In a weekly feature, we profile a fascinating company doing business here in Islington. This week, we drop by at Meltdown in the Cally – a pub dedicated to gaming.

Islington Gazette: Duncan Morrison, owner of Meltdown in Caledonian Road. Picture: Catherine DavisonDuncan Morrison, owner of Meltdown in Caledonian Road. Picture: Catherine Davison (Image: Catherine Davison)

Its tainted black exterior could be mistaken for your run-of-the-mill boozer. But step inside Meltdown Esports bar and it’s a different story.

Meltdown, perched on the corner of Caledonian Road’s junction with Bridgeman Road, is unique.

Opened in June 2013, it is a place for computer game enthusiasts to escape the confines of gaming inside thier houses.

Inside the bar, players sit glued to its fancy console systems. They are competing on the professional Esports gaming network – all while enjoying a beer or two.

They play games such as League of Legends, Smash Bros and Starcraft 2 – a personal favourite of owner Duncan Morrison.

He says: “A lot of our regulars say: ‘I love London but it can be quite an impersonal place.’ For me, Meltdown is an exception to that. This bar makes it much easier to find and meet other people with a common interest.”