The Bar Industry in Vågan – An Analysis of Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks

The bar industry in Vågan is a small but dynamic sector with three registered companies. Most of the activities are concentrated in Svolvær, while Henningsvær has a smaller presence. The industry shows positive development in sales and number of employees over the past few years, although there are variations between individual companies. There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, but some companies show negative results in operating profit. This makes the industry potentially interesting for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in a growth area, but with attention to local challenges.

Over the past few years, the bar industry in Vågan has shown stable to growing development. Sales have increased by 25.2% from 2024 to 2025, and there has been a registered increase in the number of employees from 3 to 8 during the same period. In 2025, the industry had total sales of 3.9 million NOK, with an EBITDA margin of 8%. There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, but some companies have negative operating profits. This shows that the industry has both opportunities and challenges, especially regarding operating results and economic stability.

In Vågan, there are three companies registered within the bar industry:

1. Telegrafen Pub/bar As (Vestfjordgata 1, Svolvær) – AS company, established in 2018, 7 employees, operating income of 3.9 million NOK, EBITDA of 343,000 NOK.
2. Arbeidern As (Dreyers gate 72, Henningsvær) – AS company, established in 2026, 5 employees, but no operating income or sales.
3. Småtindan As (Svinøya, Svolvær) – AS company, established in 2009, 0 employees, but with negative operating profits and EBITDA of -4,000 NOK.

Most companies are organized as AS, and there are no companies with other organizational forms. This indicates that AS is the most common organizational form in the industry in Vågan.

The bar industry in Vågan is most present in Svolvær, where there are two companies with a total of 7 employees and an operating income of 3.9 million NOK. In Henningsvær, there is one company with 5 employees, but no operating income or sales. This shows that Svolvær is the most important area for bar activities in the municipality, while Henningsvær has a smaller presence. There is no data on activities in other parts of the municipality.

The bar industry in Vågan has been relatively stable over the past few years, with no registered bankruptcies. However, some companies show negative operating profits, such as Småtindan As, which had an EBITDA of -4,000 NOK in 2026. This may indicate that some companies face challenges regarding operating results and economic stability. However, there are no registered bankruptcies, which indicates that the industry has a certain degree of resilience.

The bar industry in Vågan shows positive development in sales and number of employees over the past few years, with a 25.2% increase in sales from 2024 to 2025. This indicates that the industry has growth potential, especially in Svolvær where there is the most activity. Entrepreneurs should, however, be aware of the local challenges, such as negative operating profits at some companies. It is also possible to see opportunities in leveraging the growth in the number of employees and sales, especially in relation to the existing businesses in Svolvær.

The broader bar / club industry in Vågan has five companies, showing that there are more businesses in this category than in the individual bar industry. Sales in this broader category have shown a growth of 25.2% from 2024 to 2025, which is the same development as in the individual bar industry. The number of employees in bar / club has, however, been more variable, with a decline of 64.1% from 2022 to 2023. This shows that the broader category has both opportunities and challenges regarding operating results and number of employees. Peer companies such as Celix As and Olsen Bygdepub have no sales or EBITDA, which may indicate challenges in this category.

The bar industry in Vågan shows potential for growth, especially in Svolvær where there is the most activity. However, there are important challenges to be aware of, such as negative operating profits at some companies. Entrepreneurs should also consider the broader bar / club industry, which has more companies but also more variable development. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses and locations in Vågan to establish themselves in this industry.