JD Wetherspoon Denies Poppy Ban After Gosport Pub Incident

JD Wetherspoon denied implementing a ban on poppies after several customers, including military veterans and Reform UK councillor George Madgwick, were refused entry to The Star pub in Gosport on October 25. The incident occurred during anti-immigration marches and counter-demonstrations in the town. A social media video showed a security staff member telling a patron to put their poppy in a pocket or leave the premises.

JD Wetherspoon apologized for the incident, stating that while there is no ban on poppies, standard security measures were in place due to the local protests. The company further claimed the pub closed at 5 p.m. on police advice. However, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary stated that no offences were identified and police did not ask any pubs to shut their doors.

Separately, the pub chain reported a 28 percent drop in pre-tax profits to £58.6 million for the year ending July 26, despite a 5.2 percent increase in total sales. Chairman Tim Martin attributed the decline to government-led tax and regulatory cost increases, specifically citing a £46 million rise in wage costs following a national minimum wage increase.