The “Ruin” Bars of Budapest: Urban Decay and the Development of a Genre of Hospitality.

Abstract

This paper examines the development and management of “rom” (ruin) bars: eating and drinking venues operating in dilapidated, urban buildings in Budapest, Hungary. The paper reviews and interrogates the evolution of the rom phenomenon and discusses three issues: 1) the relationship between hospitality, urban regeneration and urban space, 2) entrepreneurship and the production of rom bars as particular hospitality spaces, and 3) the relationship between symbolic forms of capital and hospitality. It is argued that the key characteristics of the rom phenomenon are encapsulated in the notion of ‘guerrilla hospitality.’ The paper outlines the characteristics of guerrilla hospitality and argues that it is an example of a commodified symbolic form, which draws together intellectual, aesthetic and commercial interests in the creation of hospitality venues and consumer experiences. The paper concludes by considering the implications for hospitality management and hospitality research.