Peter Holt, Jo Sherren and Joao Neves, who is the general manager

A BELOVED north London pub has opened a sister outlet in Angel on the long-empty site of a bar off Upper Street.

Pocket – the new name for the former Four Sisters pub in Canonbury Lane – has been more than two years in the making, and the idea for it was born when owner Pete Holt cycled past on his way to work and saw the venue was seeking new tenants.

Mr Holt also owns the Southampton Arms on Highgate Hill, known for its cosy interiors and exclusive sale of independent UK-brewed ales and ciders.

Pocket – the new name for the former Four Sisters pub in Canonbury Lane – opened this week

He told the Tribune that the Pocket was derelict when they got the keys, with squatters downstairs, pigeons in the roof, rain pouring in and no heating until this week.

“I’ve always known it was a cute little pub and similar to the Southamp­ton in a lot of ways – it’s an old carriage house, so it’s very similar inside,” he said, adding that the bar tops in both pubs are almost identical.

“We’ve been in here every day from 8am to 7pm or 8pm a lot of times, so it’ll be great to see people coming through the doors who aren’t builders,” Mr Holt said on the eve of the opening.

Like its Camden sister, Pocket will focus on ale and cider from small producers, and while the Southamp­ton’s scotch egg won’t be on the menu, punters can opt for pies and pasties.

The new pub opened yesterday (Thursday).