The Pub Industry in Kristiansand: Current Situation and Future Prospects

Overview of the Pub Industry in Kristiansand

Kristiansand has an active pub industry with 8 registered companies in the municipality. In total, there are 136 employees in the industry, and the annual revenue is approximately 31.3 million NOK. The industry has shown variations in its development, with strong growth up to 2022, followed by a decline in 2025. EBITDA margins are at 2%, indicating moderate profitability. There is a mix of established companies and newer businesses, with some companies reporting zero revenue. The industry also has a geographic spread, with a focus on Kristiansand and a smaller presence in Søgne.

Annual Revenue and Employees:

• 2026: 31.3 million NOK in sales revenue, 136 employees
• 2025: 2.2 million NOK in sales revenue, 114 employees
• 2022: 38.7 million NOK in sales revenue, 132 employees

Trend Analysis:

• Sales revenue had strong growth up to 2022, but fell by 93.4% in 2025. This may be due to a combination of economic pressure and competitiveness.
• The number of employees grew up to 2022, but declined slightly in 2023 and 2024 before rising again in 2026.
• EBITDA margins have been stable at around 2%, but with variations in individual companies.

Critical Points:

• Some companies have reported zero revenue, which may indicate challenges in operations or closures.
• There is a clear decline in 2025 that should be analyzed further to understand the cause.

In Kristiansand, there are 8 companies registered in the pub industry, with the following organizational forms:

• AS: 7 companies, 142 employees, 34.1 million NOK in operating revenue

Key Companies:

Observations:

• Most companies are ASs, indicating a certain level of formal organization.
• Some companies have reported zero revenue, which may be a challenge for operations.
• There are no reported bankruptcies in the industry, but there are several companies with negative EBITDA values.

Kristiansand:

• Number of companies: 6
• Number of employees: 136
• Sales revenue: 31.3 million NOK
• EBITDA: 808,800 NOK

Søgne:

• Number of companies: 1
• Number of employees: 6
• Sales revenue: 2.2 million NOK
• EBITDA: -66,000 NOK

Analysis:

• Kristiansand is the primary area for the pub industry, with a clear dominance in the number of companies and revenue.
• Søgne has a smaller presence, with one company (Xo Pub As) that has negative EBITDA values.
• There is a clear geographic concentration in Kristiansand, which can be an advantage for websites and cultural activities in the city.

Bankruptcies:

• There are no reported bankruptcies in the pub industry in Kristiansand in 2026.
• Some companies have negative EBITDA values, but none have been declared bankrupt.

Operational Results:

• Old Irish Pub Norway As: 0 NOK in sales revenue, 0 NOK in EBITDA
• Javel Pub: 0 NOK in sales revenue, 0 NOK in EBITDA
• Barkaden Kristiansand As: 0 NOK in sales revenue, 0 NOK in EBITDA
• Sørlandets Pubdrift As: 0 NOK in sales revenue, -20,000 NOK in EBITDA

Analysis:

• Although there are several companies with negative EBITDA values, there are no bankruptcies, indicating a certain level of operational efficiency.
• There is a risk that companies with negative EBITDA values may face challenges in the future, especially if the decline trend in 2025 continues.

Future Outlook for the Pub Industry

Trend Analysis:

• The industry had strong growth up to 2022, but a sharp decline in 2025. This may be due to economic pressure, competitiveness, or changes in consumer behavior.
• There is a clear geographic concentration in Kristiansand, which can be an advantage for websites and cultural activities in the city.
• EBITDA margins have been stable at around 2%, but with variations in individual companies.

Opportunities and Challenges:

• Kristiansand has good infrastructure and tourist-friendly websites, which can be an advantage for the pub industry.
• There is a risk that companies with negative EBITDA values may face challenges in the future, especially if the decline trend in 2025 continues.
• There is a need for innovation and differentiation to compete effectively in a competitive market.

Recommendation:

• For entrepreneurs considering starting a pub in Kristiansand, it may be beneficial to focus on websites and cultural activities in the city, as well as to ensure a good operational strategy to avoid negative EBITDA values.

Trend Analysis for the Bar/Club Industry:

• 2026: 92.6 million NOK in sales revenue, 278 employees
• 2025: 29.0 million NOK in sales revenue, 262 employees
• 2022: 94.5 million NOK in sales revenue, 334 employees

Contrast with the Pub Industry:

• The bar/club industry has a larger number of companies (20) compared to the pub industry (8), indicating a more diversified industry.
• Sales revenue in the bar/club industry has been more stable than in the pub industry, although there has also been a decline in 2025.
• EBITDA margins in the bar/club industry have been somewhat lower than in the pub industry, but with greater variation.

Peer Companies:

Analysis:

• The bar/club industry has a larger market share and more stable development compared to the pub industry.
• There is a clear decline in 2025 for both the bar/club and pub industries, which may be due to economic pressure or changes in consumer behavior.
• For entrepreneurs in the pub industry, it may be beneficial to analyze the strategies of peer companies in the bar/club industry to find potential learning points.

The pub industry in Kristiansand has a clear geographic concentration in the city, with 8 companies and 136 employees. The industry has shown strong growth up to 2022, but a sharp decline in 2025. There is a risk that companies with negative EBITDA values may face challenges in the future, especially if the decline trend in 2025 continues. Kristiansand has good infrastructure and tourist-friendly websites, which can be an advantage for the pub industry. For entrepreneurs considering starting a pub in Kristiansand, it may be beneficial to focus on websites and cultural activities in the city, as well as to ensure a good operational strategy to avoid negative EBITDA values. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable websites and analyze market development in Kristiansand for the pub industry.