The Holloway is not the nicest pub in the world. It used to be a Litten Tree, which changed its name after a murder took place in it. The manager clearly thought that naming the the pub after a nearby prison might put off some of the worst punters from visiting it. I suggested razing the pub to the ground, putting up the beer price or theming it as an Icelandic bar might work*. Basically The Holloway was a nasty pub, which you could only really spot on the days when there were bright yellow square signs outside. Luckily this was 50% of the time, but now you don’t even need them. For the pub has upgraded its sign to a neon one.
Nothing screams bar room brawl to me more than a neon pub sign. Nothing screams Special On Stella more than neon. This is not Piccadilly Circus, it is Nags Head, and it needs not a glaring sign shouting at you that you are in Holloway, on Holloway Road, and outside the Holloway pub. THAT IS WHERE YOU SHOULD STAY.
Because of the nature of neon tubing, neon signs often favour a nicely joined up font, which again is anathema to the average pub sign. Above is an artist impression of what the Holloway’s sign looks like now, accurate to colour if not to font. So whilst my prejudice may be unfounded, I’m not keen on testing it. Neon might make good signs, but in pub terms, it is most clearly a BAD SIGN.
*Theming Big red as a 50’s juke joint a few doors down did wonders for its clientele.