A PUB shut down by Kent Police after a drugs raid last month will stay closed for two months before changing hands.

The Shire Horse, in Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne, was raided by 70 officers on January 20, and closed under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, 2003.

Police had wanted the maximum closure time of three months applied to the pub but magistrates decided on two months.

The closure applies to the licensed area of the pub, the ground floor, which was due to be boarded up on Thursday.

Landlord John Rook, who has decided to leave, will live upstairs with his family until he finds a new home.

Andrew Bracken, divisional director of Enterprise Inns, said: “The first I knew about the raid and closure was when I was watching the local news.

“I had not known of any previous problems except when Mr Rook reported a drug dealer who was arrested on the premises last April.

“We will be showing around strong-minded possible tenants with a view to refurbishing

the pub as a restaurant with bar.”

Kent police solicitor Gareth Davies said: “A closure notice was served on the pub because police found traces of cocaine in the sinks and cubicles of both the gents and ladies toilets.”

Robin Neale, of East Street and chairman of the local Neighbourhood Watch group, told magistrates: “I can see The Shire Horse from our house and it has affected our quality of life."

He added: “I see hooliganism and fights most weekends. I have had to put a plastic screen on my door in case a bottle comes through it.”

Borough councillor Simon Clark (Lab) said: “It is a satisfactory outcome. Hopefully the residents will now get some long-needed peaceful nights. I hope the pub can be turned into a family-style restaurant rather than one with beers and big screen TVs.”

Chief Insp Ian Hall, from Swale police, who co-ordinated the raid, said: “We have worked closely with Swale Borough Council to make the area safer and I am confident that we have shown our commitment to tackle drugs within the area.

“Residents deserve to feel safe and be free from fear and I believe the closure brings us one step closer to achieving this.

“The fight against drugs is an on-going battle and we would not achieve what we have without support from both our partners and the community.”

Solicitor Andrew McCooey, acting on behalf of The Shire Horse pub landlord John Rook, said: “My client has decided to surrender his licence of the pub. This has not been an easy decision as he and his family have very much enjoyed the past two-and-a-half years of running The Shire.

“However, it is a very tough and demanding task to be a publican in Sittingbourne. When he took over as licensee, he tried his very best to keep an orderly house, free of drugs and anti-social behaviour, and the vast majority of his customers were excellent people.

"But there was always a small disruptive minority and he very much regrets that innocent residents have been affected by them."