Wetherspoon denies poppy ban after incident at Gosport pub

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 27 Oct, 09:28 · Archive

Wetherspoon said it has not banned poppies after customers wearing them were turned away from The Star pub in Gosport during an anti-immigration demonstration.

Wetherspoon denied it has banned poppies after customers wearing them were reportedly turned away from The Star pub in Gosport on 25 October during an anti-immigration demonstration.

Videos posted on social media showed security staff telling visitors to remove their poppies before entering the pub. One security worker said: 'You put it in your pocket and take it off mate, yes you can but don't put it on inside... you'll be asked to leave.' A manager responding to similar questions said it was 'blanket' policy that 'anything that could be perceived as political' was not allowed.

Wetherspoon said extra security measures had been put in place as a result of the outside demonstrations, which led to several members of the public, including poppy wearers, being refused entry. The pub closed to all customers on police advice at 5pm and remained closed the following day.

A spokesman for the company said: 'Wetherspoon is a long-standing supporter of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and sells poppies in its pubs.' The company stated there was no ban on poppies in any of its venues. Reform UK councillor George Madgwick claimed the refusals were 'purely about the poppy'.

The incident came as Wetherspoon reported that pre-tax profits tumbled by 28 per cent to £58.6 million for the year to 26 July. The 792-pub chain said a 5.3 per cent jump in costs, including a £46 million increase in wage costs following a 4.1 per cent rise in the national minimum wage, offset the benefit from stronger sales. It also reported a £31 million increase in repair costs and a £9 million rise in its business rates bill to £42.6 million.

How it is being reported

• Wetherspoon speaks out after customer wearing poppy reportedly turned awayWetherspoons has issued a statement after a customer wearing a poppy was allegedly turned away.Cumberland News · 27 Oct, 09:14
• Wetherspoon speaks out after customer wearing poppy reportedly turned awayWetherspoons has issued a statement after a customer wearing a poppy was allegedly turned away.NW Evening Mail · 27 Oct, 09:14
• Wetherspoon speaks out after customer wearing poppy reportedly turned awayWetherspoons has issued a statement after a customer wearing a poppy was allegedly turned away.Whitehaven News · 27 Oct, 09:14
• Wetherspoon speaks out after customer wearing poppy reportedly turned awayWetherspoons has issued a statement after a customer wearing a poppy was allegedly turned away.Westmorland Gazette · 27 Oct, 09:14
• Wetherspoon issues statement after tense scenes at pub over poppy rowPub giant JD Wetherspoon has issued a statement saying there is no ban on Royal British Legion poppies at its venues after tense scenes saw chants of "shame on you" in a heated row over entry.NW Evening Mail · 26 Oct, 14:44

In this story: Wetherspoon · The Star pub · Gosport · Royal British Legion · George Madgwick · Reform UK

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