THE landlady of a popular Hampshire pub could face criminal charges for opening in defiance of a closure order.

Police shut down The Red Lion in Totton on Friday to stop a farewell bash just days before the pub was due to close for good.

They rushed to issue a temporary closure order after Jacqui Clapp invited 1,000 customers through a social networking website to help “drink the |pub dry”.

Although plans for a farewell party of three nights’ live music over the weekend were abandoned, she opened for dozens of staff and relatives on Sunday night.

New Forest magistrates yesterday confirmed the closure order issued by police on Friday afternoon.

Sgt Tim Adams told the court there were “serious concerns for public safety”.

He said there had already been concerns about the level of crime and disorder at the pub, including drunken assaults, violence, and children on the premises.

Sgt Adams added that a woman was arrested in Asda for shoplifting after spending the morning drinking in the pub.

He said Mrs Clapp’s decision to open on Sunday was a “clear breach of the law”.

The pub closure was the first in the New Forest under a new licensing regime introduced in 2005.

Mrs Clapp, who did not attend the hearing, admitted she had invited about 25 people to a private farewell party on Sunday night but said she had bolted the doors and did not switch the tills on.

After the temporary notice expired yesterday morning she also opened briefly until the police formally served the magistrates’ order.

She insisted: “What they are saying is absolute rubbish. This pub has had the lowest amount of violence in this area.”

Mrs Clapp said the pub was turning a profit and she had kept up rent payments, but pub owners Enterprise Inns were unable to transfer the tenancy from her |ex-husband.

She was yesterday trying to sell off her remaining stock before Enterprise were due to take back the keys this morning.

Billed as the only late-night venue in Totton, the Commercial Road pub was able to stay open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays and attracted people from a wide area.

Mrs Clapp said: “It just seems that the police in Totton don’t want a pub in the area open after midnight.”

Linden Homes, one of Totton’s biggest developers, has denied rumours it was buying the Red Lion site.

Enterprise Inns has declined comment on the pub’s closure.