Nelson Müller's pod has moved

BERGISCH GLADBACH : Nelson Müller has been a successful catering entrepreneur in Essen for over 15 years. "Today my dream is coming true and I'm finally a hotelier too," says the Michelin-starred and TV chef happily. In November 2024, he was accepted into the international hotel association Relais & Châteaux with his new boutique hotel. Nelson Müller has now officially opened his first hotel with many friends and companions. Among them: soul singer Cassandra Steen, actor Henning Baum, musician Helmut Zerlett, comedians Matze Knop, Guido Cantz, Tony Bauer Martin Klempnow, goalkeeping legend Toni Schumacher, entrepreneur and art collector Babette Albrecht (Aldi), hotel entrepreneur Dirk Iserlohe (Dorint Hotel Group), entrepreneur Dr Hermann Büchlbecker (Lambertz) and gallery owner Comar Schult Golz.

The more than 300 guests were treated to specialities from both restaurants in the hotel complex, the "MÜLLERS in der Mühle" brasserie and the "Schote" gourmet restaurant, at various stations. Naturally, Nelson Müller's legendary currywurst was served at midnight. After more than five months of restructuring and refurbishment, we were able to start the soft opening of my Relais & Châteaux Hotel Diepeschrather Mühle shortly before Easter. Since then, we have spoilt our guests with a spring menu in the Schote gourmet restaurant and with MÜLLLERS classics in the new MÜLLERS brasserie in the mill." Demand for the 25 designer hotel rooms and suites was also high right from the start. The spacious event areas, the Konrad Adenauer Hall and the Orangery - both in the Mühle - as well as the Executive Boardroom Waldblick in the neighbouring hotel are well booked for conferences and events. The relocation of the management and the Schote team from Essen to Bergisch-Gladbach went smoothly. "My traditional MÜLLERS brasserie on the Rü continues to run successfully at Rüttenscheider Stern in Essen," the well-known Michelin-starred and TV chef announced on the occasion of the Grand.

The Relais & Chateaux Hotel Diepeschrather Mühle by Nelson Müller is nestled in a landscape of breathtaking nature, rolling hills, forests, streams and lakes. Far away from the hustle and bustle and stress, the Rhine metropolises of Cologne and Düsseldorf - and therefore important tourist destinations and cultural highlights - can be reached quickly and easily. Nelson Müller's exclusive "Tasteful Hideaway" appeals to gourmets as individual or business travellers. His vision is to create a new dimension of first-class hotel and top gastronomy at this unique location in a nature reserve. "We all need food that embraces the soul," is the star chef's credo. Together with his teams, he will continue to convey a great attitude to life in both restaurants with a sophisticated range of food and drinks. Another highlight is the new patisserie in the mill. The pastry chefs produce exceptional wedding cakes and the hotel's entire patisserie.

The hotel and catering entrepreneur (currently around 75 employees) has relocated his company headquarters to the Diepeschrather Mühle to keep distances short. Nevertheless, he remains closely connected to his home town of Essen and will continue to run his popular brasserie "MÜLLERS auf der Rü", which is also popular beyond the borders of the Ruhr metropolis.

Working successfully - celebrating parties

The first few weeks of hotel operations have shown that the ideal location and the holistic offering of the new boutique hotel with gourmet cuisine, meetings & events and a spa with a natural outdoor pool, gym and yoga are particularly popular with two target groups. Those seeking relaxation at weekends and business travellers during the week. The excellent transport links to Cologne city centre and Cologne-Bonn Airport, as well as the quiet location in unspoilt nature, are convincing.

Situated in a forest clearing, the Relais & Châteaux Hotel is surrounded by a designer garden with a heated natural pool. In the exclusive spa, you can relax in the Finnish sauna, steam bath, spacious relaxation zones, massages or Barbor treatments. Also on the programme: yoga or fitness with state-of-the-art cardio and endurance equipment. The surrounding area is ideal for unwinding. Discover the nature adventure and nature trails while hiking or biking, and recharge your batteries with "star-level picnics" or "forest bathing". The hotel concept is also green. In preparation: "GreenSigns" certification. A vegetable and herb garden have been planted. This complements Nelson Müller's gastronomy concept with a cookery school "from farm to table". A co-operation with a local beekeeper, who looks after the beehives, is also part of the concept.

Modern design, high-quality materials

The idea for the hotel with all its facets came from Cologne property developer Werner Arenz, the owner of the Diepeschrather Mühle site. Arenz has worked on many listed buildings in Cologne. He has furnished the hotel with great attention to detail. This applies to the highest quality materials, state-of-the-art technology, interior design and art.

From now on, the "Nelson Müller*" brand will be the unique selling point of the new hotel complex. The Diepeschrather Mühle will further strengthen the image of the "Nelson Müller*" brand and the Relais & Châteaux brand in a positive way. Nelson Müller: "My highly committed team and I want the hotel to soon be the top address for B2B business in the metropolises of Cologne and Düsseldorf.