FOLLOWING its relaunch, The Sun Inn at Dummer played host to a Basingstoke Town FC Networking Lunch.

Around 30 local business people enjoyed the hospitality at the award-winning gastropub, which earlier this year was badly damaged when a car ploughed into the side of its dining room.

Now the venue has been refurbished at a cost of thousands of pounds – and it’s all systems go again.

Delighted to host the networking event following the relaunch, head chef Gordon Scott, who runs the business, said: “This is a really good opportunity to promote The Sun Inn as well as helping other businesses to make new contacts and network.

“We supply the food for the networking events at the Camrose so it was good to play host here.”

Back in May, Gordon was in the premises when a car driver swerved to avoid a fox, left the A30, crossed the central reservation and smashed through the wall of the dining room. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

“It was a real setback,” recalled Gordon. “I had taken over running the business in February, from being the sous chef, and business was really picking up.

“After the accident people said we would be closed for several months, but we were open after just a couple of weeks with a limited menu.”

Now Gordon and his team are as busy as ever with the Christmas and New Year trade.

The Sun Inn serves an a la carte menu of delicious, award-winning locally-sourced dishes devised by Gordon, who trained under celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

Sponsored by The Gazette, the next Basingstoke Town FC networking meeting will take place on Saturday, December 22 at the Camrose ground, coinciding with the club’s Christmas party. Dinner will be served at 1.30pm.

To find out more, visit basingstoketown.net.

Alternatively, call Dean Coombs on 07432 719785 or send an email to Phillip.Coombs@aol.co.uk.