A customer notice at Crawley’s Wetherspoon pub says it has not banned veterans wearing poppies, following controversy over an incident at another of the company’s pubs.

The Jubilee Oak, in Crawley High Street, is part of the J D Wetherspoon chain.

A statement has been left on the pub window, challenging a national newspaper headline about customers being refused entry.

The notice states: “In fact, Wetherspoon has not banned veterans wearing poppies.”

The Jubilee Oak, in Crawley High Street, is part of the J D Wetherspoon chain. Photo: Google Street View

placeholder image — The Jubilee Oak, in Crawley High Street, is part of the J D Wetherspoon chain. Photo: Google Street View

It says the company is a longstanding supporter of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal and sells poppies in its pubs. Wetherspoon says its pubs raised £55,687 for the appeal last year.

The statement follows an incident at The Star in Gosport on Sunday, October 25, when customers wearing poppies were among those refused entry amid extra security measures linked to a demonstration nearby.

A veteran who was turned away said staff had described the poppy as potentially political. Wetherspoon subsequently denied having a ban on poppies and apologised to customers who had been inconvenienced.

As reported by our sister title in Portsmouth, The News, police have contradicted Wetherspoons claims that officers advised for the pub to be shut.

A British Army veteran was left in disbelief when he was refused entry to a Gosport Wetherspoon pub for wearing a ‘political’ poppy.

Social media footage showed the man being turned away from The Star in the High Street on Sunday afternoon. The decision to deny entry has been described as a ‘sickening’ move to ban the remembrance symbol for those who served the Armed Services.

The incident came amid anti-immigration protests as around 500 demonstrators marched through the streets to protest after planned small boat arrivals in the town recently.

A large police presence was positioned outside The Star as people were captured on video being turned away. Wetherspoons claimed they were told by officers to close the pub but police have rejected this.

Joe Standen, the Reform UK councillor for Paulsgrove, posted a video on social media as did councillor George Madgwick, leader of Reform UK in Hampshire, on X.

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 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.”

A police spokesperson contradicted Wetherspoons claim that officers asked the pub to shut. A spokesperson said: “Following the protest in Gosport a number of people gathered in Gosport High Street.

“No offences were identified and police did not ask any pubs to shut their doors. The group soon dispersed on their own.”