HISTORY - Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri

The king commands

We are proud of our history and share it with others as often as we can!

Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri was built towards the end of the 17th Century when King Christian IV (1577-1648) ordered that a guesthouse should be built for every half day journey along the Norwegian coastline. As well as offering food and shelter to travellers Bekkjarvik had a steamboat terminal, a barrel factory, a herring factory, a cured-fish factory (salteri), a lobster reception point, a brewery and a notheng (a building used to dry fishing nets).

10 ØRE

Bring your own bedlinen

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During the 1800s guests paid NOK 10 øre (NOK 0,10) for an overnight stay provided that they brought their own bedlinen and one of the most memorable moments in Bekkjarvik and Austevoll’s history was when the steamboat terminal was completed. Subsequently, long gone were the arduous rowing boat trips out to the ships and steam-liners passing by (on a regular basis) further out in the bay. Some said this was a bigger event than Armstrong landing on the moon in 1969.

Since 1982 Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri has been managed and owned by Asta and Øystein Johannessen. Piece by piece, with sobriety and hard work, they have shaped the guesthouse as we see it today. Twin brothers Ørjan and Arnt are today in charge of the kitchen.

HOSTS AND HOSTESSES

Generosity and a harmonious atmosphere

Asta and Øystein Johannessen are both trained chefs and twin brothers Ørjan and Arnt believe that they are genetically predisposed to have a passion for food.

Ørjan and Arnt grew up living in room 203 to the sound of the telephone ringing in the reception downstairs and as 12-year olds they started helping out in the kitchen. Their sense of ownership to the place and love for food and cooking has been with them since nursing at their mother’s breast!

Today Arnt is the kitchen chef, and Ørjan also lends a helping hand with the cooking from time to time. Little sister Regine is also a member of Team Johannessen and makes sure the guesthouse is a good place to stay in at all times.

SUSTAINABILITY

We care

Skills and competence are developed and perfected, the ingredients are harvested right on our doorstep – we think globally – we trade locally.

Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri was awarded the in-service training establishment of the year in 2015 and is one of the largest apprenticeship businesses in Norway offering professional training within the hotel and restaurant industry.

History tells of an establishment that takes its corporate social responsibility seriously, where there are electric cars in the yard, and where fresh air and clean nature is not taken for granted.