Punters appear to have been banned from entering a JD Wetherspoon pub today because they were wearing poppies.
Staff refused the group of six people entry, saying the symbol could be “perceived as political”.
The incident happened this afternoon outside The Star in Gosport, Hampshire.
A clip from the incident first reveals a confrontation with security, then what appears to be a manager.
In the video shared on social media, the bouncer tells the group: “I’m just doing my job.”
He goes on to say if they were to put their poppy on inside, they would be “asked to leave”.
The member of staff, believed to be the manager, said a “blanket ban” had been put on anything that could be “perceived as political”.
He added: “It’s fair for everyone. It’s blanket. Full stop.”
Reform UK councillor for Portsmouth City Council, George Madgwick, told GB News founder and owner of Wetherspoons Sir Tim Martin will “go ballistic” when he finds out about the incident.
He said: “I can’t believe it. If it wasn’t recorded, I wouldn’t believe it’s true either.”
Mr Madgwick told the People’s Channel the group were members of Reform UK and had been out campaigning, but did not have any visible sign of that they were representing Nigel Farage’s party.
On the same day, around 400 anti-migrant protesters descended on the area after two small boats had turned up at the nearby shore.
A counter protest was also present and Hampshire Police said both protests passed without incident and no arrests were made. The force issued a ban on face-covering and a dispersal order.
Ash, a witness who attended the protest and pub, told the Britain’s News Channel: “As we approached the pub, the doormen at the door stared at me and put his finger out and said, ‘You’re wearing a poppy, you’re not coming in’. And it sort of took me by surprise, to be honest.”
Founded by Sir Tim in 1979, Wetherspoons publicly supports the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal and has raised tens of thousands of pounds annually for the charity.
However, the chain previously sparked criticism after a woman wearing a Union Jack dress was refused entry to The Picture House in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
The business appears to operate a general no-flags, no-placards policy in its establishments to keep a neutral atmosphere and manage licensing obligations.
In 2017, the company was forced to clarify it has not banned staff from wearing poppies after a spoof Twitter account claimed it had.
A JD Wetherspoon spokesman 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 1700 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.”
The incident has triggered an angry reaction online, with questions being raised about why a symbol associated with remembrance and military sacrifice was treated as potentially political.
For many people across Britain, the red poppy is an important part of the country’s annual Remembrance traditions. It is worn by veterans, serving personnel, families and members of the public to honour those who have lost their lives in military conflicts.
The controversy has therefore become more than a disagreement over entry to a pub. It has raised wider questions about respect for veterans, the meaning of the poppy and how businesses should respond when local tensions create additional security concerns.
However, Wetherspoons has strongly denied operating a general ban on poppies, saying the restrictions were connected to demonstrations taking place in Gosport that day.
Veteran Left Shocked by the Incident
Scott Schillemore, a 33-year-old former Royal Artillery gunner who served in the British Army between 2009 and 2015, described his experience as deeply upsetting.
He said he had lost a close friend in Afghanistan and had previously visited Wetherspoons pubs with friends to remember those who were no longer alive.
According to reports, Schillemore and his companions were told that they could enter The Star only if they removed their poppies.
The explanation that the symbol could be considered political left the group questioning why a traditional emblem of remembrance had become an obstacle to entering a pub.
Schillemore said the experience had changed his attitude towards the chain and that he did not intend to return.
His reaction reflects the significance that many veterans attach to the poppy. For those who have served in the armed forces, remembrance can be closely connected to personal experiences, friendships and the loss of colleagues.
The incident also came at a particularly sensitive time of year, with Remembrance Sunday approaching in November.
During this period, people across the country begin wearing poppies and attending events dedicated to those who served and died in conflicts.
For many, the symbol is intended to bring people together across differences in age, background and political belief.
Why the Red Poppy Matters
The red poppy became an established symbol of remembrance after the First World War.
Today, the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal raises funds to support serving and former members of the armed forces community, including veterans and their families.
The appeal also provides an opportunity for people to reflect on the human cost of conflict and recognise the sacrifices made by generations of service personnel.
Wearing a poppy is a personal choice. Some people wear one throughout the remembrance period, while others support the appeal through donations or by attending commemorative services.
The symbol is widely recognised throughout Britain and is worn by people with different political views.
That broad association is one reason why the Gosport incident attracted such strong reactions. Critics questioned how a remembrance emblem could reasonably be treated in the same way as an explicitly partisan political badge.
Others argued that businesses have a responsibility to maintain consistent rules for customers, particularly when there is a risk that symbols or clothing could become connected to demonstrations.
The dispute has therefore exposed a difficult question: how can a business enforce temporary security measures without creating the impression that it is rejecting a widely recognised act of remembrance?
Wetherspoons Responds to the Backlash
Wetherspoons moved to address the controversy after footage of the confrontation spread across social media.
The company said it had a longstanding relationship with the Royal British Legion and continued to sell poppies in its pubs, including The Star in Gosport.
