IT’S true, Johnny Depp, one of the most famous men in Hollywood, did tuck in to some fine pub grub in Hartley Wintney.

But disappointingly, the actor, famous for his film characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands and Sweeney Todd, has denied that he’s moving to the area.

Speaking exclusively to The Gazette after The Lone Ranger press conference in central London, 50 year-old Depp gave a firm “no” in response to our query if it was true that that he was planning to move to Hampshire, or to buy a house here.

Unusually for a star of his stature, father-of-two Depp has always preferred to live away from the bright lights of Hollywood.

But he did confirm that he had enjoyed a visit with friends to The Cricketers pub in Hartley Wintney – as reported recently by The Gazette, above right.

He replied: “Yes, it’s a great place – it’s wonderful there.”

Mark Thornhill, the general manager of the pub, was delighted that Depp had such high praise for the establishment.

He said: “That is absolutely amazing and I am over the moon! It ends all the ‘was it, wasn’t it’ speculation that was going on in the village.

“To have such a fantastic endorsement from him has made the hairs on my arms stand up. It’s made my year.”

The Lone Ranger reunites Depp with the director of Pirates of the Caribbean and the series’ producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, to reinvent the famous American radio and TV show for modern audiences.

Depp plays sidekick Tonto, a role which saw him immerse himself in Native American culture.

He said: “The thing that inspired me most was being able to spend time with elders of the Comanche nation. That was everything to me, just being allowed into that world.”

The expensive project – the budget of which was rumoured to be $250million – has been reviewed harshly in America but Depp and the team don’t seem to have been disheartened by the critics’ response.

Jerry Bruckheimer reflected: “It’s a worldwide market– one country doesn’t dictate – and it’s up to the audience.

“We’re very excited about being in Europe.”

The Lone Ranger is released in cinemas on August 9.