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The Pub Industry in Skien: Current Situation and Future Outlook

Published 23.09.2026

Analysis of Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks for the Pub Industry in Skien

Executive Summary

The pub industry in Skien is a small but active sector dominated by a single company. The only registered company, Old Irish Pub Norway As Avd Skien, operates in the center of Skien and has shown stable growth in sales and employees over time. Although the industry has been marked by fluctuations in employee numbers and sales, recent years have shown positive development with increased sales and a high EBITDA margin of 5%. This indicates that the pub industry in Skien has potential for further development, especially with a focus on quality and local adaptation.

Economic Overview

Sales and employee development:

  • Sales: Sales have grown from NOK 5.6 million in 2019 to NOK 9.4 million in 2024, with a slight decline in 2025. The most significant increase was recorded between 2021 and 2022 (+85.3%).
  • Employees: Employees have varied between 14 and 23 over the years, with a peak in 2020 and a decline to 15 in 2026. The most significant increase was recorded between 2018 and 2019 (+275%).

Financial indicators:

  • EBITDA margin: 5%, indicating good cost efficiency.
  • Gross margin: 697%, suggesting that the company has high income from sales of goods and services relative to costs.
  • Sales per employee: NOK 635,000 per employee in 2024, indicating high productivity.

Conclusion: The industry has shown positive development in recent years, with stable sales growth and a high EBITDA margin. This indicates that the pub industry in Skien has potential for further development, especially with a focus on quality and local adaptation.

Sales over time — pub — Skien
Sales over time — pub
Number of companies — pub — Skien
Number of companies — pub
Employees over time — pub — Skien
Employees over time — pub

Companies in the Industry

There is one registered company in the pub industry in Skien: Old Irish Pub Norway As Avd Skien, which operates from Langbrygga 1, Skien. This company has the following characteristics:

  • Organisation form: AS (Limited company)
  • Founded: 2019-05-01
  • Number of employees: 14
  • Bankrupt: Not bankrupt
  • Postal code: 3724
  • Municipality: Skien
  • County: Vestfold og Telemark
  • Sales: NOK 13.8 million
  • Wages: NOK 2.5 million
  • EBITDA: NOK 820,000
  • Gross profit: NOK 96.6 million
  • Total equity: NOK 3.2 million
  • Total debt: NOK 2.1 million
  • Sales growth: 4%
  • EBITDA margin: 5%
  • EBITDA per employee: NOK 28,700

Conclusion: Old Irish Pub Norway As Avd Skien is the only company in the industry and has shown stable development over time. This company has a good financial position and high productivity, indicating that it has potential for further development.

Business Geography

The pub industry in Skien is concentrated in Skien. There is one company registered in the municipality, and the following data is available:

LocationNumber of companiesNumber of employeesSales (NOK)EBITDA (NOK)
Skien11413.8M820.0K

Conclusion: The pub industry in Skien is concentrated in a single city district, and there is only one company in the industry. This indicates that there is room for more companies in the industry, especially if they can adapt to local needs and markets.

Companies by place — pub — Skien
Companies by place — pub

Business Dynamism

Bankruptcies and operational economics:

  • There are no registered bankruptcies in the pub industry in Skien in recent years. This indicates that the industry has stable operations and a good financial position.
  • Old Irish Pub Norway As Avd Skien has shown stable development in employee numbers and sales over time, despite variations in recent years.

Conclusion: The industry has shown stable development over time, with no registered bankruptcies and a good financial position. This indicates that the industry has potential for further development, especially with a focus on quality and local adaptation.

Outlook

Outlook for the pub industry in Skien

Sales development: Sales have grown from NOK 5.6 million in 2019 to NOK 9.4 million in 2024, with a slight decline in 2025. The most significant increase was recorded between 2021 and 2022 (+85.3%). This indicates that the industry has potential for further development, especially with a focus on quality and local adaptation.

