A Norwegian entrepreneur is using private investment to revive a remote Arctic archipelago as a tourism destination, transforming a once-vital fishing stopover into a year-round business that she hopes will reverse decades of economic decline. Eva Ann Andersen, whose family has owned the trading post on Støtt since 1897, returned to the island 15 years ago after a corporate career in Oslo and now runs Støtt Brygge, a 16-room hotel converting historical fishing infrastructure into premium accommodation.
Støtt, a tiny archipelago just north of the Arctic Circle, sheltered fishing boats for generations while its trading post on Innerstøtt supplied fishermen heading to the Arctic cod grounds of Lofoten. The island was once one of the busiest stopping points on Norway's northern fishing route. From the 1980s, innovation in the fishing industry brought larger, safer boats and trawlers, so fishermen no longer needed to stop at trading posts like Støtt en route. The small-scale fishing industry collapsed, and the island's population fell from around 120 people to 25 permanent residents today.
Private Capital and Heritage Restoration
Andersen has restored classic red fishermen's cabins, a storehouse and a pale-yellow bakery building, plus a small fishing museum with black-and-white photographs and weathered nets. Rooms start at 1,990 NOK, or £155/$207, per night for a double, including breakfast. She's expanded activities to include kayaking trips, Arctic sauna sessions, RIB boat excursions to the Svartisen glacier and dinner in one of the World War Two tunnels. She's also converting the island's old fish factory into luxury suites, hoping to attract more international visitors while creating year-round work for locals.
The island is reached by flying into Bodø and then taking the coastal ferry. After an hour on the ferry, Støtt appears as low-lying granite, red cabins and tall cod-drying racks rising out of the spray. To the west, there's nothing between the island and Greenland but open ocean. Visitors can cycle around the island, explore World War Two tunnels, kayak, watch sea eagles and migratory birds, visit Støtt museum or go fishing. They can also take boat trips to hidden coves and go snowshoeing. Bird watching is another big draw, particularly in spring when migratory birds arrive. In winter, visitors come for the Northern Lights and stargazing.
Andersen said fishermen used to come up to fish for Arctic cod in Lofoten in winter. "The shop was an important place back then," she said. "Fishermen came here to buy fishing equipment, bread, sugar and flour – and to have a drink – before continuing their journeys north." She added, "A lot of people want this off-the-beaten-track feeling. It's about connection to land and meeting local people." Her daughter Benedicte, back from Oslo where she's studying for the summer, said, "You can't beat the nature here. Oslo has so much stress, but here there is a Zen mode. You don't think about going to the gym, just going outside and seeing the mountains is enough."
Public Funding Setback in Bath
Meanwhile in Bath, Britain's oldest lido, Cleveland Pools, will "definitely reopen" despite suffering significant flood damage just months after opening, according to the charitable trust that runs it. Cleveland Pools closed in January 2024 when the River Avon broke its banks and flooded the historic site, only four months after it had welcomed swimmers back following a multi-million-pound restoration. The pool first opened in 1815 and reopened in September 2023 for the first time in almost 40 years after a lengthy restoration project backed by millions of pounds of public funding.
Detailed investigations found both mechanical and structural damage, meaning major repairs and significant fundraising are needed. Peter Askew, chair of Cleveland Pools Trust, said, "We are moving as quickly and responsibly as we can towards reopening the pools. It's definitely going to happen." The trust has set out a timetable that includes a public consultation and fundraising campaign, with repair work potentially starting in early 2028.
Askew said floodwater entered the plant room door and that, secondly, when the pool was emptied of floodwater, the groundwater level wasn't properly managed, which led to further damage. He said this caused the whole pool structure to lift, breaking some of the pipework underneath. Uneven paving stones around the edge of the pool reveal further structural problems beneath the surface.
Last month, Cleveland Pools Trust regained legal operation from Fusion Lifestyle, the lido operator running the site when the flooding happened. Fusion Lifestyle announced in April that it had appointed administrators after a "prolonged period of financial difficulty." Askew said the trust has started a public consultation that will run throughout the year. "We're making sure that we reach out to as many different communities for whom the pools could be useful in the future," he said. This will be followed by fundraising "in order to get on with the work to the pool early in 2028."
Why This Matters:
The contrast between Støtt and Cleveland Pools illustrates two models of heritage preservation and rural revival. Støtt relies on private family capital, entrepreneurial risk-taking and market-driven tourism to reverse population decline without state subsidy. Cleveland Pools, by contrast, depended on millions in public funding for its restoration, only to face closure again after flood damage and the financial collapse of its operator. The Norwegian model shows how private investment can create sustainable employment in remote areas without ongoing public expense. The Bath case raises questions about the long-term viability of publicly funded heritage projects that lack robust operational plans and financial resilience. Both sites face the same challenge: can tourism generate enough revenue to maintain historical infrastructure and support local communities? Støtt's owner is betting yes. Cleveland Pools' trustees are asking the public to fund a second attempt.