Wetherspoons denies banning customers wearing poppies

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 19:38 · Archive

Wetherspoons has denied banning veterans wearing poppies after a customer was allegedly turned away from one of its pubs.

Wetherspoons has denied banning customers wearing poppies after allegations that a customer was turned away from The Star pub in Gosport, Hampshire, on 25 October. The pub chain said extra security measures were in place during an outside demonstration, which led staff to refuse entry to several visitors, including some wearing poppies.

A Wetherspoons spokesman said: 'In fact, Wetherspoons has not banned veterans wearing poppies. Wetherspoon is a long-standing supporter of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and sells poppies in its pubs.'

The statement came as the company reported wider financial pressures. Wetherspoons, which operates 792 pubs across the UK, said pre-tax profits fell 28 per cent to £58.6 million for the year to 26 July, compared with the previous year. The company cited a 5.3 per cent rise in costs, including a £46 million increase in wage costs following a 4.1 per cent rise in the national minimum wage, a £31 million increase in repair costs, and a £9 million rise in business rates to £42.6 million.

How it is being reported

• Wetherspoons statement after customer 'turned away over poppy'Wetherspoons has issued a statement after a customer wearing a poppy was allegedly turned away.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 26 Oct, 19:18
• Wetherspoons statement after customer 'turned away over poppy'Wetherspoons has issued a statement after a customer wearing a poppy was allegedly turned away.York Press · 26 Oct, 19:18

In this story: Wetherspoons · Royal British Legion · The Star · Gosport · Hampshire · York · North Yorkshire

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem