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The Bohemia, North Finchley, N12
N12
N12 9QH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Bohemia
This is still the tap for the London Brewing Company, and had four of their ales on, with a fourth handpump unclipped. The ales were: Beer Street (a 4% bitter); Flying the Mags (a 3.8% mild); 100 Oysters (a 4.6% stout); and Never Mind the Kent Hops (a 5.5% ESB - at £2.20 a half). There were also five ciders on handpump. I had the Never Mind the Kent Hops, which was in super condition. There was a large blackboard behind the servery with all the beers listed. Food was available, advertised on a large A3 single sheet menu on all the tables. As an example, the cheeseburger with chips, etc, is £11.00.
There's nothing traditionally publike about this place - and how could there be as it was not built as a pub? Inside it's effectively a large drinking barn, with some sofas at the front, and at the back some large tall tables with tall stools dominate the centre of the room, but with enough normal tables and chairs to keep me happy. You can smell the brewery process as you enter, which is preferable to what you smell in some pubs. The micro-brewery is very visible down in a sort of pit at the back of the room. There's some artwork for sale displayed on the wall, and a table football game was out of action when I visited.
I reckon this pub is excellent for real ale and cider lovers, rather than traditional pub enthusiasts. But I would definitely visit again.
On 7th April 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Bohemia
Formerly a Firkin pub and more recently a branch of the O'Neill's chain, this pub was renamed Bohemia in reference to a nearby former cinema by the Antic pub company. Unfortunately Antic were unable to make things work here due to issues with the lease, and it briefly looked like the pub would be lost altogether. Thankfully, the people behind the excellent Bull in Highgate, took the pub on and opened a small brewery plant in the back of the building. There is a small pavement side front seating area which offers a few tables for al fresco drinking alongside the busy main road. You enter into a vast, high ceilinged room with dark wood flooring and a mix of Chesterfield sofas and armchairs under the large front windows. Smart standard seating fills the space further into the room, underneath walls decorated with an eclectic series of paintings, most of which appeared to be for sale. The bar is midway down the left hand wall and has a dark wood counter and exposed brick bar back which has an enormous paining of a Bacchanalian scene in the centre. A row of globe lamps are suspended from the wooden beams above the bar and a pillar at one end of the counter had a collection of handled pint pots hanging from it. There is a sunken staircase directly opposite the bar, which can make it a bit cramped and crowded when trying to get served during peak times. Further into the room there are more standard tables and chairs, some set into the frame of a former fireplace on the right hand wall, whilst a colourful mosaic tiled floor space which I assume is a relic of the pub's O'Neil's incarnation, hosts some high tables and stools and a table football game. The room then drops to a lower rear area, in use for a private function on this visit, but from down here you can access the brew plant, which can also be viewed from the main room, close to the DJ area in the rear right corner. The DJ was in action on my Friday evening visit and the high ceilings and lack of soft furnishings made the place very loud, with the sound reverberating through the room. A better musical accompaniment was provided by a large group of French drinkers who struck up an impromptu version of 'La Marseillaise', a day late for Bastille Day, but impassioned nonetheless, perhaps inspired by the sad events in Nice the night before.
I was very pleased to see most of the hand pumps dedicated to the house ales, with London Brewing Company Vista, Never Mind the Kent Hops, Skyline, Beer Street and High Rise making up a strong selection which was complimented by a similar number of cider and perry options on the second bank of handpulls. Lots of LBC beers were also available on keg along with some other craft output and the fridges looked pretty well stocked with interesting small batch options. Some tasty looking homemade sausage rolls were available on the end of the bar and the BBQ themed menu sounded pretty good too. I ordered a pint of the Skyline from a very nice, friendly barmaid. It's a 5% American Pale Ale and I thought it was absolutely spot-on, served in near perfect condition and not suffering from the heat in any way - excellent cellarmanship.
I really liked this place and regretted visiting on a busy and noisy Friday evening, as I probably didn't get to see the place at its best. I thought the beer and service were both fantastic and I enjoyed having a nose around the interesting premises. Like their sister pub in Highgate, this pub has a lot going for it and I'm really pleased to see it doing well and proving popular with the locals, after all it has been through. A real asset for this part of London and I hope to make a return sometime soon.
