Since 1973

The first Pulverfass

It all began on a street called Pulverteich in the St. Georg district. The father of Heinz-Diego Leers – who ran the Pulverfass as we know it today for 47 years – already ran a striptease bar there under the same name. The son took over his father’s place and actually wanted to turn it into a disco. For the reopening, however, he invited drag artists – “Travestie” in German. They went down so well that he went all in on drag.

“Back then we often sat alone in the place. People didn’t dare come in.”

Heinz-Diego Leers

Back then drag – “Travestie” – was still fairly unknown and considered disreputable. When the house was founded, the subject was a real powder keg – “Pulverfass” – in the social sense.

Onto the Reeperbahn

In 2001 the Pulverfass moved from St. Georg into the former “Oase” cinema on the Reeperbahn. The Reeperbahn has always been the stage for the unusual and the flamboyant, so people were less shy here from the start – and the success all the greater.

Cheeky and frivolous, always charming and entertaining by the second: around ten artists were on stage each night, with revues, singing, comedy, striptease – and good food.

The big relaunch

After almost five decades, founder Heinz-Diego Leers handed his Pulverfass over to new hands: since July 2021 a new team has been running the house, with Maximilian Protsch as managing director.

The aim from day one: not just to preserve the legend but to make it shine anew. The bars and auditorium were completely rebuilt, with a bigger stage and new technology – and the bar became the UnFassBar, our restaurant and supper club. From the drag tradition grew queer cabaret for today – with our own ensemble, international artists and our own shows, from the big revue to Pulverlesque.

Our ambition for the next fifty years: the best queer cabaret in the world – right here on the Reeperbahn.