A new “family-friendly pub” will start pouring drinks within weeks in Holloway Road.

The Edward Lear is to open in the former home of The Quays pub, which closed in January.

The pub is being rebranded as a “family friendly community pub” closing at 2am on Fridays and Saturday with a cut in the hours for live music.

Punters at The Quays, a traditional Irish pub, voiced concerns that the new venue would become an upmarket gastropub.

But a statement on the pub website says: “Having a good food offering is an important part of what we are planning for the business and, although we will NOT be a gastropub, we will have a focus on classic pub dishes.”

Owners Distinct Group, which runs three other London pubs, including the Prince Albert in Camden, has submitted a licensing application to the Town Hall.

Real ale will play a big part at the new pub, which will open early at weekends for brunch.

The Edward Lear is scheduled to open towards the end of the month or in June.

It is named after nineteenth century artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet Edward Lear, who was born in Holloway.

The application will be heard by a licensing sub-committee on Tuesday.

• Keywords
  PUBLIC HOUSES, LICENSING (PUBLIC HOUSES), FOOD
• Geographical keyword
  HOLLOWAY ROAD
• Persons keyword
  Holloway Road Edward Lear Public House, Holloway Road Quays Public House