Unhappy ending: Cologne’s ten-storey Pascha brothel – one of the biggest in the world – shuts down after Covid restrictions stopped it from operating for months
- Pascha brothel, in Cologne, provides facilities for around 120 prostitutes
- It is estimated that the brothel attracts up to 1,000 customers a day
- The banning of prostitution to stem Covid-19 has financially ruined Pascha
One of the world’s largest brothels has been forced to file for bankruptcy after it was unable to operate for months due to coronavirus.
Pascha, in Cologne, Germany, has used up all of its cash reserves paying for the up-keep of its 10-storey building and 60 staff, it has been reported.
German daily Express said this had left the brothel – from which about 120 prostitutes ply their trade – penniless.
One of the world’s largest brothels, Pascha, in Germany, has been forced to close leaving many prostitutes without a base. Pictured: prostitutes next to a hot tub in the brothel
Prostitutes offered a wide range of services from the Pascha brothel (pictured), in Germany
It has been estimated that Pascha attracted up to 1,000 customers a day to partake of its services.
But the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic dealt a devastating blow to the brothel after prostitution was banned in North-Rhine Westphalia five months ago to help curb the spread of the disease.
Pascha opened in January 1972 under the name of Eros Center and it was classed as Europe’s first high-rise brothel.
Around 120 prostitutes offer services from the rooms located at the Pascha brothel, in Cologne (pictured)
The city of Cologne wanted to get rid of the red light district in the city centre and so it granted permission to build on the outskirts of the city.
In 1995 the Eros Center changed its name to Pascha where it rents, for 180 Euros a day, 126 rooms on seven floors to prostitutes.
This includes meals, medical care and the 20 Euros of tax which the authorities collect per prostitute per day.
Pascha is open 24-hours a day and customers pay a five Euro entrance fee and then they negotiate prices for services with the girls.
The brothel also houses a regular hotel, several bars and a club-style brothel on the top floor.
The business has suffered problems in the past.
A Thai prostitute was stabbed to death by a customer in June 2003.
She managed to press the alarm button in her room and security personnel caught the culprit.
Then in January 2006 another prostitute was attacked by a customer with a knife.
The woman who was working next door heard the commotion and alerted security who grabbed the knifeman before the prostitute was injured.
Following a police raid in April 2005 by police it was reported that a gun and some cocaine was uncovered.
Police also arrested 23 people mainly due to suspected violation of immigration laws.
Then before the Fifa World Cup, in Germany, complaints were made that the brothel insulted Islam.
Pascha had a large poster showing a half-naked woman and flags from all of the countries which qualified for the tournament on one side of the building.
In response to threats of violence and protests the brothel owners blacked out the flags of Iran and Saudi Arabia on the poster.
American rapper 50 Cent gave a concert in Pascha’s night club in December 2009.
Then on Mother’s Day 2011 the brothel orgainsed a tour for women.
This was surprising as women are not normally allowed into the building.
Groups representing sex workers have said that the closure of brothels will likely force prostitution underground.
This, it is feared, will put the women at greater risk of violence or exploitation.