The Bar Industry in Hamar: Current Status and Future Perspectives

The bar industry in Hamar consists of five companies operating within the municipality. This sector has shown variations in sales and number of employees over time, with a significant decline in 2020 and a partial recovery in 2022. At the same time, there is a broader industry group (bar/club) in the municipality that includes an additional company, which may provide a basis for comparisons and development perspectives for entrepreneurs.

Sales and Employees in the Bar Industry

• Sales: In 2025, sales in the bar industry in Hamar amounted to NOK 12.0 million, a decline of 29.3% compared to 2024. The highest sales were recorded in 2019 with NOK 23.1 million.
• Employees: The number of employees increased from 2016 to 2019, reaching a maximum of 86 employees in 2019. There has been a decline since 2020, with 62 employees in 2025.

Annual Development

Comment

Sales experienced a sharp decline in 2020, likely due to the pandemic, but grew by 40.3% in 2022. The number of employees has shown a more stable development, with a decline from 2020 to 2021 and a recovery in 2022.

Registered Companies in the Bar Industry

In Hamar, the following companies are registered in the bar industry:

1. Festiviteten Bar & Scene As – Strandgata 23, Hamar

• Number of employees: 36
• Sales: NOK 8.8M
• EBITDA: NOK -65,000
• Organisation form: AS

1. Distrikt 23 As – Grønnegata 62, Hamar

• Number of employees: 15
• Sales: NOK 2.1M
• EBITDA: NOK 158,000
• Organisation form: AS

1. Grønske As – Kirkebakken 3, Hamar

• Number of employees: 14
• Sales: NOK 3.8M
• EBITDA: NOK 303,000
• Organisation form: AS

1. Ballroom Hamar As – Torggata 74, Hamar

• Number of employees: 8
• Sales: NOK 3.8M
• EBITDA: NOK 200,000
• Organisation form: AS

1. Gullkorn Ølbar As – Håkons gate 15, Hamar

• Number of employees: 7
• Sales: NOK 3.2M
• EBITDA: NOK 6,000
• Organisation form: AS

Organisation Forms

All companies in the bar industry in Hamar are registered as AS (Anonymous Companies). There are no companies with other organisation forms such as sole proprietorships or property associations.

Distribution of Activity in Hamar

All five companies in the bar industry in Hamar are registered in Hamar. No companies are registered in other districts or areas within the municipality. The distribution per district is:

Comment

There is no distribution of companies in other districts in Hamar. All companies operate in the city centre or near the city centre, which may indicate a concentration of activity in certain areas.

Economic Dynamics and Bankruptcy Statistics

• Bankruptcy: None of the five companies in the bar industry in Hamar are registered as bankrupt. There are no bankruptcy notices in the period 2016–2025.
• EBITDA Margins: The most profitable companies have an EBITDA margin of 7% (Grønske As) and 6% (Distrikt 23 As). The least profitable companies have an EBITDA margin of 0% (Festiviteten Bar & Scene As) and 0% (Gullkorn Ølbar As).
• Sales Growth: The fastest-growing companies have a sales growth of 45% (Grønske As) and 19% (Ballroom Hamar As). The slowest-growing companies have a sales growth of -25% (Festiviteten Bar & Scene As) and -29.3% (in 2025 for the entire industry).

Comment

There is no bankruptcy in the industry, which indicates that the companies have been able to manage economic challenges. However, several companies have experienced a decline in sales and EBITDA, especially in 2020 and 2025.

Development for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering starting a bar in Hamar, the following should be considered:

• Market Development: Sales in the industry have shown a sharp decline in 2020 and 2025, which may indicate a vulnerability in relation to economic crises and pandemics.
• Competitiveness: There are five companies in the industry, and the most profitable have an EBITDA margin of 7%. This may provide a basis for identifying areas for improvement and competitiveness.
• Bankruptcy Risk: There is no bankruptcy in the industry, which indicates that the companies have been able to manage economic challenges. However, it is important to be aware of the recent years with a decline in sales and EBITDA.
• Business Geography: There is a concentration of companies in Hamar, which may provide opportunities to utilise existing infrastructure and customer bases.

Comment

There are opportunities for entrepreneurs wishing to start a bar in Hamar, but it is important to be aware of the recent years with a decline in sales and EBITDA. It may be beneficial to analyse the most profitable companies and identify areas for improvement.

Development in Broader Industry Group (Bar/Club)

• Number of Companies: The broader industry group (bar/club) in Hamar has 6 companies, of which 5 are in the bar industry and 1 is in another sub-group (pub).
• Sales: Sales in the bar/club industry in Hamar decreased from NOK 23.1M in 2019 to NOK 12.0M in 2025, a decline of 48.2%.
• Employees: The number of employees increased from 46 in 2016 to 86 in 2019, but decreased to 62 in 2025.

Peer Companies in the Bar/Club Industry

Comment

The broader industry group (bar/club) has a slightly higher number of companies compared to the bar industry. There is one company in the pub industry that is not included in the bar industry. This may provide a basis for comparing development and identifying opportunities for entrepreneurs.

The bar industry in Hamar has shown variations in sales and number of employees over time, with a significant decline in 2020 and a partial recovery in 2022. There is no bankruptcy in the industry, which indicates that the companies have been able to manage economic challenges. However, several companies have experienced a decline in sales and EBITDA, especially in 2020 and 2025. For entrepreneurs considering starting a bar in Hamar, it is important to take into account the recent years with a decline in sales and EBITDA, as well as to analyse the most profitable companies and identify areas for improvement. It may be beneficial to consult SmartGrunder for more detailed information on opportunities and challenges in the industry.