Wetherspoons Responds After Veteran Wearing Poppy Is Turned Away
Updated 12:44 26 Oct 2026 GMTPublished 12:42 26 Oct 2026 GMT
Viral footage captured a doorman describing the poppy as 'political'
Wetherspoons has spoken out after a viral video of a member of staff refusing a man wearing a poppy went viral online.
There's just over two weeks until Remembrance Day in the UK, meaning that poppies are prevalent around this time of year, as the general public seek to honour those armed forces who have lost their lives in the line of duty, most notably in the first and second world wars.
A man who was wearing the commemorative flower on his shirt was denied entry to The Star pub in Gosport, while Reform councillor George Madgwick also claims an army veteran was also prevented from entering the Wetherspoons boozer.
Wetherspoons has insisted there is no ban on wearing poppies in their pubs, but said some customers wearing them were turned away as a result of 'standard security measures' put in place because of local demonstrations.
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Madgwick told the Daily Express: "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!
"Our servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice must never be treated as though their sacrifice is something to be embarrassed about or hidden away. This whole episode is shameful."
Remembrance Day is on 11 November (Getty Stock)
Scott Schillemore, 33, was also left shocked after he was told he couldn't enter, despite having served in the Army himself between 2009 and 2015.
He told The Sun: “Wetherspoons still sells poppies, but we’re not allowed to enter a pub with one? It’s ludicrous.”
While one video did capture a young staff member suggesting that there was a 'blanket' ban on anything which could be perceived as 'political', which has left some outraged at the situation, a Wetherspoons spokesperson has now outlined the company's stance on poppies.
A Wetherspoon spokesperson said: "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 today, 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 and remains closed today. We apologise to any regular customers who have been inconvenienced by today’s events and look to forward to welcoming everyone back tomorrow."
Around 400 people had gathered for an anti-immigration protest in Gosport the same day (Zeynep Demir/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Other online videos have established that some of the men who were wearing poppies could also be seen wearing political merchandise from an anti-immigration group, as part of protests and marches that were taking place in the naval town that day.
Wetherspoons has also emphasised that staff and customers are all free to wear poppies, while its pubs also raise between £60,000 and £80,000 each year for the Royal British Legion, a charity that provides financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans.
The case in Gosport appears to have been an on-the-day decision in response to the ongoing protests, as the pub closed early and some staff have reported that only the regulars were permitted entry.
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Topics: Wetherspoons, UK News