WHEN the first pint was pulled at the Old Vine, jiving was trendy and the Harry Potter-style Ford Anglia entered production.

The year was 1959, and the current innkeepers now plan to mark its golden anniversary with a host of events.

The property itself, in Great Minster Street, Winchester, can trace its roots back nearly a millennium.

Parts of the cellar are thought to be Norman, and would have been built at roughly the same time as the city’s cathedral nearby.

The rest of the cellar is medieval, while the building above is chiefly 18th century.

During Victorian times and the early 1900s, it was a wine bar and off licence, but all that changed in 1959.

Brewery giant, Courage, transferred a licence from the now defunct Morning Star in High Street to the venue, and converted it into a pub.

Now owned by Enterprise Inns, current leaseholders Marcelo Pugliese and Ashton Gray celebrated its 50th birthday on Friday, April 10.

It heralded the start of 12 months of events, including a beer festival with ales that were also produced in 1959. Live music with 1950s-style bands is also being planned.

Another idea is to hold a street party in the summer, and a 1950s Christmas celebration later in the year.

The current landlords arrived in 2005 and refitted the venue to create an upmarket bar and restaurant with guestrooms. At the time, it billed itself as Winchester’s first watering hole to go smoke-free.

Call the venue on 01962 854616 or visit www.oldvinewinchester.com for more details.