London Pubs Group

Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale

Beaconsfield

357-9 Green Lanes,
Harringay,
N4 1DZ

Although this pub is not a listed building it is on the London Regional Inventory and the description is as follows: “A down-to-earth pub which, although opened out, still retains a remarkable amount of Victorian work. Its changes over the years have been carefully documented and a history at the pub enables us to follow its evolution. The Beaconsfield was built in 1886-7 to the designs of the obscure architects, Alexander and Gibbon who drew upon 17th-century details for inspiration. After the arrival of the third licensee in 1897 the internal arrangements were changed with the installation of the present island servery which was surrounded by a series of compartments. The plan was drawn up by one, John E Pinder. One partition was removed in 1904 by F J Eedle & Meyers, minor alterations were made in 1934, and further partitions were removed in 1953. The single space we have today was the work of Courage (Eastern) Breweries’ chief architect, Mr Longstaff, in 1981 when the last remaining divisions were removed. The Victorian work remaining consists of the spacious servery (with its stillion in the middle), the richly decorated ceiling, six cast-iron columns, curved lobby entrance on the corner, a considerable amount of etched mirrorwork towards the rear and a little stained glass. History in a name: The pub is named after Conservative politician Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881). He entered Parliament in 1837 and was chancellor of the Exchequer briefly in 1852 and again in 1858-9 and 1867. Prime minister in 1868 and 1874-80, he became a close friend of Queen Victoria whom he persuaded to assume the title of Empress of India. He was created Earl of Beaconsfield in 1876.”

The Beaconsfield featured on the Racing, Railways and Prime Ministers: Daytime Crawl of Wood Green, Hornsey, Crouch End, Finsbury Park and Harringay in June 2009, and the Queens, Earls and Tories: Daytime Crawl of Hornsey, Crouch End, Crouch Hill and Harringay in February 2014.