Was wondering if the Reeperban is a St.Pauli stronghold as i was wondering about this. I seen the Londoner with the Union Jacks outside it and it made me question if it was a St.Pauli supporting area?

Good question, I'm sure one of our Hamburg residents will give a better answer.

From my (limited) experience on matchdays, both sets of fans seem to wander up and down fairly happily. The Reeperbahn didn't seem especially 'football' (for obvious reasons) however, there are loads of football bars on the sidestreets around the ground, near the fanladen etc (my geography is still a bit sketchy). This area is definitely a football area and all the bars are pretty welcoming. Both times I've been, the sun was out and the atmosphere on the streets around the Millerntor was great.

The first time I went, I remember asking in the club shop for directions to the Jolly Roger I'm pretty sure it was Inga (one of the stars of the new St Pauli film) who patiently explained how to get there

As a general rule it is often said that the side of the Reeperbahn you talk about is HSV while the other side of the road is St Pauli, in fact that area, Hans Albers Platz, is a well known meeting place for their hooligans. However, it is not that simple as you'll find quite a few St Pauli bars that side of the Reeperbahn too, such as Zum Silbersack. Even there I've been in on an HSV matchday when it was packed with their fans, all of whom I have to say were good lads and we enjoyed a good sing along to Auf der Reeperbahn before they departed.

Blitzkrieg Bob wrote:

As a general rule it is often said that the side of the Reeperbahn you talk about is HSV while the other side of the road is St Pauli, in fact that area, Hans Albers Platz, is a well known meeting place for their hooligans. However, it is not that simple as you'll find quite a few St Pauli bars that side of the Reeperbahn too, such as Zum Silbersack. Even there I've been in on an HSV matchday when it was packed with their fans, all of whom I have to say were good lads and we enjoyed a good sing along to Auf der Reeperbahn before they departed.

it's the HSV hoolies that you have to worry about, but in fairness they don't seem to bother with your average St.Pauli fan, anyone who goes out of their way to look for trouble, will no doubt find it

We had a very surreal experience in a boozer by the waterfront a couple of years back

We'd been in the Kogge and were all wearing St Pauli colours. On our way back to Fred's we decided to have an emergency in a bar called the Golden Gate (I think) on that main street going towards Hans Albers Platz.

The place was deserted save some the owner and a couple of lads at the bar, who within about a minute of us entering were on mobiles. About 5 minutes later three of the biggest blokes I'd ever seen marched in and started having a pop. Not speaking German, we realised they were HSV hoolies (that HSV bar at the end of Herbertstrasse was about three doors down) so we made to leave, with one us trying to round the rest of our lot up in very uncertain terms

At this point, realising we weren't German, all three stopped giving us grief and invited to stay, gabbling on about 'respect' and 'English hooligans.' Utter bollocks - we left anyway. Outside what seemed each bar to the police van by Herbertstrasse were other blokes on mobiles watching us go.

I hate all that stupid football grief but what was really odd is that had a similar situation happened over here (ie 12 Germans walk into an inner city Blues pub wearing Villa shirts after a game) there's little doubt would have gone off. In fact it would have been the average Brummie meathead's wet dream...

But somehow the mere fact that we were English - or just simply naive - seemed to get us off the hook. Very very odd.

Anyone met the little tubby H$V fan who's been in the Treff a couple of times that I've been in? Mid 30s, very friendly, doesn't seem phased by the St Pauli links and he doesn't phase them. The staff seem to know him well enough. Zim, you know him?

GeordieLes wrote:

Anyone met the little tubby H$V fan who's been in the Treff a couple of times that I've been in? Mid 30s, very friendly, doesn't seem phased by the St Pauli links and he doesn't phase them. The staff seem to know him well enough. Zim, you know him?

Nope, doesn't ring a bell. I might recognise him when I see him, though.