Wetherspoons decision to refuse veteran entry to pub 'regrettable' as police say company 'wrong' over claim

Wetherspoons actions in refusing entry to a man wearing a poppy have been called “regrettable” by an MP as police again say the pub chain was “wrong” to claim an officer asked for the pub to close.

Social media footage showed the man being turned away from The Star in the High Street on Sunday afternoon by the pub’s manager because the remembrance symbol was deemed “political”.

Despite this, people have reported being allowed in other Wetherspoons pubs wearing their poppy. Wetherspoons has said it supports the Poppy Appeal.

The incident came amid an anti-immigration protest in the town earlier in the day, though this was not given as a reason to prevent the veteran from entering the watering hole.

The pub chain also blamed police for shutting the pub. However, the force previously told The News officers never advised for the pub to close. “Police did not ask any pubs to shut their doors,” a spokesperson previously said.

Despite this, Wetherspoons has continued to insist in its public messaging - including in posters at its pubs - that police told them to close the pub. When asked if Wetherspoons was “wrong” to again claim this, a force spokesperson said: “Yes, our previous statement was correct.”

A Wetherspoons spokesperson had said: "Wetherspoons 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.

"The pub closed to all customers, on advice of the police, at 5pm. We apologise to any regular customers who have been inconvenienced by events.”

The incident has caused anger with one veteran blasting the staff member as a “muppet” for denying access to the man.

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has also waded into the debate and criticised the pub. She said: "Wetherspoons has stated that the company doesn’t have a policy preventing people wearing poppies from entering their pubs.

"Their actions on Sunday were regrettable and have led to some difficult publicity.

"I know a number of pubs in Gosport did face tough decisions about whether and how to operate after recent protests saw instances of anti-social and violent behaviour across the area.

"Remembrance is an important time to remember all those who gave their lives in service to this country.

"No area respects that more than Gosport, which has the highest proportion of veterans in the country."

Portsmouth Reform councillor George Madwick said: “In a further Wetherspoons Poppy plot twist the police have now officially come out and stated that Wetherspoons statement wasn’t true/accurate.

“The company’s statement claimed that The Star, in Gosport, had closed at 5pm on police advice, an account that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has directly disputed.

“The force confirmed that officers had not instructed any pubs in Gosport to close their doors following the demonstrations.

“So this is the second thing the statement has been officially challenged for now. The first being that they only refused a veteran due to his poppy and not for any other reason - rather than the inaccurate statement they gave. Why don’t Spoons just put their hands up.”