Programme

Further details will be emailed to all members when booking for an event becomes available.

Full Members receive discounted prices on most 'paid for' events and will benefit from 'Free' events where guests may attend for a fee.

Programme of Events :- More events will be added throughout the year and can be viewed here. 

August 2025

Sunday 31st

Frühschoppen- at The Home of The Greenwoods - 11.00am -1.00pm

Drinks & Canapés in the Garden

September 2025

Wednesday 10th

Illustrated talk with refreshments, free to members 

Summer on the Hapsburg Trail! - Speaker - Dr Mark Allinson

Venue: St Peter's Church Henleaze, Meeting Room. 7.45pm

October 2025

Thursday 2nd        

Joint event with Bristol Hannover Council and Bristol University German Department, on the eve of German Unification Day. 6.00pm - 8.00pm 

Venue: Bristol University, Humanities Building, 7 Woodland Road (Room 1.H020). 

Wednesday 15th

Illustrated Talk with refreshments - free to members (In English)

Language change: Is German under threat? - Speaker - Dr Anna Havinga, Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics, University of Bristol

According to the Verein Deutsche Sprache, German needs to be protected to avoid it becoming a "Feierabenddialekt" - a language only used for social purposes, rather than for culture, economy, and science. But is German really under threat? In this talk, Anna will look at two particular linguistic phenomena: the use of anglicisms and the introduction of gender-inclusive language. She will explore their impact on language and society and critically evaluate reactions to both features.       

Venue: St Peter's Church Henleaze, Meeting Room. 7.15pm 

November 2025

Wednesday 12th       

Illustrated Talk with refreshments - free to members (In English) 

The future of remembrance in united Germany - Speaker - Dr Debbie Pinfold; University of Bristol

When Germany reunited in 1990, it was not only political, social and financial structures that    had to be aligned; East and West Germany also had very distinct memory cultures of the NS-regime and World War II. The years following unification were therefore marked by efforts to create a unified culture of remembrance which would also support a sense of cohesive national identity. Yet as the NS-regime and World War II pass from lived memory and the increasingly powerful AfD dismisses attempts to remember them in the public sphere as a 'Schuldkult', Germany's culture of remembrance is at a transitional moment. In this talk Debbie Pinfold will explore these issues and their implications and will be keen to hear members' thoughts in subsequent discussion. 

Venue: St Peter's Church Henleaze, Meeting Room. 7.45pm

December 2025

Friday 5th

Nikolausabend Party and Supper - Bristol Commonwealth Society; 7pm

(Quiz, Carols & Poetry in German) - Members will be notified of booking arrangements.

January 2026

Wednesday 14th

Virtual Quiz Night! - 7pm on Zoom (In German and English)

New questions and challenges in the latest  of our popular quiz events.

Quiz Master - Christine Heuger 

Slides by Dr Mark Allinson

Tuesday 20th

Illustrated Talk (on Zoom) 7.15pm - This is a joint B.A.G.S & Bristol Hannover Council Event!

From Brycgstow to Bristol in 45 Bridges! 

Speaker: Jeff Lucas, local author and researcher

Bristol is famous for its bridge, of course. But there is so much more to Bristol than just the Clifton Suspension bridge. And there is also an intriguing German link which you can learn about in this fascinating talk!

February 2026

Wednesday 18th

Illustrated Talk (on Zoom) 7.00pm

Speaker: Gerard Owen; (speaking from Berlin, Germany) 

A Hidden Berlin! - An illustrated tour of the Berlin behind the scenes!

When we think of Berlin, iconic spots like the Brandenburg Gate, the TV Tower, and historic images of the fall of the Berlin Wall will probably spring to mind first! I certainly felt that way when I moved here to Berlin nine years ago.

However, there is another Berlin. Sometimes, even just a few paces from the famous sites, yet rarely part of any tourist trail.

Get ready for a journey across the German capital and beyond. Guided by a loose thread of the city’s story and my experiences. Whether it’s culture, technology, gastronomy or history, this talk offers a ‘Berliner-ish’ selection of things to do, places to see and fun to be had! - Hope you can join us!

March 2026

Wednesday 18th

AGM Followed by Illustrated Talk with refreshments (In English)

The Dark Queens Brunhild and Fredegund; A Tale of Ambition, Vengeance, and Power in Early Germanic History  

Speaker: Dr Angela Greenwood; 

Venue: St Peter's Church Henleaze, Meeting Room. 7.45pm

April 2026

Wednesday 15th; 6pm

Talk by Her Excellency, Susanne Baumann, the German Ambassador to the UK.

Details will be sent to members.

Saturday 18 th 

Joint-Event with BAGS: Guided tour of the exhibition ‘Bauhaus, Breuer, Bristol’ at the Ken Stradling Collection on Park Row. 

This timely new exhibition celebrates the extraordinary collaboration between local furniture visionary and BHC founding father, Crofton Gane and Marcel Breuer, one of the leading figures of the Bauhaus. Together, they turned Bristol into a testing ground for radical ideas that would influence generations of architects and designers. Due to space constraints at the Ken Stradling Collection, we intend to organise 2 tours on the day, each limited to 10 people either side of lunch: one tour at 11.00 and another at 1.30 enabling participants of both tours to get together for lunch between tours at a local restaurant/café of your choice. (Details sent to members)

May 2026

Wednesday 13th

Illustrated Talk with refreshments - 

Die Donau - Königin der Flüsse -  Speaker - Christel Stocker-Danby

Venue: St Peter's Church Henleaze, Meeting Room. 7.45pm

June 2026

Sunday 28th

Annual Summer Social - details tbc

Afternoon Tea at the home of The Greenwoods, 2.30pm - 5pm

Conversation Group

A conversation group meets on the last Friday of each month between September and May (excluding December); 12.00pm - 2pm - The topics for discussion are suggested in advance.