Classic episode of Only Fools and Horses filmed in Brighton

Some 20 years after the last episode, the Trotters continue to entertain fans young and old with their antics as they try to become millionaires in Peckham.

But it is a little-known fact that Brighton played a huge role in one of the most successful episodes of the show, 1992 Christmas special Mother Nature’s Son, in which the family gets rich quick thanks to the newly discovered “Peckham Springs”.

The boys’ grandfather, affectionately known as Grandad, was played by Lennard Pearce, who died during the filming of series four in 1984.

Some eight years after his death, Del and Rodney find out they have inherited Grandad’s Peckham allotment when they are asked by the council to remove a health hazard from his land – which turns out to be barrels of a mysterious yellow substance.

Del ropes in Rodney and pal Denzil to clear the barrels from the allotment and drive it to what is supposed to be a 24-hour tip in Peckham. But on arrival, they find the gates are locked so dump the waste in a "pond".

Trying to get rid of the waste in Peckham (Image: BBC)

Approaching the tip in Hove (Image: Google Maps)

But what’s stranger is that Peckham’s tip is actually the recycling centre in Leighton Road, Hove.

After getting rid of the barrels, Del pops into the famous Nag’s Head pub for a pint with Denzil, and on the way out we see the building’s exterior for what is thought to be the first time.

But far away from its fictional location in Peckham, The Nag’s Head is actually The White Admiral in Bevendean.

The Nag's Head (Image: BBC)

The White Admiral which became The Nag's Head for the show (Image: BBC)

Sadly, the pub was demolished in 2005 along with nearby shops and replaced with a block of flats.

Later in the episode, Del and Rodney pay a visit to a health food shop, with Del staggered by the high prices. The health shop is Swains farm shop in Henfield. 

The boys driving past Swains in their yellow Reliant Robin van (Image: BBC)

Swains in Henfield (Image: Susannah Binney)

The pair get chatting to vegetable know-all Myles, who is invited to Grandad’s allotment to advise Del on growing some veg.

But when he arrives, it’s not the vegetables he’s interested in, but the mysterious water source, which is found to be pure could see the brothers earn a tidy sum of money.

But again, even more mysterious is that Grandad’s Peckham allotment can be found in Natal Road, Brighton, and is still accessible today.

Grandad's allotment (Image: BBC)

The allotments were Grandad had his dangerous waste (Image: Google Maps)

Myles is sent a tester of the water by the brothers, which was actually just mineral water from a bottle, who gives them the green light to bottle the “spring water”, but unknowingly receives bottles of water from the Trotter kitchen taps.

Del then sets up a production line in his flat to keep up with supermarket orders while getting closer to that elusive one million pounds.

Del on the balcony of The Grand (Image: BBC)

The Grand, Brighton (Image: Geoffrey Arrowsmith)

He decides to book a Christmas break with Rodney and their partners – and where do they stay?

The Grand in Brighton, of course.

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Del can be seen living the dream life, smoking a big cigar on a balcony looking over the city seafront, and enjoying a drink in the bar. After leaving his Capri Ghia with the valet, obviously.

Unfortunately, it later transpired that the "pond" where Del dumped the barrels of yellow waste was feeding his water supply and polluted the Peckham Springs.

Better luck next time, eh Del.