German Gymnasium celebrates tenth anniversary with week-long Tänzelfest

German Gymnasium in London’s King’s Cross will mark its tenth anniversary with a week-long celebration from Monday, 7^th July to Sunday, 13^th July 2025. The event, inspired by the traditional German Tänzelfest, aims to commemorate a decade since the venue opened in 2015, offering Londoners a taste of German cuisine and culture.

The festivities will take place at German Gymnasium, 1 King’s Boulevard, a Grade II listed building that once hosted the first National Olympic Games in 1866. The anniversary programme includes a special menu curated by Executive Chef Alexander Thiel, £5 pints of Warsteiner Pilsener from 11^th to 13^th July, and a live Oompah band performance on Friday afternoon, the 11^th of July. The celebrations will also include traditional Bavarian decorations, with staff in lederhosen and dirndl.

Chef Thiel’s Tänzelfest Spezialitäten menu will feature seasonal interpretations of German classics. Dishes include Sommer Schnitzel, a crispy chicken schnitzel served with Caesar salad; Geräucherte Forelle, smoked trout with lingonberries and horseradish; and Lammstelze, braised lamb shank accompanied by parsley spätzle and ratatouille. Thiel, who has led the kitchen at German Gymnasium since its opening, said: “Arriving in London 11 years ago, what I liked the most was the melting pot of global cuisines. We have the best of the world on our plates, and I want to ensure I make all our guests have the best of Germany on their plates too.”

German Gymnasium opened in 2015 following a refurbishment of the historic gymnasium building. The venue is divided into three sections: the Grand Café on the ground floor, a restaurant and Meister Bar upstairs. Since its opening, it has aimed to showcase both familiar and lesser-known elements of German and Mittel-European cuisine.

Chef Thiel, who grew up in Germany and has worked in several countries, including Scotland, Switzerland, and the United States, has made it his mission to challenge stereotypes about German food. His cuisine is characterised by seasonal ingredients and contemporary presentation of traditional dishes.

Food Desk
Photo: @mooncakepictures

The Tänzelfest anniversary event is open to the public. For further information and reservations, visit the restaurant’s website here.