@c5news: “Disgusting and shameful.” A veteran was refused entry to a Wetherspoons after the poppy he was wearing was deemed “political”, but the chain has said there is “no ban” on the remembrance symbol and the incident was the result of “demonstrations” in town. In footage widely shared on social media, the veteran, who is filming, is told by staff at The Star in Gosport on Sunday that the poppy is “political” and he would not be served while wearing it. The staff member went on to explain that it is a blanket rule which covers anything that could be perceived as political. Councillor George Madgwick, who leads the Reform UK group on Hampshire County Council, said the group had been meeting for a drink after campaigning and branded their treatment as “disgusting and shameful”. Wetherspoons has denied having a poppy ban, saying that extra security measures were in place in the town because of demonstrations. "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,” a spokesperson explained. "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 spokesperson said the pub closed to all customers, "on advice of the police, at 5pm”. Mr Madgwick told the Mail that a “few of us” met at the pub after campaigning, in ordinary clothes, “with no flags, party logs or political branding. A couple of the men were veterans wearing poppies”. #5news

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Monday 26 October 2026 12:50:25 GMT