) Unless special conditions are displayed during the booking process, the following regulations of this Section 10 apply (as well as additional mandatory legal rights).

10.2 Rebooking and Vouchers (rate-dependent)

(1) Rebookings are – unless otherwise stated in the booking process – only possible subject to availability.

(2) A voucher will be issued – if offered during the booking process – for the amount and validity specified there. Unless otherwise stated, a voucher is valid for 3 years (from the end of the year).

(3) Any rebooking fees, deadlines, or restrictions (e.g., voucher/rebooking only instead of a refund) are based on the conditions displayed during the booking process.

10.3 Cancellation and Refunds (rate-dependent)

(1) Cancellations and refunds are based on the conditions displayed during the booking process. This applies in particular to deadlines (e.g., “cancellable free of charge until…”), staggered cancellation fees, or rate-based restrictions.

(2) Non-refundable rates: If a rate is chosen that, according to the booking process, does not provide for a refund, there is no entitlement to a refund – subject to mandatory legal rights; instead, a rebooking or a voucher may be possible (if offered) in accordance with the displayed conditions.

(3) Mandatory legal rights as well as regulations in Section 10.5 (Cancellation/Termination by us) and any other T&C provisions remain unaffected.

10.4 Termination by the Guest

(1) If a guest leaves the tour early, rejoining is only possible with the guide’s consent. There is no entitlement to an extension, refund, or partial refund, unless mandatory legal rights dictate otherwise or different rules were established during the booking process.

10.5 Cancellation/Termination by Us

(1) We may cancel or terminate a tour if
– the minimum number of participants is not reached (Section 5.4),
– force majeure, security situations, weather, or similar uncertainties (e.g., flooding, demonstrations) prevent safe/proper execution,
– due payments are not received despite a reminder and a reasonable deadline, or
– the guide falls ill and a replacement is not available.

(2) In cases of cancellation/termination for the first, second, and fourth reasons, we will refund the tour price in full or – upon request – issue a voucher for the same amount. Further claims (e.g., for reimbursement of travel/accommodation costs) are excluded – to the extent permitted by law.

(3) In the event of non-payment (default), we are entitled to withdraw from the contract and refuse performance. The payment obligation remains unaffected according to legal regulations; in particular, we may claim damages for non-performance, whereby saved expenses must be taken into account. If payment is nevertheless made after withdrawal, we will, at our discretion, issue a voucher for the amount paid or – if available – arrange an alternative date. Any third-party costs remain unaffected and must be reimbursed by the customer – to the extent they have already been incurred or advanced; this applies in particular in accordance with Section 15.

10.6 Changes to the Number of Participants

(1) General Principle: Unless otherwise regulated in the booking process, changes to the number of participants are only possible in accordance with the conditions displayed during the booking process.

(2) Corporate Tours (unless otherwise stated in the booking process):
a) Up to 7 days before the booked date, the number of participants can be reduced by up to 25% free of charge. After that, up to 24 hours before the booked date, a reduction of up to 10% is possible free of charge.
b) Late registrations of additional participants are possible even at short notice – subject to available capacity – and will be charged additionally.

(3) All other tours (unless otherwise stated in the booking process):
Reductions in the number of participants are only possible within the framework of the rebooking/cancellation conditions displayed during the booking process. Late registrations of additional participants are possible even at short notice – subject to available capacity – and will be charged additionally.

10.7 Third-Party Services / Add-ons

(1) Different cancellation and rebooking conditions may apply to additional services (e.g., add-ons/third-party services). The conditions displayed during the booking process and Section 15 (Third-Party Providers), if applicable, are decisive.

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. The regulations according to section 10 apply exclusively.

12. Notification of Defects and Remedy

(1) If the service is not provided in accordance with the contract contrary to expectations, this must be reported to us – immediately and preferably during the tour – so that we can provide a remedy (e.g. adjustment of the process).

(2) If the Guest is a merchant or entrepreneur, the notification obligations according to § 377 HGB also apply: Defects must be reported immediately after the end of the tour; claims may be forfeited in the event of a violation.

13. Liability

(1) We are liable without limitation in the event of intent and gross negligence as well as – legally mandatory – for damages resulting from injury to life, body or health, even in the event of simple negligence.

