The Beaufoy family, renowned for their vinegar-making business, had established a prominent position in Vauxhall since 1741. Rejecting the distillation of gin due to its harmful effects, the Beaufoys became major producers of English malt vinegar. Over the years, their business expanded to include a variety of products such as cordials, non-alcoholic drinks and mineral water.
In 1812, John Henry Beaufoy relocated his vinegar brewery from Cuper’s Gardens to South Lambeth. The move was prompted by the need for the Cuper’s Gardens site for the construction of the new Strand Bridge, later known as Waterloo Bridge. John Henry Beaufoy received significant compensation for the relocation, making the transition financially viable.
Amidst the industrialisation of Vauxhall in the mid-19th century, the Beaufoy family played a philanthropic role by providing educational facilities for the underprivileged. Henry Benjamin Beaufoy built and endowed the Ragged School for Boys and Girls in Newport Street, Lambeth. Later, Mark Hanbury Beaufoy erected the Beaufoy Institute in 1907, replacing the Ragged School that had been demolished in 1904 to make way for the railway. The Beaufoy Institute, which withstood bombing during the Second World War, served various purposes over the years, including wartime munitions production. Eventually acquired by Lambeth Council, it was purchased by the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre in 2012.
At the industrial site, the Beaufoy vinegar brewery underwent significant changes in ownership and operations over the years. After around 1961, the name Beaufoy ceased to be used, and own-brand bottles were labelled as Sarsons.
Nestlé acquired the site in 1979, and in 1982, the South London Press reported the impending closure of the site within a year, resulting in the loss of 120 jobs. Head office staff were to be relocated to Nestlé’s offices in Croydon.
In 1985, outline planning permission and listed building consent were granted for the residential development of the Beaufoy site. This involved a combination of conversion, extension, demolition, and new construction, resulting in 89 properties within a gated community that included amenities such as a communal swimming pool and gym. Similar-looking properties were also built at 2a Rita Road, adjacent to the electric gate, which became the primary access point for most of the site. Some original brewery structures, such as the former brewhouse and mill, were retained, providing historical character to the redevelopment. The office block underwent a separate conversion and extension process, becoming the Comfort Inn Hotel with 94 beds.
