POLICE have praised a Kidlington landlord for turning round a notorious pub.

They said former RAF serviceman Gerry McGrath had cleaned up The Black Bull – while its owner praised his ‘no nonsense’ approach.

The pub was closed in February 2009 after police spotted teenagers bragging about boozing in the bar on social networking site Bebo.

Thames Valley Police licensing officer Tony Cope said a culture of violence, drug dealing and late night lock-ins had thrived at the Banbury Road pub.

It became the first in Oxfordshire to be closed since the introduction of new licensing laws in 2005.

But Mr McGrath came in with a ban on after-hours opening and a zero-tolerance approach to unruly behaviour.

Police say the pub has changed beyond recognition since Mr McGrath took over last year.

In 2008, police recorded 28 different incidents at the Punch Taverns pub, including four relating to drugs and nine reports of assaults or disorder.

This year, police have a record of just one fight nearby, involving people who had not been drinking there.

Mr Cope said: “It has been a real success story.

“It was hard work at the beginning because of all the pub’s problems, but it has improved dramatically.”

He added: “The problem before was that the designated premises supervisor did not run the pub – the customers did.

“There was a level of violence that was unacceptable, a level of drugs that was unacceptable and a level of serving out of hours that was totally out of the question.

“When we looked into it, we could prove they had served 7,500 pints out of hours.

“With an experienced landlord like Gerry in there, we know we can relax a bit.

“With the previous licensee, it was hideous.”

Former RAF drill sergeant Mr McGrath, 58, said: “It was closed down when I went in, but it had a bad reputation before.

“The customers more or less ran the pub themselves.

“I just went in and kept an eye on the place, and people respected that. Now there is no trouble at all.”

Mr McGrath, who also runs The King’s Arms, in The Moors, Kidlington, added: “Everyone who lives nearby says it is much better than it used to be, and the punters themselves knew that it had to happen.

“We have mutual respect now.”

Sandy Lister, of Punch Taverns, said trade at the pub had increased by 25 per cent in the last year.

He said: “Gerry has really turned the Black Bull into a stunning pub with his excellent standards and no-nonsense approach to bad behaviour.”