A FORMER student jaunt is now Winchester's latest-opening bar.

Following its refurbishment Alfie’s has been transformed from a relatively dark student pub to a fresh pub-cum-bar with a large rear beer garden, new kitchen and mirror room.

The £500,000 budget has seen the toilets overhauled, the bar freshened and a new American pool table as well as a secret garden.

It’s new look means its moved beyond the student hub and opened to a wider range of clients as it opens from 9am serving breakfast to 2am Monday to Sunday to catch as much of the trade as it can.

The two new TVs and seven-foot projector means everyone from football fans to conference organisers will be able to enjoy the space.

Manager Craig Friswell says: “We want to be a more all-round pub. Before we were a student pub but we’re open to everyone. During the weeks it’s not usually students, it’s trade people. Everyone finishes and they come here so we have people from the Black Rat and St James’ Tavern. At Christmas we’re the party pub!”

From next week food will be served from 9am-9pm with a range of “light bites” from £5-£8 and main meals will cost around £8-£15.

As a City Pub Company site Alfie’s is now a freehouse, which means there’s a much wider range of local ales and other drinks on offer.

“We’re not tied so now we’ve got a much greater range of beers,” Mr Friswell adds. “We opened on Thursday through the whole weekend and it’s been manic. Even without serving food just yet we saw a £7,000 increase on the same period last year when we were serving food so people obviously like it.”

Ashley Haines, 25, a bartender of Kings Avenue in Stanmore, said: “It’s got a new lease of life from the old Alfie’s to what it is now. It’s got a freshness about it. It’s easy to forget about the outside but here it’s been done well. It’s kind of what Winchester needs.”

Draughts cost £3.60-£4.70 with the Symonds Reserve selling at £4 a pint and bottles cost between £3.30-£5. Local ales cost from £3.30-£4 including Upham, Itchen Valley, Flack Manor and Flower Pots.

Spirits cost from £2.55-£3.75, cocktails cost from £3.50-£6.50 and there’s a variety of mocktails, shots and wines available.

Megan Howes, deputy manager, said: “There’s a massive change in the garden and interior. It’s changed dramatically. We have got nicer toilets! We have got all new brands and staff. We’re just as busy as we always are but we hope to be busier when the kitchen opens up.”