Wadworth pub wins contest for best pub or hotel garden

The Golden Lion, a Wadworth pub on the outskirts of Winchester, has won a national competition to find the best pub or hotel garden.

The pub was chosen from some 2,000 entries in the competition, run in gardening magazine Garden News.

Publicans Brid and Derek Phelan have also won several local awards and have found it an effective way to attract customers. "It's fantastic for us and for the pub to be recognised nationally," Brid said.

"We are not situated in a prominent location and so need to make the Golden Lion stand out in some way. The flowers have done this for us: people remark on them and remember them, and having spotted us when driving past will come back for a drink or a meal. They give us a well-cared-for look which people know will extend inside the pub."

Keeping the standard of display high through the seasons is a year-round job, and Brid and Derek are helped by loyal customer and friend Pete Aslet, who is responsible for growing many of the plants from seed. For the winning displays this year Aslet grew over 2,000 plants including petunias, geraniums, lobelia, marigolds and a huge assortment of other flowers.

"We decided to play with the colours this year so have used some hot reds and oranges with a lot of the Wadworth blue," Brid explained. "We love old-fashioned flowers so Pete has grown many of the traditional favourites."

"In the pub trade good beer, good food and a warm welcome are essential ingredients for success," the judges of the Garden News competition said. "Derek and Brid Phelan provide all three and the warm welcome starts with their cheery, colourful roadside display. If you drive past you just can't help being enticed to pop in for some good traditional British fare."

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By Neil Gerrard

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