(Image: Press Association Images/Press Association Images)
Wetherspoons has issued a statement after a customer wearing a poppy was allegedly turned away.
The pub chain, which operates pubs in York and North Yorkshire, spoke out after reports that a customer wearing a poppy was turned away from a venue.
The incident happened at The Star pub in Gosport, Hampshire, on Sunday, October 25.
Pub bosses have now explained extra security was in place during an outside demonstration, leading staff to refuse entry to several visitors, including poppy wearers.
A spokesman for Wetherspoons said: "In fact, Wetherspoons has not banned veterans wearing poppies.
"Wetherspoon is a long- standing supporter of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and sells poppies in its pubs."
It comes after it was reported profits slid by more than a quarter after it was hit by a jump in costs, including higher wages and property taxes.
The company, which runs 792 pubs across the UK, said pre-tax profits tumbled by 28 per cent to £58.6 million for the year to July 26, compared with a year earlier.
The benefit from stronger sales was larger, offset by a 5.3 per cent jump in costs, Wetherspoon told shareholders.
It said this included a £46 million increase in wage costs for the year, after the national minimum wage was increased by 4.1 per cent during the year.
Wetherspoon also reported a £31 million increase in repair costs, and its business rates bill lifted by £9 million to £42.6 million despite relief measures for pub operators.
The hospitality firm reported a 5.2 per cent jump in total sales for the year, with like-for-like sales growth of 4.2 per cent.
The increase was particularly driven by customers buying drinks, with bar sales up 6.1 per cent year-on-year.
Wetherspoon said it benefited from “substantial progress” to increase the number of beer gardens and outside seating areas across its pubs.
Tim Martin, chairman of the business, said: “The hospitality industry, as many commentators and companies have noted, has borne the brunt of government-led tax and regulatory cost increases, especially in the last two budgets.
“This has resulted in pubs becoming even more expensive than supermarkets, leading to job losses, closures and high street dereliction.
“It is to be hoped that the powers that be will refrain from any further increases, since pubs and restaurants pay around 40 per cent of their receipts as taxes of one sort or another – and provide immense financial support to the Treasury, as well as social support to the community.”