It explicitly denied that poppies were banned across its pubs.
According to the company’s statement, additional security measures were in place because of demonstrations in the town. Some members of the public, including people wearing poppies, were unable to enter the venue.
The pub subsequently closed to customers at 5pm on Sunday, and the company apologised to customers who had been inconvenienced.
Wetherspoons said it looked forward to welcoming customers back after the disruption.
The company’s explanation differs from the impression created by the footage, in which staff appeared to tell the veterans that the poppy itself was the reason they could not enter.
That difference has become central to the controversy.
The company says the restrictions were temporary security measures associated with the local situation, rather than a general policy against remembrance symbols.
Nevertheless, the exchange has raised questions about whether the restrictions were explained clearly and consistently at the entrance.
A policy designed to prevent confrontations can itself create controversy if customers do not understand why it is being applied.
Gosport Demonstrations Complicate the Situation
The incident took place amid demonstrations in Gosport linked to concerns about immigration and the arrival of small boats in the wider area.
Hundreds of demonstrators reportedly gathered in the town, prompting a substantial police presence.
Against that background, the pub introduced additional security arrangements. The company said these measures affected some customers and that the venue later closed.
However, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary disputed the company’s claim that officers had instructed pubs to close their doors.
Police said that, following the protest, people gathered in Gosport High Street, but no offences were identified and the group dispersed voluntarily. The force said it had not asked pubs to shut.
This disagreement adds another layer to the story. While Wetherspoons linked its actions to the security situation, the police account does not support the claim that officers ordered pubs to close.
The available information does not establish every detail of the decision-making inside the pub or explain precisely how staff were instructed to handle customers wearing poppies.
What is clear is that the incident occurred during a tense local gathering and that the company subsequently rejected suggestions of a nationwide poppy ban.
Political Reactions Intensify the Debate
The footage prompted criticism from political figures, including Reform UK councillors who shared the incident online.
Some described the treatment of veterans as unacceptable and argued that the poppy should not be regarded as a political statement.
Their comments helped bring the story to a much wider audience, turning a local dispute into a national debate about remembrance and public attitudes towards former service personnel.
However, the involvement of political figures has also made it important to distinguish between the footage itself, the accounts provided by those involved and wider claims about company policy.
The fact that customers wearing poppies were refused entry at one venue does not establish that all Wetherspoons pubs have adopted the same restriction.
The company has explicitly rejected that interpretation.
The controversy illustrates how quickly an incident recorded on a mobile phone can spread online, particularly when it touches on a subject that carries considerable emotional significance.
It also shows how an incident occurring alongside a political demonstration can acquire wider political meaning, even when the original disagreement concerns access to a business.
A Question of Consistency and Respect
For customers, the central issue may be whether the pub’s rules were applied fairly.
Businesses are entitled to introduce reasonable security arrangements, especially when demonstrations or large gatherings create concerns about disruption.
But customers also expect explanations to be clear, particularly when a restriction appears to single out a symbol associated with remembrance.
If a venue temporarily excludes items that could be interpreted as political, staff need to explain the rule in a way that avoids unnecessary confusion and confrontation.
The Gosport footage suggests that the explanation given at the door left the veterans believing that their poppies were prohibited because they were considered political.
Wetherspoons’ subsequent statement, meanwhile, focused on the wider security measures and rejected the idea of a general ban.
The gap between those explanations is likely to remain a major point of discussion.
A clear account of how the decision was made could help explain why the incident unfolded as it did and whether staff were following the company’s intended procedures.
For veterans and their supporters, an apology for the inconvenience may not fully address the concern that a symbol of remembrance was treated as inappropriate.
For the company, the priority will be demonstrating that its longstanding support for the Poppy Appeal is consistent with how its pubs treat customers during the remembrance period.
What Happens Next?
The controversy comes just days before the start of one of Britain’s most important annual periods of remembrance.
As more people begin wearing poppies, businesses, public venues and organisers will face renewed attention over how they accommodate the symbol.
The incident may encourage companies to clarify their policies and ensure that temporary security arrangements are communicated properly to customers.
It may also prompt a wider discussion about how businesses can remain neutral during politically sensitive events while respecting symbols that hold personal and national significance.
For now, Wetherspoons has made its position clear: it says there is no general ban on poppies in its pubs and has pointed to its continued support for the Royal British Legion.
The Gosport incident nevertheless demonstrates how a local security decision can create a national controversy when it involves veterans and remembrance.
For Schillemore and his friends, the experience was a personal disappointment linked to a tradition they value.
For the company, it has become a public relations challenge requiring a convincing explanation of what happened.
And for the wider public, the debate raises a question that extends beyond one pub: how should Britain balance security, neutrality and respect for the people who served in its armed forces?
As Remembrance Sunday approaches, many will hope that the focus can return to honouring the fallen and supporting the living, rather than arguing over whether wearing a poppy should prevent someone from walking through a pub door.