The Bishops Arms

What The Bishops Arms does

The Bishops Arms is a Swedish gastropub and hotel chain that operates 39 gastropub locations across 31 Swedish cities and 7 Hotel Bishops Arms properties. The brand was founded in 1993 in Västerås and is operated by Bishop Scandinavia AB, which is part of the Elite Hotels of Sweden group. The chain differentiates itself through a consistently curated beverage program, including 150+ whiskies and 100+ craft beers on tap, positioned as a gastropub experience with a focus on quality drink selection paired with a food menu.

The business model is multi-vertical, spanning high-volume gastropub operations, small-format hotel accommodation, and recurring-revenue membership and community engagement. Revenue is generated through pub food and beverage sales, hotel room revenue, corporate events, and the Medlemsklubben membership club, which counts approximately 45,000 members. The chain also runs an annual national pub quiz competition (PM) involving 600-800 teams across locations, reinforcing community engagement.

Distribution is the chain's primary structural advantage: 39 pubs across 31 cities make it the broadest gastropub network in Sweden. Partnerships with breweries such as Bryggverket and O/O Brewing produce exclusive-label beers, and the chain has pursued Green Key environmental certifications. The business is privately held with no publicly disclosed financials; headcount at the corporate level is reported as 1-10, reflecting the central management entity rather than total staff across all properties.

Name

The Bishops Arms

Legal name

Bishop Scandinavia AB

Website

https://bishopsarms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Bishops Arms operates 39 gastropubs and 7 hotels across 31 Swedish cities, serving individual diners, travelers, and corporate event clients with a curated beverage program and a membership club of ~45,000 members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gastropub and Hospitality Services

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Food Services and Drinking Places (722)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Pubs & Gastropubs (THAFAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inn with Pub / Tavern (Gastropub Inns) (THAGAHAL), Beverage Services (Bar Catering, Mixology, Beverage Programs) (THAHAKAJ)

Keywords

• Gastropub dining services
• Craft beer and whisky
• Boutique hotel accommodation
• Pub event management
• Food and beverage hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Växjö

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices30 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Food and beverage sales: Core revenue from selling food, beer, whisky, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages across 39 gastropub locations. Menus change several times per year with a focus on local ingredients and seasonal offerings.
2. Hotel accommodations: Revenue from hotel rooms at 7 Hotel Bishops Arms properties located in Kristianstad, Köping, Lund, Malmö, Mora, Piteå, and Strängnäs. Rooms are booked via elite.se and check-in is handled at the pub lobby.
3. Conferences and events: Revenue from hosting private events, conferences, and tasting sessions in dedicated function rooms across pub and hotel locations.
4. Membership and loyalty program: Free membership club (Medlemsklubben) with ~45,000 members drives repeat visits through exclusive offers, newsletters, and invitations to tastings and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Bishops Arms operates a chain of 39 British-inspired gastropubs across 31 Swedish cities, serving locally sourced gastropub food alongside one of Northern Europe's broadest selections of craft beer, single malt whisky, wine, and cocktails. The company also runs 7 Hotel Bishops Arms boutique properties (Kristianstad, Köping, Lund, Malmö, Mora, Piteå, Strängnäs) where guests check in at the pub lobby. The portfolio is complemented by beverage tasting events, the Det Stora Sverige-Quizet national pub quiz competition, catering, conference and private event services, and a free membership club with approximately 45,000 members.

Product overview

The Bishops Arms is a Swedish gastropub and hotel chain operated by Bishop Scandinavia AB (part of Elite Hotels of Sweden) featuring 39 gastropub locations across Sweden from Kiruna in the north to Malmö in the south, plus 7 Hotel Bishops Arms properties. The core offering combines British-inspired pub dining with one of Northern Europe's largest beer and whisky selections (approximately 150 whisky varieties, 100+ craft beers, and up to 35 draft beers). The portfolio includes the main gastropub concept, integrated hotel operations, the national quiz competition 'Det Stora Sverige-Quizet,' beverage tasting experiences, a membership loyalty club, gift cards, catering services, and conference/event spaces. Food is prepared from locally-sourced ingredients with seasonal menus featuring classics like beef burgers and Fish'n'Chips alongside vegetarian and vegan options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Bishops Arms (gastropub chain): British-inspired gastropub chain with a focus on craft beer, single malt whisky, and locally sourced food.
• Hotel Bishops Arms

Products and services

• The Bishops Arms Gastropub
• Hotel Bishops Arms
• Det Stora Sverige-Quizet (The Great Sweden Quiz)
• Dryckesprovningar (Beverage Tastings)
• The Bishops Arms Medlemsklubb (Membership Club)
• Presentkort (Gift Cards)
• Catering
• Konferens & Event (Conference & Event)

