By George - Vernham Dean is top village (From Basingstoke Gazette)

By George - Vernham Dean is top village

12:00am Sunday 14th October 2012 in Andover

VERNHAM DEAN has completed a recent clean sweep in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Village of the Year 2012 awards sponsored by Fuller’s Brewery.

The village claimed the Hampshire Village of the year award, best small village and The George took the Pub is the Hub prize.

A dossier was pieced together for the village’s application highlighting the community spirit and events put on throughout the year including during the Queen’s Jubilee and London 2012 Olympic Games.

Test Valley councillor for the Bourne Valley ward which covers Vernham Dean, Peter Giddings said: “It’s recognition of all the hard work that makes this village tick which is centred around The George pub which has also rightly won an award as well.

“So many people get involved in Vernham Dean with the many events that are put on and I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the celebratory evening in the village.”

James Haigh, owner of The George pub said: “It is the first time we have been this involved with the village of the year awards by a long way and were delighted to be awarded the Pub is the Hub award.

“We have had so many people congratulate us and they all believe we deserved the award as did the village as a whole. We had a fantastic party with Irish music and all the locals were here again, it was a lot of fun.”

Nicky Haigh who also owns The George said: “We are just absolutely thrilled.

We like to do as much as we can socially in the village as a pub and it’s great to be a part of this.”