Iconic Alfreton Pub Closes For A Six-Figure Revamp
A landmark pub in the centre of Alfreton is closing next week for a £175,000 makeover to help it thrive for the long term.
The works at the King Alfred on the High Street will turn it into a top-quality local complete with an all-new games room, an attractive outdoor area and an evening offer that makes it the place to go for a great night out.
The project is being carried out by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and the King Alfred’s operators Chesterfield born-and-bred Jack Jarvis and his wife Carla Jarvis. The pub closes after last orders on 31st May and will reopen in time to show England’s first World Cup match on 17th June.
The spend will fully renovate the outside of the distinctive Tudor-style building – which dates back to the 1930s – enhancing the centre of Alfreton. The restoration will renovate the intricate woodwork, install new signage and lighting and paint the plastered walls white. With the aim of creating one of the nicest outside spaces in Alfreton, the suntrap rear garden will have a facelift, too, that encompasses a pagoda as well as new furniture, planting and festoon lighting.
The overhaul will upgrade the inside of the King Alfred throughout with a smart new décor using warm heritage colours. The redesign will retain and restore features such as the exposed brick work, timber floors and old wood bar and replace or refurbish all the furniture. Pictures showing the King Alfred and the town through time will adorn the walls. Other changes include new carpets and a full refresh of the pub’s toilets.
The layout will enable the King Alfred to cater for a wide range of customers. It will have a spacious bar for drinks and socialising that incorporates two raised snugs and a lounge area with three curved booths in addition to a separate games room kitted out with a new pool table and darts. Four big screens showing Sky Sports will be carefully positioned around the pub, ensuring customers get an excellent view of the action wherever they are.
An extended programme of activities will accompany the refurbishment and put the King Alfred back on the map as both a community hub and a Friday and Saturday late-night party spot. On the cards are a regular quiz, Play Your Cards Right afternoons and family fun days, as well as discos, karaoke and live entertainment showcasing local talent.
Jack – whose parents were publicans – and Carla are driven by a passion for keeping pubs open. The duo took over the King Alfred in January 2025 when it had lost its way and many of its regulars. Since then, they have worked tirelessly to improve the pub, winning back former customers and attracting new ones. The couple have now signed a five-year lease on the pub.
Says Jack “Growing up in pubs, I’ve seen firsthand the positive difference a good local makes to people’s lives. Something is lost when a pub closes. The King Alfred was on its knees when we first saw it, and people were concerned for its future. It’s so prominent; everyone knows it and it means a lot residents. We hope the investment will help the town centre and its other businesses, as well as providing a great place for people to meet up and enjoy happy times on their doorsteps without the hassle and expense of travelling further afield.
“We’ll be starting as we mean to go on with England’s first match of the World Cup – the staff will be dressed up, the pub will be decorated, and we’ll be going all out to create a brilliant atmosphere that is the next best thing to being at the game.”
Adds Len Jackson, investment manager for Star Pubs: “We’re delighted to be joining forces with Jack and Carla to take the King Alfred to the next level as a fantastic local. They’re the stable and committed hands that the pub needs. It’s an important part of Alfreton – we want to bring out the best in it and make it an asset to the town. The investment will transform it.”
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