Sprezzatura sent us the following interesting information about Beckton past and present:

Diana opened the old, "inverted-toothbrush" ski-slope back in 1989. Since then, it has been the only Irish-Swiss-Alpine-Lodge themed pub, perhaps anywhere on planet snow! It suffered from low air-fares - real snow was as cheap to get to (Stansted) as 3 one-hour lessons. There was little - if not nothing - for kids to do as the adults skied. When it closed for a while some time ago, the tiles were removed from the roof, and a blue tarpaulin draped over it: apparently empty buildings are still rateable - unless it is 'conspicuously' under repair. It was a sad, sorry state. Beckton Alp(s) took its name from the onetime manager of the largest gasworks in Europe - one Mr Beck. The fight scenes (Hanoi) in Full Metal Jacket, were made by Stanley Kubrick in the dynamited ruins of Beckton gasworks. The Alp was the original spoil from the coke used in that gasmaking. I'd be surprised to see hoardes of trainspotters watching the extraction of anything from the A13 Alp, as the builders have it sealed-off so effectively. Woolworths have decided to invest in a huge plot opposite the new Snow World! Its good to see quality investment in this area - I have been here 15 years now, and its gone from a bomb-site to a leafy suburb. Great to see that Snow World's investors think well-enough of the place to have put their money where their mouths are. Beckton's miles Better as a result!

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