HE WAS so attached to memories of sweaty nights out that he drove for 15 hours for the chance to re-live his past.

Des Pirkhoffer camped outside of the Frog and Frigate last night in a pop up tent, having driven from Austria to be here for its re-launch tonight.

The 49-year-old who grew up in Chandler's Ford is besotted by the place, recounting memories of dancing on the tables, messy burgers after a long night of dancing and drinking beer by the gallon.

Now a father-of-two, Des lives in Austria with his wife running a hotel for people on their ski holidays, but he has never been able to find a boozer quite like the Frog.

He worked there from 1984 to 1989 behind the bar and sliding behind tables to collect beer bottles before heading off to serve in the Merchant Navy and said: “The Frog wasn't just a pub, it was a way of life.

"It really was a formative time for me being part of this family. I have travelled all around the world and never found anywhere quite like this pub and when I found out it was re-opening I just knew I had to be here to see if it really was the same.

“My family wasn't really surprised that I was doing something like this, I think I have always been quite free-spirited. The atmosphere in here is exactly the same - there is even the same sort of smell in here.”

Des now can't wait for the opening tonight and hopes his old Frog gang will return.

“The Frog was always this place that just welcomed everyone, it was very accepting and you had the most amazing time here you really felt like you were part of something - it was a bit like a playground for adults. I am so excited for tonight, I'm only here for one night and luckily won't have to sleep in the tent again as some friends have offered me somewhere to stay and that's kind of symbolic of what the frog was like, it was always about the people - yes there's great music and beer but the people are really what made it special and I am really looking forward to seeing a new generation of the Frog evolve.”