Gosport pub 'devastated' as Remembrance Day service is cancelled due to coronavirus

Emma Pickering and Paul Watch run The Eagle in Elmhurst Road, Gosport, and were saddened by the cancelling of Remembrance services across the Solent region.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, most events had either been cancelled or turned into virtual broadcasts.

Instead, Emma and Paul arranged for a Remembrance service to be held in their pub, with the help of Reverend Pete Lambert, who usually hosts the annual service in the nearby church.

But with prime minister Boris Johnson announcing a second lockdown on Saturday evening, this event has now been cancelled.

But with prime minister Boris Johnson announcing a second lockdown on Saturday evening, this event has now been cancelled.

Emma said: ‘We are both absolutely devastated by the news – it’s rubbish timing for a lockdown.

‘With Paul previously serving in the navy, Remembrance Day is very close to our hearts, and in Gosport it has always been a huge event.

‘It’s so upsetting because we have so many armed forces veterans and current service personnel in the area, and we really wanted to do something for them.’

Emma said the two landlords will be going ‘back to the drawing board’ as they reconsider their options for Remembrance Sunday.

This year, The News is campaigning for people to honour our war heroes in their own ways.

Our Stand Out for Heroes campaign will see people across the area take to their doorstep, garden, or balcony, to honour the two-minute silence on Sunday, November 8 – in lieu of the cancelled Remembrance Day parades – and again on November 11 for Armistice Day.

SEE ALSO: Portsmouth dockyard veteran recalls 'incredible' effort to get warships ready for the Falklands

Emma said: ‘No matter what, it’s vital that we do something to honour those who have so much to us.

‘There are definitely still ways to do Remembrance and I think everyone should do their part – so I hope people back The News’ campaign.

‘We won’t let this ruin Remembrance, that’s for certain.’

The pub is under the ownership of Admiral Taverns, with Emma and Paul only taking on the pub in August.

But with the second lockdown forcing pubs to close once again, the pair are concerned about what the future might hold.

‘It’s a horrific time to be a pub landlord,’ Emma admitted.

‘I think this second lockdown could finish off some businesses for good – and to be frank, I’m worried about ours too.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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