'Mean-spirited' Wetherspoons kicks out brass band performing old war songs after D Day event

Dignitaries and veterans gathered to pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Neptune in 1944.

The brass band later congregated inside the nearby Postal Order.

Pub-goers were delighted by the performance of World War Two anthems.

Staff from the Postal Order halted the band and requested the group left the premises.

Customers claimed the pub said it “doesn’t have a licence” for live music.

An eyewitness told LancsLive: "We attended the D-Day commemoration at the Blackburn Cathedral, whilst the ceremony was going on myself, my daughter and my parents called into The Postal Order in Blackburn.

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"As we sat having a coffee, the Darwen Brass band came in and decided to do a good deed [and] started to play some old war songs. It brought the moral of the pub up, lots of people joined in singing.

"Then to our absolute disgust, the staff barged from out behind the bar along with the chef [and] shouted that the band needed to leave, and kicked them out.

"Their excuse was they didn't have a music licence. Fair enough but the pub wasn't broadcasting music? I'm sure they could have allowed them to finish the song then calmly explained why they couldn't carry on playing. I find this shocking.

"The way the band was treated was appalling, the staff attitude in general was damn-right rude."

Mandy Pickles, chair of Darwen Brass Band, also complained about the decision taken at Postal Order.

She added: "We thought it would be well received in the pub, and it was by those who were in there, so when they interrupted us and ordered us to leave everyone was very disappointed."

A spokesman for Wetherspoons said: “Almost uniquely, Wetherspoon does not play music in its pubs.

“There have been occasional exceptions for special occasions which, due to live music sometimes needing licensing permission, have been agreed in advance.

"If the organisers of the brass band would like to contact Wetherspoon, we will certainly consider making an exception.”