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Date of photo: 2006	Picture source: Stephen Harris
The Beaumont Arms was situated at 31 Beaumont Road and closed in 2007. Owned by a housing trust but as at 2009 one application to convert the building into flats has been turned down.
Source: Colin Price
This pub was established in 1872 when a beer retailer’s licence was first granted.  By 1905 it was leased to the New London Brewery, but was described as ‘structurally unfit and dilapidated’ – descriptions which were to haunt the pub through much of the rest of its lifetime, despite complete rebuilding on a nearby site in 1963.  By 1959 it had been acquired by the Wenlock Brewery of Hoxton, later passing to Charrington’s.  The pub closed in 2007 and was demolished in 2010.
Stephen Harris
My firm was based in this exact area (Skeltons Lane) from the 1950’s to 1983. We had around twenty staff, mainly drivers, yard staff and mechanics. The second home of many or even most of our staff was the “Beaumont”. If someone didn’t turn up for work you would probably find them in the Beaumont at lunch time! This pub was also our main recruiting ground for staff for many years. We had all sorts. In the 60’s and 70’s job and finish was very much the way of life for many public sector employees and additionally there were shift workers and firemen who would while away their time at the pub when not working. A pint was about one shilling and sixpence. From 11 am every weekday the pub used to be teaming with men taking advantage of the work patterns of the day. Of course this was before the drinking and driving laws and many of our driving staff took their liquid lunch in the pub. I was always welcomed when I arrived looking for someone, but I didn’t have time for a drink. Staff that wanted not to be found during the working day made their way to the Blackbirds, another big pub now history. I employed many people from the pub and took them off the dole. At that time wages were paid in cash every Friday, but times were changing. The husband received the cash and often spent too much of it in the pub. There was only one way in or out of our yard and certain wives waited at the entrance to claim their housekeeping money before it reached the pub. At a later date (1990’ish) cash payments stopped and staff were paid weekly into their bank accounts. It seemed that the women controlled the bank accounts and very many male staff had to now beg for their beer money. How times had changed. Now everyone is paid monthly and there are well over 300 staff members.
John Glover, M.D. Bywaters Leyton (February 2020)
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