Probably everyone knows, but in case they don't, it was known as the 'Blue House' as it was mainly frequented by coppers, from John St Police Station, just down the road!

I believe Peter Groves is wrong about the derivation of the popular name of this pub. As a young and sometimes underaged drinker living in Albion Hill, I used this pub in the early and mid-sixties when it was already known as the Blue House, and had been for a long time. The Police Station in John Street did not open until it was finally completed in 1965 when the Chief Constable and his staff moved in from various locations, including their former main HQ at Brighton Town Hall. The John Street police station was built on slum clearance land and there was no prior history of a main police station there. I do not myself know why it was called the Blue House, but I think this particular contention is mistaken.

Actually the name of 'The Blue House' goes back at least 60 years as my Gran used to drink in there at that time and she always referred to it as that. It does appear to be a plausible explanation for the name but the police station was in Wellington Road just north of the Level in those days, too far away to be a "Mr Plod" local. Also in those days any form of music or singing was forbidden in pubs so I don't think too many of the local constabulary frequented that area, as a kid every time I passed that open door (the one on the corner) it was alive with singing to the accompaniment of George Harding and his banjo (he lived a few doors away at 29 Claremont Place). I suppose that singing may have been legitimate with a licence issued by the council but I don't think too many of the pubs on the east slopes could afford one. There you are Peter, you've started a thread of discussion on the origin of that name, can anyone else supply a suggestion?

I lived close by in Scotland Street 1979 - 1986, it was known to us locally then, perhaps incorrectly, as the "Blue House", due to its association with the police.

When was this pub built?

Looking at the style of build, the pub looks like a number of newer pubs that was built around the Brighton and Hove area. The pub looks like what I used to call a Charringtons pub, as they all seemed to have the same brickwork and styling. As the pub was built in the middle of long established housing, maybe it was called the Blue House because of what may have been there before. I know we are creatures of habit, if there was for any reason a building referred as the blue house there before; the locals might have called it ‘the pub where the blue house was’ and the locals name for the pub stuck. Just a theory.

There has been a pub on the site since at least the 1850s, but it was not originally known by either of the names above and its address was not listed as Sussex Street. It was initially listed as 1, Claremont Place and was called the 'Plumber's Arms' before taking on the name 'Lion & Unicorn' around 1857. However, the original building was obviously replaced and I believe the one shown above dates from 1926. During the 1930s it had something of a rough reputation, with pitched battles between various sectors of the armed forces that frequented it at that time. I have no idea why or when the alternative name 'Blue House' was conferred upon the place. Regards, Andy

I was led to believe that the nick-naming of the pub as the "Blue House" relates to the rivalry of the razor gangs that lived in the area of John Street, Carlton Terrace, Southover Street and Edward Street after the 1st world war. Their rivals frequented another pub, the Racehorse? Otherwise known as the "Red House" at the junction of Elm Grove and Queens Park road, not sure if info accurate as I heard it from my father 40 years ago!

My brother in Canada jolted my memory and we both remembered a George Harding who played the banjo and lived with his common law wife a Mrs Gunn at 156 Wiston Road, around 1975 we lived at 158, so could this have been the same man? Not many with that name and played a banjo. If so, small world. He was very talented.

With reference to George Harding and Mrs Gunn, the name Gunn does ring a bell. I do know that George and his 'wife' had a daughter Molly who must have been born about 1940, her picture will soon show up on this site as an attendee of the 1953 Coronation party held in Dinapore Street.

The Blue House - I remember it well. Another pub that my mother used as we were growing up 60 years ago. I can remember standing in the passageway. Then when I was married and my children were growing up we used to go there with a group of friends. The first time we were going with the children they wanted to walk there and we told them which way to go but when we got there they were nowhere to be seen. They told us later that they could only see a pub called the Lion and Unicorn which was the Blue House.

Well folks this might sound strange but I always thought the reason that this pub was called the Blue House was because of the habit of certain people stealing lead from rooftops and selling it to Freemans / Richardsons scrap metals. Lead was referred to as 'bluey'. You can write with a slice of lead as well.

My grandparents owned this pub in the early 50s. The front of the pub at one time was covered in blue tiles - hence The Blue House

I lived at the "Blue House" from 1957 to 1965 and loved the place. Dave Harding is right, it was because of the blue tiles. Nice one nephew!

I can go back to the 40s, just after the war, and the Duke of Cambridge at the end of Cambridge St. was alive with music, piano and various other instruments, played by George Harding and his brothers people enjoying themselves. I don't think anyone, worried about a music licence at that time. I believe The Lion & Unicorn, was called The Blue House, because part of it was painted blue.

Just read the previous message, jogged my memory. Yes there were blue tiles, my mother lived in the house next door to the Blue House. It was bombed whilst she was out. I remember her metioning the blue tiles. It left a derelict sight which was used on bonfire nights, and we all contributed to stacking the fire. Happy memories!

What a pity that no earlier photo of "The Blue House" has shown up, a nice colour one showing the blue tiled wall would have been really nice but of course colour photography in it's infancy and very expensive in the early fifties.

My grandparents, Harry and Mary Gregory owned the so called blue house, I cannot remember from when, but I was born in Buckingham Road hospital in 1964 and they had the pub then! I remember me and my cousins growing up in the back room of the pub as my mother and her sisters worked there! We, growing up saw many of the goings on as the pub frequented many of the villians and antique dealers of the Brighton area! so many memories to mention and so many pub brawls! I was always led to believe that the pub was rightly called The Blue house because of the blue tiles but also, very apt the foul language! Sadly my nan died in the pub around 1972 and although my grandad carried on he sadly died not long after! I have a childhood of memories of the pub and am proud to say that I now own the original pub sign which I purchased from the buyers before they converted it! I spent all of my childhood growing up there and now own two pubs in the Sussex area myself, I could write a book on the goings on that happened in the Blue House, I wish I had the time, it would make a blooming good read! Donna.

Alan (South) do you remember me? We went to St. Johns C of E together. I remember playing with you on the roof of the "Blue House" when you lived there. PS if you go into St. Johns infants school on this site (Mrs Payne) there is a picture of our class. I am sitting next to you at the top of the "jungle jim". Happy Days!

Richard Golds - talk about long time no see - it's been nearly 50 years! I can still remember at St Johns in art class painting a picture of you and you were wearing a bright yellow shirt covered in planets and spaceships! Please drop me a line sometime - alscaredofbears@gmail.com. Regards, Alan.

Hi Alan, I used to go out with your sister Pat, when Janice was going out with Denis, lovely girl. I remember you, what became of her? Bluey.