Introduction
This prospectus was commissioned by Islington Council‘s Local Economies Team and is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The document has been created by Office S&M Architects with support from Jamila Saha and additional community engagement carried out by Holloway Neighbourhood Group. A microsite, created by Adam Tarasewicz, has been developed to go with this document.
History of Nag's Head
Past
Celebrating Nag’s Head’s heritage, culture, and diversity
1800s
- 1812 — Nag’s Head was the birthplace of the artist and poet Edward Lear, born in Holloway in 1812.
- 1890s — Nag’s Head became a major shopping centre, with the Nag’s Head pub and Beale’s Restaurant at its heart.
- 1890s — Culture blossomed with the opening of entertainment venues like the Holloway Empire, Parkhurst Theatre and Marlborough Theatre, today replaced by AXO Islington, Holloway Arcade and the Marlborough Building.
- 1895 — James Selby acquired Treharnes and its two shops on Holloway Road.
1900s
- 1960s — Joe Meeks opens the pioneering Triumph Recording Studios at 304 Holloway Road
- 1970s — Nag’s Head Town Centre faced significant changes. Beale’s was demolished and replaced by Sainsbury’s,
- 1970s — Large-scale council housing redevelopments reshaped the area, with tower blocks and estates such as Harvist Estate and Bennett Court.
- 1971 — Mothers and children of Lorraine Estate campaigned for and created a new play space for local children, which is today Biddestone Park.
- 1972 — Responding to redevelopment, groups like the Holloway Tenant Co-Operative resisted displacement and preserved affordable housing.
- 1990s — Jones Brothers is closed and replaced by Resource for London.
- 1990s — Holloway became a setting in Nick Hornby’s novels, particularly "Fever Pitch."
2000s
- 2004 — The 2000s saw a revival, with the construction of the Graduate Centre at London Metropolitan University.
- 2006 — The opening of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium further transformed the area, spurring new residential and mixed-use developments on Hornsey Street and Caledonian Road, marking a new chapter in Nag’s Head’s evolution.
Engagement
We understand the importance of listening to and making local voices heard as local peopleare experts on the local area. As part of Nag’sHead Prospectus of Ideas, we set out to find what local businesses, residents and visitors think of the town centre and what would make it better for all, now and in the future.
Engaging with the community
We understand the importance of listening to and making local voices heard as local people are experts on the local area. As part of Nag’s Head Prospectus of Ideas, we set out to find what local businesses, residents and visitors think of the town centre and what would make it better for all, now and in the future.
Listening to the community
Between June 2024 and February 2025, we spoke to a wide range of community members including youth groups to ensure local youngvoices are heard, businesses to capture the diverse range of retail interests in the town centre and nearby Tenants and Residents Associations (TRA) to involve local residents. To ensure the prospectus aligns with the wider council priorities, the stakeholder engagement also involved the Nag’s Head ward councillors along with various key departments of Islington Council, including Planning, Cultural Enrichment and Transport as well as Local Economies.
Varied Engagement Methods
People were invited to share ideas through a range of engagement methods that included walkabouts, workshops, interviews, direct e-mailing and an online consultation site on Let’s Talk Islington.
Holloway Neighbourhood Group captured local voices through a series of engagement sessions that included:
- Stalls in the Nag's Head Shopping Centre
- Open House and other conversations at the Old Fire Station
- A knitting group at Selby's
- Youth engagement at McDonald's
- Taling to parents at Pakeman Primary School
- Walkabouts around the town centre
A clear vision for Nag's Head
The foundation of this vision and the catalogue of ideas lies in the wealth of initiatives and projects already happening in the Nag’s Head area. The aim with this vision is build onto and celebrate these initiatives while at the same time outline new ideas that together with the the existing opportunities envision the future of Nag’s Head.
Create stepping stones for local businesses to growth and testing new ideas and celebrates Nag’s Head as a small business hub. It also identifies opportunities for young people in the area both through creative and trade paths.
The vision outlines opportunities for improvements from a social, economic and environmental view point.
It aims to enhance the current daytime economy and programming while at the same time identify opportunities for the evening or night time economy to grow. This will help activate the town centre throughout all hours of the day.
Through the catalogue of ideas presented in this chapter we show examples of how future improvements can be made in Nag’s Head that respond to the aspirations and needs of local people and stakeholders.
Funding streams
There is a range of resources and other organisations available to help access funding streams for future projects, both from council funds and charities. The list below identifies some key funding streams and resources that can support the future delivery of the prospectus.
Voluntary Action Islington
Voluntary Action Islington is a charity that supports local community organisations and volunteers in Islington, providing advice, training, and resources to strengthen the voluntary sector.
Islington Giving
Islington Giving is a local charity that works to tackle poverty and inequality in Islington by funding community projects, supporting residents in need, and encouraging volunteering.