Quantifiable outcome

• The Det Stora Sverige-Quizet attracts 600-800 teams competing in real-time across 31 cities, with the top 10 teams winning a trip to Erdinger in Germany
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Elite Hotels of SwedencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bishops Arms is owned and operated by Bishop Scandinavia AB, which is part of Elite Hotels of Sweden. The chain's 7 Hotel Bishops Arms properties are integrated into the Elite Hotels network. Elite Hotels Rewards members can earn points and restaurant vouchers when staying at Hotel Bishops Arms properties, and Medlemsklubben members benefit from cross-promotion with Elite Hotels.
• Bryggverket (Umeå)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative brewing partnership with Bryggverket in Umeå. Together they created The Bishops ÖVIK Sommar IPA, a seasonal summer beer exclusive to The Bishops Arms Örnsköldsvik. Additional Bryggverket canned beers are sold at the Örnsköldsvik location.
• Green Key / Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)minorOthersGreen Key is an international environmental certification program for hotels and tourism establishments. Hotel Bishops Arms properties in Mora, Strängnäs, and Malmö hold Green Key certification, demonstrating environmental commitment. FEE coordinates the program internationally and is supported by UNEP and the World Tourism Organization.
• Nordic Wellness Strängnäs CityminorOthersHotel Bishops Arms Strängnäs has a partnership with Nordic Wellness Strängnäs City (945 sqm gym). Hotel guests receive reduced rates: 80 SEK per visit (regular 150 SEK) or 599 SEK for a 10-visit pass (regular 1,190 SEK). The gym is a 2-minute walk from the hotel.
• Actic MoraminorOthersHotel Bishops Arms Mora offers guests discounted gym access at Actic Mora for 70 SEK/day. The gym is a few minutes' walk from the hotel, with 1,400 sqm of facilities including gym and group training.
• BitburgerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBitburger is the presenting sponsor of Det Stora Sverige-Quizet deltävling 1 (2026). The German brewery provides quiz beer tastings and brand visibility during the first qualifier of the national pub quiz competition.
• ErdingerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerErdinger is the prize sponsor for Det Stora Sverige-Quizet final. The 10 winning teams receive a trip to Erdinger in Germany as the grand prize, along with the title of Sweden's best quiz team.
• O/O BrewingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorO/O Brewing from Gothenburg is featured among the local breweries celebrated during Ölets Dag (Beer Day) at The Bishops Arms Järntorget.
• OceanbryggerietminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOceanbryggeriet is featured among the local breweries celebrated during Ölets Dag (Beer Day) at The Bishops Arms Järntorget.
• FermenterarnaChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFermenterarna is featured among the local breweries celebrated during Ölets Dag (Beer Day) at The Bishops Arms Järntorget.
• Närke KulturbryggeriminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNärke Kulturbryggeri is featured at The Bishops Arms Malmö Gustav Adolfs Torg, with their beers served on tap, bottle, cask, and as hand-pulled. Berith from Närke visits the pub for Beer Day events to discuss their products.
• Uppsala BrygghusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUppsala Brygghus has a tap and bottle presence at The Bishops Arms Uppsala, with the pub hosting some of their beer releases. The brewery's roastery is located in an adjacent building.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Elite Stadshotellet Västerås: The flagship Elite Hotel in Västerås where the original Bishops Arms pub opened in 1993. Embedded within the same parent group and serves as the reference site for the chain's founding format.

Broad incumbents

• J.D. Wetherspoon: Large UK pub chain offering food, drinks, and some in-pub hotels at value pricing. Provides a useful international comparable for the British-pub-with-hotel hybrid model The Bishops Arms has built in Sweden.
• Scandic Hotels: Largest hotel operator in the Nordics with broad portfolio across price points. Comparable on the lodging side (Hotel Bishops Arms competes for similar corporate and leisure travelers), though Scandic does not operate a comparable pub-led F&B concept.
• TGI Fridays: International casual dining and bar chain. Competes for casual dining occasions and group bookings, though with a broader American-bar positioning rather than British gastropub identity.

Direct peers

• Pitcher's: Swedish chain of American/sports-themed bars and restaurants. Overlaps with The Bishops Arms on casual group dining, drinks, and after-work occasions, though with a different thematic positioning.
• Harry's Pub: British-themed pub chain in Sweden offering pub food, drinks, and a sports/entertainment atmosphere. Direct competitor in the on-premise dining and beer category.
• O'Learys: Swedish sports bar and casual dining chain with multiple locations across Sweden. Competes with The Bishops Arms for casual dining, group bookings, and evening occasions, though more sports/entertainment-led.
• JOHN BULL Pub: Swedish chain of British-inspired pubs serving food and a wide beer selection. The closest direct competitor to The Bishops Arms in the Swedish gastropub category, with comparable format and target customer.

Others

• Elite Hotels of Sweden: Parent company of Bishop Scandinavia AB and operator of the broader Elite Hotels chain in Sweden. Included because it is the strategic owner and integrated hotel distribution partner for the Hotel Bishops Arms properties.

Emerging players

• The Cambridge Brew House: Independent gastropub in the UK combining craft beer, whisky, and food. Comparable to individual Bishops Arms locations in format and beverage-led differentiation, but a single-site operator rather than a chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheBishopsArms
• Instagraminstagram.com/thebishopsarms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-bishops-arms

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Bishops Arms