(2) In the event of simple negligence, we are otherwise only liable in the event of a breach of essential contractual obligations (cardinal obligations); the liability is then limited to the damage typically foreseeable under the contract.

(3) We are not liable for services or conduct of third parties (in particular the visited establishments and their staff) and not for the loss of personal items of the Guests.

(4) The Guests are obliged to take reasonable measures to avoid or reduce damages within the scope of the obligation to mitigate damages.

(5) The service character of a tour is a guided, situationally designed experience; contents may vary. There is a claim to the cornerstones 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) Only sober persons are allowed to participate in the axe throwing activity. Guests who are under the influence of alcohol will be excluded from the activity without a claim for reimbursement.

(2) The provider of the activity is WoodCutter Köln GmbH, Habsburgerring 9–13, 50674 Cologne, cologne@woodcutter.de. The GTC of the provider also apply to this service.

(3) For organization and execution, we transmit the personal data required for this to WoodCutter Köln GmbH. The third-party provider is solely liable for the service, safety and conduct within the scope of the activity; any claims must be asserted against this provider.

(4) Note on third-party services: Reimbursement is generally excluded for offers from third-party providers. Rebookings are only possible within the scope of availability and in accordance with the conditions of the respective provider. Reductions in the number of participants are not possible; additional registrations of additional participants only with free capacities. Third-party providers generally do not reserve for us before a binding booking; therefore, an intermediate sale of booked capacities is unfortunately possible. In this case, we will inform the customer immediately and submit an alternative offer (e.g. time shift, other product) or – if useful – the cancellation of the third-party product.

15. Services and reservations of third-party providers

(1) If tours or programs contain services from third-party providers (e.g. food or table reservations, tastings or other external services), these services are not provided by us ourselves, but by the respective third-party provider.

(2) The conditions of the respective provider apply exclusively to third-party services. Reimbursements are generally excluded. Rebookings are only possible within the scope of availability and in accordance with the conditions of the respective third-party provider.

(3) Reductions in the number of participants are excluded for third-party services. Additional registrations of additional participants are only possible with free capacities and subject to the consent of the third-party provider.

(4) In the case of food or table reservations, a no-show fee, a minimum turnover or a comparable cost replacement may be incurred if the reservation is not or not fully used. These costs are to be borne by the customer.

(5) Third-party providers generally do not reserve for us before a binding booking. It can therefore happen that capacities are sold elsewhere in the meantime.

(6) If a booked third-party service is no longer available for this reason, we will inform the customer immediately and submit an alternative offer, in particular: (a) time shift, (b) alternative product, or (c) cancellation exclusively of the affected third-party service.

(7) Non-refundable third-party costs / liquidated damages
If third-party services are part of the booking, we usually make binding advance payments or purchase/reserve contingents that are subject to a fee and non-cancellable. Since we generally do not receive a refund from the third-party provider for this, the fees attributable to the third-party service must be compensated in full (regularly 100%) as damages in the event of cancellation, non-participation, reduction, or other non-use by the customer. The customer expressly reserves the right to prove that no damage or significantly less damage has occurred.

16. Photo/video recordings

As part of our tours, photo and video recordings may be made (e.g. for memories, social media posts). If you do not want to be photographed or published, please inform the guide before the tour starts; we respect this wish. 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 data protection information.

17. Vouchers

(1) Vouchers are valid for three (3) years, unless expressly stated otherwise; the period begins at the end of the year in which the voucher was issued (§§ 195, 199 BGB).

(2) A cash payment of the voucher value is excluded – as far as legally permissible.

18. Data protection

We process personal data of guests in accordance with GDPR and TTDSG exclusively for the purposes required in each case (e.g. booking processing, communication, legal storage). Details, including the rights of the data subjects (information, correction, deletion, objection, etc.), can be found in our privacy policy on the website.

19. Online dispute resolution / consumer conciliation

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 conciliation body.

20. 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.

(2) If the guest is a merchant/entrepreneur or does not have a general place of jurisdiction in Germany, Cologne is the exclusive place of jurisdiction. Legally mandatory consumer jurisdictions remain unaffected.

21. Severability clause

Should individual provisions of these terms and conditions be or become wholly or partially invalid or unenforceable, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions. 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 to have been agreed.