THE new owners of a pub in Ferndown have vowed to turn its reputation around and put a stop to bad behaviour. 

Rowena and Jay Jones have recently taken on The White Heather Pub in Ringwood Road and want the pub to become family friendly.

The couple, who also own the Albion Inn in Verwood, first opened to the public on December 9. 

Finding some negativity due to the pub being known for fighting, Mrs Jones said in the first few weeks it hadn't been an issue. 

She said: "Initially there was nothing major, there was a lot of chatter around like 'this person is doing that drug' or 'don't let this person in.'" 

Mrs Jones said they have began hourly bathroom checks and are speaking with anyone suspected of drug usage. 

Despite this, the pub started to see more rowdy behaviour days before Christmas which led to the pub shutting early on Christmas Eve to avoid further concerns. 

She said: "A couple of nights before there had been a couple of incidents where things had been heated.

"We barred one of the people but, due to things getting a little heated on the nights before, we decided to close early to save Christmas Eve for everyone else. We didn't want to let these drunk people run around Ferndown." 

Both Mr and Mrs Jones want to change the pub's reputation in an area where rowdy behaviour can occur. 

Mrs Jones said: "It's a select few people and they just cause trouble for everybody else. We just need to locate them and if they won't change, they should be barred from all of the pubs in Ferndown." 

The owners have been in contact with the police and, under recommendation, will have security in the future in order to help create a safe space. 

Mrs Jones said: "We want to listen to the local people and make the pub into a place they want to go to. 

"We want it to to be a family and community pub where everyone can feel safe, have a good time and socialise."

Councillor Mike Parkes was approached by the Daily Echo on the incidents at White Heather but declined to comment.