The Bar Industry in Kristiansand: Current Status and Future Prospects

Kristiansand has an active bar industry with 12 registered companies in 2026, employing 147 people. The industry has been marked by significant variations in sales and operating profits over the years, with a sharp 48% sales decline from 2024 to 2025. Although no bankruptcies have been registered in the sector, data shows that several companies have negative EBITDA values. The broader bar / club category in the municipality has 20 companies, indicating that the bar industry is part of a larger sector with more varied business types.

Sales and Employees in Kristiansand's Bar Industry (2016–2026):

Sales have been highly unstable, with a sharp 48% decline from 2024 to 2025. The number of employees has also been unstable, with a 27.2% decline during the same period. This may be due to variations in customer traffic, operating costs, and economic conditions in the municipality.

The following companies are registered in Kristiansand's bar industry (2026):

1. Skagen Høllen As – 39 employees, 0 sales, 0 operating profit.
2. Bakgården Bar As – 33 employees, 15.9M sales, 540,000 operating profit.
3. Rabalder Bar Oslo As – 23 employees, 1.7M sales, -1.4M operating profit.
4. Loulou Stavanger As – 19 employees, 0 sales, -16,000 operating profit.
5. Victoria Pub As – 14 employees, 13.2M sales, 157,000 operating profit.
6. Brunvand As – 11 employees, 7.5M sales, -836,000 operating profit.
7. Sjølystveien Vakt As – 9 employees, 3.7M sales, 261,000 operating profit.
8. Gvino As – 7 employees, 0 sales, 0 operating profit.
9. Bakgården Holding As – 0 employees, 100,000 sales, 60,000 operating profit.
10. Dronningens Pub & Kulturscene As – 0 employees, 0 sales, 0 operating profit.
11. Nightclub Drift Tørbakken – 0 employees, 0 sales, 0 operating profit.
12. The Sailor – 0 employees, 0 sales, 0 operating profit.

Business Structures:

• AS (8 companies, 155 employees, 42.2M sales, -1.3M operating profit).

None of the companies are registered as bankrupt, but several have negative EBITDA values, which may indicate economic challenges.

Kristiansand's bar industry is heavily concentrated in the municipality's downtown area:

• Kristiansand (7 companies, 116 employees):
• Sales: 42.2M NOK
• Operating profit: -1.3M NOK
• EBITDA: 97,000 NOK

• Søgne (1 company, 39 employees):
• Sales: 0 NOK
• Operating profit: 0 NOK
• EBITDA: 0 NOK

There is no activity in other parts of the municipality. Kristiansand is therefore the primary geographical hub for the sector.

Bankruptcies and Operating Profits:

• No bankruptcies have been registered in Kristiansand's bar industry.
• Negative EBITDA values are common: 4 companies have EBITDA below 0, including Rabalder Bar Oslo As (-76% EBITDA margin) and Brunvand As (-10% EBITDA margin).
• Highest operating profit is at Bakgården Bar As (6% EBITDA margin) and Bakgården Holding As (60% EBITDA margin).

Operating profit per employee:

• Bakgården Bar As: 33,500 NOK/employee
• Sjølystveien Vakt As: 20,900 NOK/employee
• Victoria Pub As: 77,200 NOK/employee

The sector has a mix of companies with both positive and negative operating profits, which may be due to variations in operating costs and customer traffic.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs in Kristiansand's bar industry, it is important to be aware of the following:

1. Sales decline in 2025: A sharp 48% sales decline from 2024 to 2025 may signal economic challenges in the sector.
2. Competition: Kristiansand has 12 companies in the sector, which may make it difficult to establish oneself without a unique offering or strong market position.
3. Operating profits: Many companies have negative EBITDA values, which may indicate high operating costs or low revenue.
4. Municipality's culture: Kristiansand has a rich culture and tourism industry, which may be an advantage for bars focusing on quality and unique experiences.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in Kristiansand for bar operations, based on nature and development trends in the municipality.

Outlook for the Broader Bar / Club Category

The broader bar / club category in Kristiansand has 20 companies, showing that the bar industry is part of a larger sector with more varied business types. Compared to the bar industry:

• Sales: The broader category had 29.0M NOK in sales in 2025, while the bar industry had 26.8M NOK. This shows that the broader category has a slightly higher sales total.
• Number of employees: The broader category had 278 employees in 2026, while the bar industry had 140 employees. This shows that the broader category has a larger workforce.

Peer companies in the broader category (not in the bar industry):

The broader category has both companies with high EBITDA values (such as Patricks Pub) and companies with negative values (such as Xo Pub As). This shows that the sector has a wide variation in operating profits.

Kristiansand's bar industry has an activity with 12 companies and 147 employees in 2026. The industry has been marked by significant variations in sales and operating profits, with a sharp decline in 2025. Although no bankruptcies have been registered, data shows that several companies have negative EBITDA values. The broader bar / club category has 20 companies and a higher sales total, showing that the bar industry is part of a larger sector with more varied business types. Entrepreneurs should be aware of the economic challenges in the sector, but Kristiansand's culture and tourism industry can provide opportunities for companies with unique offerings. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in Kristiansand for bar operations, based on nature and development trends in the municipality.