The Pub Industry in Stavanger: Current Status and Outlook

The pub industry in Stavanger is a small but dynamic sector with 5 registered companies and 36 employees in 2026. The industry has shown strong fluctuations over time, with an extreme sales increase of +10240% from 2017 to 2018, followed by a drastic decline in 2020. Nevertheless, there has been an increase in both sales and employees in 2025 and 2026. The broader category bar / club in Stavanger has 47 companies and shows more stable development, which may be relevant for entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in this sector.

Sales and employee development (2016–2026):

The industry had an extreme sales increase of +10240% from 2017 to 2018, but a drastic decline of -97.4% in 2020. In 2025, the industry had a sales increase of +187.5%, and employees increased by +50% from 2025 to 2026. This shows a certain degree of upswing in the most recent period, even though the data still show significant uncertainty.

The following companies are registered in the pub industry in Stavanger:

1. Showbar As (Kongsgårdbakken 1) – AS company, 43 employees, founded 2022-02-02.
2. Brexit As (Østervåg 41) – AS company, 0 employees, founded 2025-03-03.
3. Gorostiza Ans Ferdinand Pub (Kongsgata 41) – ANS company, 0 employees, founded 1990-03-30.
4. Resept As (Dokksmauet 16) – AS company, 0 employees, founded 2001-03-16. Resept As had a unique sales increase of 86.0K NOK in 2023, with an EBITDA margin of 82%.
5. Skagen21 Karaokebar As (Skagen 21) – AS company, 0 employees, founded 2025-09-12.

Organisational form: There is 1 AS company and 1 ANS company registered in the industry. There are no bankrupt companies reported in the industry.

All companies in the pub industry in Stavanger are registered in Stavanger. There is 1 company in total, with 43 employees and 0 sales in 2026. There are no detailed figures for other city districts or areas in the municipality for this industry.

Bankruptcies and company stability: There are no reported bankruptcies in the pub industry in Stavanger in 2026. This indicates that the industry is stable, even though there have been large fluctuations in sales and employees over time. However, there is a certain uncertainty in the data, especially in 2020 and 2021, where sales and employees were set to zero. This may be due to data errors or real downturn trends.

Future outlook: With an increase in both sales and employees in 2025 and 2026, as well as a stable organisational form, the industry may have potential for further growth. Entrepreneurs, however, should be aware of the previous fluctuations and ensure robust financial planning.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the pub industry in Stavanger, the data show a certain degree of growth in 2025 and 2026. The unique sales increase for Resept As (86.0K NOK in 2023) and the increased number of employees (from 24 to 36 in 2026) suggest that there may be opportunities for new companies. However, it is important to be aware of the previous fluctuations in the industry, especially in 2020 and 2021, where sales and employees were set to zero. This may be a sign of uncertainty or data errors. Entrepreneurs should also consider analysing the competition and look at how they can differentiate themselves in a market area with few companies.

Outlook for the Broader Category (Bar / Club)

The broader category bar / club in Stavanger has 47 companies and shows a more stable development compared to the pub industry. Sales in this category had an increase of +67.1% from 2021 to 2022, and employees had an increase of +21.8% in the same period. In 2025, sales in the category had a decline of -28.3%, but employees had an increase of +13.3%.

Peer companies in the bar / club category (top 5 by EBITDA):

These companies show a higher degree of stability and higher sales compared to the pub industry. This may be an important factor for entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in this sector.

The pub industry in Stavanger is a small but dynamic sector with growth potential, especially in 2025 and 2026. However, the data show large fluctuations in sales and employees over time, which can be a challenge for entrepreneurs. The broader category bar / club in Stavanger has a more stable development and higher sales, which can be an important factor for entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in this sector. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses and develop strategies that adapt to both the industry's dynamics and local conditions.