The Bar Industry in Bærum: Current Situation and Future Outlook

The bar industry in Bærum has shown both development and challenges in recent years. With 9 registered companies in the municipality, the activity is concentrated in Sandvika, where 3 of the companies operate. In recent years, the industry has experienced a sharp decline in 2020 and 2021, but has since shown gradual recovery. The most profitable company in 2025 was Sir James As, with an EBITDA of 763,000 NOK and 7 employees. At the same time, there has been an increase in the number of employees from 2023 to 2026, from 13 to 26. This indicates a gradual stabilization of the industry, even though variations between individual companies are significant.

In recent years, the bar industry in Bærum has shown a complex development. Sales figures had a sharp decline of 45.7% from 2019 to 2020, but have since shown gradual recovery, with an increase of 8.3% from 2024 to 2025. Total sales in 2025 amounted to 16.4 million NOK. Regarding employees, the number has varied greatly, with a decline from 49 in 2018 to 11 in 2022, followed by an increase to 26 in 2026. This development shows both the impact of external factors and a gradual adaptation within the industry.

Nine companies operate within the bar industry in Bærum, distributed across different organizational forms. The most represented forms are AS, with 3 companies. The key companies include:

• Fellini Bar As (Sandvika): 13 employees, EBITDA of 329,000 NOK in 2025
• Sandvika Bardrift As (Sandvika): 11 employees, but with zero sales and operating profit in 2025
• Sir James As (Sandvika): 7 employees, with an EBITDA of 763,000 NOK in 2025
• Fellini Holding As (Blommenholm): 0 employees, but with a negative EBITDA of -31,000 NOK in 2025
• Freda As (Stabekk): New company established in 2025, but with no operations in 2025

There are also several companies in other parts of the municipality, but they did not report operations in 2025.

Bar activities in Bærum are strongly concentrated in Sandvika, where 3 of the 9 companies operate. In Sandvika, the companies had a combined sales of 16.5 million NOK in 2025, with 31 employees and an EBITDA of 1.1 million NOK. Other areas in the municipality have less activity, with companies such as Freda As in Stabekk and Lystrup Trading in Kolsås. These companies did not report operations in 2025, but may represent future development opportunities.

The industry has been relatively stable in terms of bankruptcy, with no registered bankruptcies among the 9 companies in 2025. Nevertheless, there have been significant variations in the financial health of individual companies. For example, Sir James As had a positive EBITDA of 763,000 NOK in 2025, while Sandvika Bardrift As had zero sales and operating profit. This shows that individual companies can face significant challenges, even though the industry as a whole has been stable.

The development in the bar industry in Bærum indicates a gradual adaptation after the significant declines in 2020 and 2021. With an increase in the number of employees from 13 in 2023 to 26 in 2026, as well as an increase in sales from 13.6 million NOK in 2023 to 16.4 million NOK in 2025, this shows a positive trend. For entrepreneurs, this may be a sign that there are opportunities to establish themselves in the municipality, especially in Sandvika where there is an existing infrastructure. However, it is important to be aware of the significant variations in the financial health of individual companies.

When comparing the bar industry to the broader bar / club grouping in Bærum, the data show a certain similarity in the development. The broader grouping has 11 companies, while the bar industry has 9. Sales figures for the broader grouping show a similar development, with a decline from 22 million NOK in 2019 to 11.9 million NOK in 2020, followed by a gradual recovery. In addition to bars, this grouping also includes pubs, such as Alfredsen Konsult and Vøyeneng Mat As. This shows that there are opportunities to expand into other parts of the industry, even though the bar industry has its own dynamics.

The bar industry in Bærum shows signs of gradual stabilization and recovery after the significant declines in 2020 and 2021. With an increase in the number of employees and sales in recent years, as well as a concentration of activity in Sandvika, there are opportunities for further development. However, it is important to be aware of the significant variations between individual companies, and that some companies have faced challenges. For entrepreneurs, this may be an opportunity to establish themselves in a stable, but competitive industry, especially in areas with existing infrastructure.