Employee development: Employees have varied between 14 and 23 over the years, with a peak in 2020 and a decline to 15 in 2026. The most significant increase was recorded between 2018 and 2019 (+275%). This indicates that the industry has a good labor market situation, but there is room for further development.

EBITDA margin: 5%, indicating good cost efficiency. This indicates that the industry has potential for further development, especially with a focus on quality and local adaptation.

Conclusion: The industry has shown positive development in recent years, with stable sales growth and a high EBITDA margin. This indicates that the industry has potential for further development, especially with a focus on quality and local adaptation.

Outlook for the Bar/Club Sector

Outlook for the bar/club sector in Skien

Sales development: Sales in the bar/club sector in Skien have grown from NOK 34.1 million in 2016 to NOK 36.6 million in 2025, with a slight decline in recent years. The most significant increase was recorded between 2021 and 2022 (+82.6%). This indicates that the sector has potential for further development, especially with a focus on quality and local adaptation.

Employee development: Employees in the bar/club sector have varied between 92 and 171 over the years, with a peak in 2017 and a decline to 95 in 2024. The most significant increase was recorded between 2024 and 2025 (+28.4%). This indicates that the sector has a good labor market situation, but there is room for further development.

EBITDA margin: The bar/club sector has a lower EBITDA margin compared to the pub industry, indicating that there is room for improvement in cost efficiency.

Conclusion: The bar/club sector in Skien has shown positive development in recent years, with stable sales growth and a good labor market situation. This indicates that the sector has potential for further development, especially with a focus on quality and local adaptation.

Sales in the parent industry — bar / klubb — Skien
Sales in the parent industry — bar / klubb
Companies in the parent industry — bar / klubb — Skien
Companies in the parent industry — bar / klubb
Employees in the parent industry — bar / klubb — Skien
Employees in the parent industry — bar / klubb

Other companies in bar / klubb (not in pub)

CompanyIndustryAddressSalesEmployeesEBITDA
Barkaden Skien AsbarLangbrygga 5B, 3724 SkienNOK 7.5M26NOK 1.7M
Lundetangen Pub Drift AsbarTelemarksgata 22, 3724 SkienNOK 10.0M14NOK 502.0K
Kaffehjørnet AsbarTelemarksgata 6, 3724 SkienNOK 4.4M5NOK 117.0K
Karlsen Gslbarc/o Grandgården 1 A/S|Nedre Hjellegate 1, 3724 SkienNOK 00NOK 0
Marianne's Bistro V/marianne Marker Haraldsenbar2 etg.|Torggata 10, 3724 SkienNOK 013NOK 0
Mumsy Investments AsbarTømmerkaia 38, 3732 SkienNOK 00NOK 0
Nedenom AsbarHother Bøttgers gate 29, 3725 SkienNOK 09NOK 0
Sykkelbryggeriet AsbarNedre Hjellegate 1, 3724 SkienNOK 017NOK 0
Union Bar AsbarTømmerkaia 8, 3732 SkienNOK 013NOK 0
Vikinghjørne AsbarKverndalsgata 4A, 3717 SkienNOK 012NOK 0
Eliot Holding AsbarTelemarksgata 22, 3724 SkienNOK 00NOK -29.0K
Pop Inn AsbarLundegata 29, 3717 SkienNOK 1.9M5NOK -62.0K
Europakaffe Asbarc/o Erine Amundal|Vattenbergvegen 2, 3717 SkienNOK 4.2M19NOK -101.0K

Conclusion

The pub industry in Skien is a small but active sector dominated by a single company. The only registered company, Old Irish Pub Norway As Avd Skien, operates in the center of Skien and has shown stable growth in sales and employees over time. This indicates that the industry has potential for further development, especially with a focus on quality and local adaptation.

SmartGrunder can help founders explore addresses in Skien for this industry, where it is natural to grow. This can be a good opportunity for founders who want to start a new business in the industry.