World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Wetherspoon says there is no poppy ban after veteran turned away in Gosport
A veteran was turned away from The Star in Gosport on Sunday while wearing a remembrance poppy.
Video shows a staff member saying items that could be seen as political were not allowed, and that the veteran could enter only after removing the poppy.
The incident happened as about 400 anti-immigrant protesters gathered in the town, alongside a counter-protest.
Wetherspoon said there is no ban on poppies and that security measures were in place because of the demonstrations.
The company said some people, including people wearing poppies, were refused entry, and that the pub closed at 5pm on police advice.
Poppies are worn to remember people who served in the Armed Forces, and Wetherspoon says it supports the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.
The company said it looked forward to welcoming customers back the next day.
A veteran was turned away from The Star, a Wetherspoon pub in Gosport, after staff said his poppy could be perceived as political.
Wetherspoon said there is no ban on poppies and that standard security measures were in place because of demonstrations in the town.
The incident took place on 25 October, when around 400 anti-immigrant protesters marched through Gosport.
The pub chain said some people, including people wearing poppies, were not admitted and that the pub closed on police advice at 5pm.
- Who
- A veteran was turned away by security at The Star, a Wetherspoon pub.
- What
- Staff said he could not enter wearing a poppy. Wetherspoon said there is no ban on poppies.
- When
- Sunday afternoon, 25 October 2026.
- Where
- The Star in Gosport, Hampshire.
- Why
- Staff said the poppy could be perceived as political. Wetherspoon said standard security measures were in place because of demonstrations in the town.
Veteran and Reform UK representatives
Wetherspoon
Entry policy
Veteran and Reform UK representatives
The veteran was turned away while wearing a poppy, and Reform UK representatives criticised the incident as a ban on poppies.
Wetherspoon
The company said there is no ban on poppies in its pubs.
Reason for refusal
Veteran and Reform UK representatives
Reform UK representatives said the veteran should not have been refused entry for wearing a remembrance poppy.
Wetherspoon
Wetherspoon said standard security measures were in place because of demonstrations in the town, and some people, including some wearing poppies, did not gain entry.
A veteran was refused entry to The Star in Gosport while wearing a poppy.
Around 400 anti-immigrant protesters marched through Gosport; Hampshire Police said both protests passed without incident and no arrests were made.
Wetherspoon said The Star closed to all customers on police advice.
Wetherspoon issued a statement saying there was no ban on poppies and that security measures had been in place because of demonstrations.
- Pub
- The Star, Gosport
- Incident date
- 25 October 2026
- Protest
- Around 400 anti-immigrant protesters
- Pub closure
- 5pm, on police advice
- Poppy appeal
- Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal
3 sources
What people are saying
Wetherspoon has been a long-standing supporter of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, with poppies for sale in our pubs, including the Star. There is no ban on poppies in Wetherspoon pubs.
However there were some standard security measures in place, as a result of demonstrations in the town. Unfortunately, some members of the public, including some wearing poppies, did not gain entry to the pub.
As a former Royal Marines Commando and current Councillor I am absolutely shocked and sickened to hear that an Army veteran has been refused entry into a Wetherspoons for wearing a poppy!
As we approached the pub, the doormen at the door stared at me and put his finger out and said, 'You're wearing a poppy, you're not coming in'.