On 24th July 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alesonly . left this review about The Bohemia
Well first of all it knocks spots of the terrible spoons yes it's more expensive but in this case you get what you pay for very good quality guest ales & ciders all in excellent condition. They even have there own in house brewery. Staff very polite and knowledgeable about the ales & ciders. I would well recommended this place over the spoons any day.
On 31st March 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 132 recommendations about 105 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Bohemia
Very ulta modern brewpub.One large rectangle room with the brewkit in a basement with a viewing gallery.Kitchen to the rear.Ducted ceiling with smart light fittings.4 beers on 3 from London brewing and Great Heck -Amish Mash.Craft keg range as well.Had a superb pint of there own Black Dog Porter but not brewed onsite yet.Also tried a couple of the keg beers which were very good.Impressed with this pub but beware very loud annoying pub quiz tues night.Outside covered seating helped me escape the racket.
On 20th December 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alesonly . left this review about The Bohemia
The Bohemia is now opened again. Went past yesterday and looked inside all finished including furniture and fittings restored. It looks good its all been totally refurbished inside & out. Had some decent Ales on I will update as soon as soon as I get a chance to try it as I was on the way too work yesterday.
On 12th June 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 132 recommendations about 105 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Bohemia
Couple of months ago was the first time to visit this location since the late 90’s when it was known as the Fringilla and Firkin (Fringilla being the Latin name for the finch family apparently.) Unfortunately it didn’t last long under the Punch management takeover which took place shortly after this branch of the historic Firkin brand was opened and it then became an O’Neil’s and I haven’t been back until March earlier this year
Before becoming a Firkin pub the building had originally been a cinema before that closed down and for a time it was a furniture shop, and I seem to recall that it was a bit of a barn of a place that had about as much atmosphere as a sofa warehouse. Last summer on August 16th it reopened after a major refurb under the Antic pub group with the new name of The Bohemia as reported below.
Internally it is a fairly typical Antic makeover and, although still a cavernous space, it is utilised quite well and there is a stage area for live music and a separate games area including a table football table. And for my inaugural visit there was a very decent ale range with about 8 ales on including some decent strength stouts and IPA’s and a search through my notes reveals that Buxton Dark Nights and Windsor and Eton Kohinor were the brews I tried.
Went to go back in last night only to find the place shut and a group of locals being photo’d with protest banners (presumably for the local rag). It appears that Antic were unable to come to an agreement to renew the lease with Colliers, the agent acting for the head lessor, and instead of having a first birthday party, were forced to close our doors as a result.
Dam shame, as although still not a great destination pub, it was a dam sight better than the former O’Neils. Let’s hope they can reopen it.
On 21st August 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Michael Armstrong left this review about The Bohemia
The Bohemia reopens on Thursday 16th August at 6pm; one of Antic's pubs the refurbished space is set to include a cafe, restaurant and event space when it completes later this year.
On 10th August 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alesonly . left this review about The Bohemia
This Pub is reopening as The Bohemia see there web site for details at www.antic-ltd.com
On 2nd May 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 132 recommendations about 105 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about O'Neill's
The front of this place is more conventional in regards to how one imagines a pub, but the rear is more like a giant hall and I’d imagine that at some point this place was converted from a church. There are a couple plasma screens in the front section and also a huge plasma screen on the wall in the rear section. Sky Sports is shown and there are also live music nights when it can get very busy and the bouncers are worked hard. Some outside seating is found at the front which is covered and barely set back from the busy high street, but it is still better than standing on the path whilst dodgy shoppers.
As to be expected there is a standard draught selection along with Amstel and Peroni and also plenty of Guinness which I found well served, but I did have a bit of a wait for the dawdling barman. Very cheap food is served, but I ate in here about two years ago and wasn’t very impressed.
O’Neill’s never offer up the greatest of pubs and I think that this one is not one of their best so I don’t plan to return.
On 5th March 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]