Louis Upton-Wheeler at The Alpaca pub

A once-legendary music pub named after a punk song in Essex Road is dancing once again as local acts take to the stage.

The Alpaca, formerly called The New Rose in honour of punk rock band The Damned’s 1976 single of the same name, has reintroduced weekly live music in homage to its musical past.

Barman and events lead Louis Upton-Wheeler, who lived in Essex Road while studying as a musician and is still working at the pub three years later, said: “Everybody always gives Camden this licence as being the ‘home of punk’ and that sort of thing, but I’ve always thought Islington is an under-appreciated area.

“You’ve got the Hope and Anchor, which is a historic pub where The Damned actually filmed the New Rose music video, there used to be a Purple Turtle on this road that did gigs, and nowadays you’ve got the Lexington, which is another great venue. But it’s not as known about or as commented on, I guess. People don’t appreciate it for what it is.”

Mr Upton-Wheeler, who plays the trombone in a family band and also performs solo with his guitar, decided to bring regular live performances back to The Alpaca when he learned about its musical past.

“If there used to be music on this premises back in the day, why not keep it going now?,” he added.

Mr Upton-Wheeler is prioritising local Islington musicians in the line-up. Before it was The New Rose, the pub was called the Half Moon, and it dates back to the early 19th century.

It reopened as The Alpaca in 2020 after a £500,000 revamp, following two years of successive temporary operators and closures.

The owner Lucas Owen renamed it The Alpaca as an animal “renowned for its strong individual personality.”