In a weekly feature, we profile a fascinating company doing business here in Islington. This week, we re-visit Hammerton Brewery, which is expanding by opening a new pub in Holloway Road.

As Islington’s only brewery, Hammerton’s taproom open days on the last weekend of the month have become a popular fixture with beer drinkers across London.

But for owner Lee Hammerton, two days a month wasn’t enough.

The tiny brewery, in the Roman Way Industrial Estate off Caledonian Road and Barnsbury station, opened three years ago but has grown to the extent that it’s now selling its beers in Europe.

In a feature with the Gazette in January, a coy Lee detailed his plans for expansion – including opening a Hammerton pub “in the Holloway area”.

He wouldn’t share any further information at the time, but the brewery has now announced it’s opening on the former premises of the Wig and Gown in Holloway Road.

Lee explained: “We love opening the doors of the brewery because it is a great opportunity for us to be able to show people what we are about, to get to know our customers and to be able socialise with our community.

“We are asked many times: ‘Why don’t we open up our taproom more often?’ The fact of the matter is that we have limited space and the warehouse is very much working space, and the open days affect production. So unfortunately, opening more would mean brewing less beer and brewing beer is of course our main focus.

“So because of this we have been looking for a small pub local to the brewery, somewhere where we are able to showcase our beers and test out some of our experimental brews, as well as a few other great beers from other breweries.”

The pub, just 700m from the brewery, is currently being renovated and has been open for a couple of Arsenal games. Its full launch is expected around late May or early June.