The Bishops Arms
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersVäxjö, Sweden
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
The Bishops Arms firmographics
Firmographics- 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
The Bishops Arms industry classification
Industry- 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
Where The Bishops Arms is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Växjö
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices30 records
Markets served
The Bishops Arms business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- Conferences and events: Revenue from hosting private events, conferences, and tasting sessions in dedicated function rooms across pub and hotel locations.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Hotel rooms - various tiers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Drinking tastings from 345 SEK/person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pet-friendly rooms - 300 SEK/night supplement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Parking - 175-290 SEK/night |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gym access - 70 SEK/day |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Takeaway discount - 10% |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Bishops Arms product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use The Bishops Arms
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Bishops Arms technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Bishops Arms partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Elite Hotels of SwedencoreThe 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)minorCollaborative 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)minorGreen 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 CityminorHotel 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 MoraminorHotel 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.
- BitburgerminorBitburger 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.
- ErdingerminorErdinger 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 BrewingminorO/O Brewing from Gothenburg is featured among the local breweries celebrated during Ölets Dag (Beer Day) at The Bishops Arms Järntorget.
- OceanbryggerietminorOceanbryggeriet is featured among the local breweries celebrated during Ölets Dag (Beer Day) at The Bishops Arms Järntorget.
- FermenterarnaFermenterarna is featured among the local breweries celebrated during Ölets Dag (Beer Day) at The Bishops Arms Järntorget.
- Närke KulturbryggeriminorNärke 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 BrygghusminorUppsala 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
The Bishops Arms competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional 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
The Bishops Arms social profiles
Digital presenceThe Bishops Arms compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
The Bishops Arms financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Bishops Arms leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Bishops Arms subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
The Bishops Arms funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Bishops Arms M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Bishops Arms
What does The Bishops Arms do?
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.
Is The Bishops Arms a public or private company?
The Bishops Arms is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Bishops Arms founded?
The Bishops Arms was founded in 1993. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Bishops Arms based?
The Bishops Arms is headquartered in Växjö, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does The Bishops Arms make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Food and beverage sales are the primary driver. The others are hotel accommodations, conferences and events and membership and loyalty program.
Who are The Bishops Arms's main competitors?
Elite Stadshotellet Västerås is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are J.D. Wetherspoon, Scandic Hotels and TGI Fridays. Direct peers are Pitcher's, Harry's Pub, O'Learys and JOHN BULL Pub. Elite Hotels of Sweden is listed as an others. The Cambridge Brew House is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Bishops Arms have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Bishops Arms.
What industry is The Bishops Arms in?
The Bishops Arms's product category is Gastropub and Hospitality Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAEAB, Pubs & Gastropubs, with a secondary code of THAGAHAL, Inn with Pub / Tavern (Gastropub Inns). Its NAICS code is 722410 and its SIC code is 5810.