My mum used to use the Edlins pubs: the Western, King and Queen, one in West Street that used to be known as 'Jimmys', and one on Kingsway in Hove, I can't recall the name, I used to work in that one. They were friendly family pubs.

Was the Edlins pub on Kingsway in Hove The Abinger?

I am researching the Edlin family tree and would love to make contact with other Edlins from our family.  edlinresearch@yahoo.co.uk

The Abinger was on Kingsway but in Brighton not Hove. It was situated between the bottom of Montpelier Road and Oriental Place.

My Grandfather used to frequent this pub in the 1940s and 1950s, he was Councillor C. G. Manton and later an Alderman. I often used to stop by when I lived in Brighton from 1946 until 1957 and my Grandfather would buy me a lemonade. He was well known as the Councillor from Moulscombe. I would like to hear from anyone that knew him and has any information about him that I can include in my memoirs.

The pub in West Street was called Christies. Jimmy's was a super restaurant just off the bottom of St James's Street.  The Sussex is still on Hove seafront.

I have some old photographs and other items relating to Tubby Edlin in his theatrical days. I believe he was a relative of my grandfather, possibly a cousin. I remember mention of him visiting relatives in the Brighton area.  I'm happy to send scans of these items to any of his relatives who are interested.

The original Georgian King and Queen backed onto Church Street Infantry Barracks. Soldiers did not have to leave the barracks to drink, they could buy their alcohol from a serving window in the rear. Whilst on Guard duty in 1862, John Flood of the 18th Hussars got enough dutch courage from the K & Q, he took his musket and shot John O'Dea who was the barrack room bully. In an earlier incident (1822) Private Thomas Blamy of the Second Regiment of Foot also visited the K & Q, but in a state of depression after having been falsely accused of stealing. He left intoxicated, returned to the barracks, passed a string through his toes from the trigger of musket, and in the words of the Brighton Gazette, "scattered his brain over the walls of the immediate buildings."

I would love to hear from Jane Robinson. I too have some Tubby Edlin information and it seems we are related. Edlin1@flash.net

"Jimmy's Bar" was part of the old Southern Hotel in St. James's Street. The Southern Hotel was an Edlins pub and hotel. The main entrance to the Southern was in St. James's Street, but you got to Jimmy's Bar by going round the side to Steine Street, where the entrance was opposite The Queen's Head. The bar was on the first floor but it's now flats. You can still see the remains of the magnificent facade of the Southern Hotel in St. James's Street above the slot machine arcade on the south side of the street below Manchester Street.

I am the daughter of Geoffrey Tabb who worked for many years at Heaton Tabb & Co, who were also involved in interior design for passenger liners. Ashby Tabb the co-owner of the company was my great uncle. As a child (about 1955) I remember being introduced to a Mr Edlin when visiting Heaton Tabb's works in Willesden, London NW10. Could he be a relation of Neil and/or Simon Edlin? I imagined as a child that he was one of my father's co-workers at Heaton Tabb but on finding this site, suppose that he most likely was the then current owner of the pub chain. It is really interesting to find this link as I am currently researching into Heaton Tabb & Co and Aldam Heaton before the companies merged. Most records were destroyed when Heaton Tabb closed down in the 1960s.

A message for Susan Tabb. My father James Riley was chief setter out for Heaton Tabbs in Liverpool in the 1960s and he is very interested to find out what became of Ashby Tabb, your Great Uncle, and from what my dad says a very fine artist! He believes Ashby married and left Liverpool. He would be very gratefull of any information you could give him, Kind Regards.

John Aldam Heaton was my great-great-great uncle. I'd love to find out more about him and his work. We have a bedspread that we believe was designed by him and probably embroidered by his wife and daughter: See it here.

I am very interested in the history of the King and Queen before the new build - ideally 1800s but any era would be of interest. I am building a case file of interest. There have been a few tales of scandal and goings-on that bring this place to life in the eyes of History, but I would like to know what is just hearsay and what is possibly true. If anyone has any stories that have been passed along through families etc I would love to hear from you. Many thanks.

I used to go every Thursday to Jimmy's, the Sussex Uni Blues Society events. I recall seeing in this very small venue (upstairs) Jethro Tull, Blodwyn Pig Mississippi and Fred Mc Dowell amongst others. Anybody else go there?

A wonderful pub in the 1970s. Even though it is pretty big it was often heaving on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. People three or four deep for the full length of the bar. We used it as a meeting place and often we would have 10 or 12 people, sometimes a lot more and would take over a corner. Getting a round in with that many took a while. After a few pints we'd go along to Ledbellys for a posh burger or The Cottage to mellow. Also enjoyed sitting by the hearth with a mate in front of the log fire on a winter's night when it was quiet night early in the week. No problem parking anytime, we parked our bikes in the courtyard or lent them against the wall (A Royal Enfield Constellation that seemed top weight half a ton but didn't have a stand). We hired the upstairs gallery for a party a few years back, the place still has loads of character.