New ownership has acquired the popular Stellenbosch bar and restaurant, Bohemia, since it closed its doors in March due to lockdown level 5. Bohemia has since reopened after seven months.
Bohemia, which reopened on 29 October, will now be welcoming a max of 110 customers of its 230-customer capacity,said Annarette Blom, managing director of Seascape Collection. Seascape Collection holds a number of restaurants around the Stellenbosch and Blouberg areas.
The building that houses the popular bar is a landmark property in the town, according to Annarette Blom, managing director at Seascape Collection, the company that acquired Bohemia. The building was once a hairdresser’s, a bookstore and then, it became Bohemia in 2001, says Blom. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
Seascape Collection bought the property in September after the previous owner of 20 years, Carol Wilson, decided to sell the property as she is considering relocation, said Blom.
Wilson said that she decided to sell the property as her daughter is in Australia. Wilson intends to move between Pringle Bay and her family abroad, and wishes the new owners well to carry on with the Bohemian message to “follow your path”.
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- Bohemia-goers enter the popular bar and restaurant for the first time in seven months on 29 October. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
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- Bohemia has undergone a number of upgrades and renovations including a renovated bathroom, new velvet curtains, new tabletops and upgraded bar and kitchen areas. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
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- The “fresh” Bohemia-look trends vibrant colours and everything bohemian, says Annerette Blom, managing director at Seascape Collection. PHOTO: Rebecca PItt
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- The restaurant and bar also has a newly installed air conditioning system. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
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- The new seating area (above), named “The Confession Room” owing to its aesthetic, was previously office space in the restaurant and bar.
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- According to Annarette Blom, the managing director at Seascape Collection, it is the new management team’s goal to continue carrying Bohemia’s message – to take one’s own path – for the next 20 years. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
“Bohemia is a Stellenbosch institution. It is iconic – everyone knows Bohemia,” said Blom. “We therefore decided to pay homage to Carol and to keep the name Bohemia.”
A number of renovations were made with the reopening, according to Blom.
Some upgrades include a renovated kitchen, bar, and bathrooms. A new air conditioning system, tabletops, curtains, and seating area have also been added to the “fresh” Bohemia, Blom said.
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- Customers are required to take their temperature, sanitize and wear their masks upon entry. A maximum of 110 people will be allowed in the bar at a time, Blom says. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
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- All Covid-19 regulations will be implemented at the bar, says Seascape Collection managing director Annarette Blom. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
“We tried to make everything fresh, but we wanted to keep the feeling same as the old Bohemia,” she said.
It is still Bohos, just fresh
Although the aesthetic of the bar – commonly referred to as “Bohos” – has changed, it still feels the same, said Henry Doyle, manager at Bohemia. Doyle has been working at Bohemia since 2015.
The paintings on all the walls of Bohemia have been retouched and kept from the old building. The painting above depicts the previous owner, Carol Wilson, who opened the bar in 2001, after emigrating from England. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
“They changed a lot of things that needed changing, which we couldn’t do before… That’s going to be important for Bohemia and for its new customers,” Doyle said.
For Katriena van Wyk, head of the kitchen at Bohemia, the upgrades in the kitchen are “amazing”. Katriena has been working at Bohemia for 18 years.
Head of the kitchen at Bohemia (above), Katriena van Wyk, says that her favourite thing to make for Bohemia-patrons is their well-loved pizza. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
Van Wyk and Doyle were part of the old staff that was taken over by the new owners.
“I am so glad for the reopening. For so long, I have known this place,” Van Wyk said.
According to Blom, the new management team gave preference to take on the old staff at Bohemia before employing any new staff members.
“We have got some of the old guard who we will rely on heavily, and we look forward to the future [of Bohemia],” Blom said.
Bartender Chris Braithwaite, manager Henry Doyle and bartender Armand Botha are back at work after the bar closed in March due to lockdown. “For people who came to the old Bohemia and are now coming back, it is going to feel that [Bohemia] is the same place but, just with a little bit of a difference,” says Doyle. “I am excited to see what the people are going to think. And, I am excited for people to come back and enjoy the new building with us.” PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
Some regular Bohemia-goers were concerned that the bar would not open again, said patron Nick Enslin, BSc master’s student at Stellenbosch University.
One regular at Bohemia (above), Nick Enslin, hopes that some of the bar’s regular activities, like the Sunday night bingo and the band night on Thursdays, resume soon. According to managing director, Annarette Blom, such activities would only resume if compliant to the government’s current Covid-19 regulations. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
“[Bohemia-goers] were heart broken – I mean it’s an institution,” he said. “Maybe a couple of months ago, [some customers] found out that it was going to be opening again under new management.”
The new look of Bohemia is great, said Enslin.
“I love it. They kept the vibe and didn’t change it too much. They kept the staff, which is awesome,” Enslin said.