Bohem Tap Room, N22

This is a tiny, micropub-style taproom for this brewery that specialises in Czech-style beers, operating out of a shop-converted unit close to Bowes Park and Bounds Green stations. The pub occupies a narrow bare boarded room with one dark and one light painted wall, each with a cool street scene design drawn on them. The right side has hard bench seating supplemented by low stools plus a single table and chairs under the front window. A table to the rear right seemed to be set aside for the barman and his friends, who relaxed here between serving customers. The left side only has space for a drinking ledge with high stools, a few potted plants and a collection of small board games and packs of cards. There’s a compact serving space to rear on this side, with a small dark wood counter and canopy, and a blackboard on the bar back with the beer range listed and the keg taps beneath. A couple of Czech themed posters and the like add a dash of colour to the rear of the room. A small seating area has been created outside on the pavement, including a few tables under a small gazebo. A cool indie soundtrack played in the background and there was just the one other group of customers in the pub when I arrived, making for a bit of a flat atmosphere. Five keg beers were pouring, comprising four lagers and an amber ale. I tried the Raven Dark Lager, which was served by a friendly barman, who served me a very generous looking half pint for £2.75. I’m not a massive fan of Czech lagers, but this was a reasonable example of a dark lager. This is a pretty niche concept in a fairly random suburban location that feels like it might be better off in one of those high density microbrewery areas such as the Bermondsey Beer Mile. As it is, this is a small taproom offering variation on a single beer style, so enjoyment is going to be pretty much entirely dependent on your thoughts on Czech pilsners.

Bohem’s marketing strap line is “Traditional Bohemian-style lagers, brewed by Czechs, in London”, and there you have it. I believe they used to brew nearby, hence the location of a tap room in a beer desert, or Bowes Park, North London to give the accurate name. However they now brew in Tottenham (in the old Redemption Brewery location I believe) and have a second tap room there although it is currently closed. A small shop conversion as described and unchanged from the review by Mr Fastard below. Although there is a small undercover drinking area on the roadside out front which was probably installed during the covid outside drinking only period. Bohem’s products only for my visit on three taps, but I guess they are not getting the throughput currently to be able to put on guests. I am not a great lager drinker but did find their Amos Czech Pilsner very drinkable. And the spicy nut based snacks hit the spot also. No food here outside the snacks but as Mr Fastard also covers below, the Bohem Tap room sits on the Cypriot cafe and restaurant highway that is Myddleton Road so no problem getting some Cypriot delights to go along with the beer. It also has the advantage of being a two minute walk from Bowes Park British rail station, dead hand for those of us who live a couple of stops up the line. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays currently, it opens at 16.30pm the rest of the week.

Official site of Bohem Tap Room - www.bohembrewery.com