China firm buys UK pub where Cameron and Xi enjoyed pint

LONDON: A Chinese firm has bought the British pub where last year Chinese President Xi Jinping and then prime minister David Cameron hoisted a pint over fish and chips.

The Plough in Cadsden, close to the prime minister’s official country residence near London, was bought by SinoFortone Investment for an undisclosed sum, Christie & Co commercial property agent said in a statement on Monday.

“The pub became famous in Chinese circles following the visit of President Xi Jinping and it has become quite a tourist attraction for Chinese visitors since,” said Neil Morgan, managing director of pubs and restaurants for the company.

Visitors were “keen to sample the classic British food and beer that the president tried”, he said.

“Asian investors are becoming more interested in UK markets, particularly hotels, licensed and leisure and we are seeing more and more Chinese investors.”

Peter Zhang, managing director of Sinofortone Investment, was quoted as saying: “The English pub concept is growing very fast in China and it’s the best way culturally to link people from different countries and build friendships.”

Cameron took Xi to the pub in October last year, reportedly at the Chinese leader’s request during his state visit to Britain.

The pub’s landlord Steve Hollings told AFP then that Cameron and Xi had been “extremely friendly”.

They drank “traditional English bitter” and had “traditional English fish and chips”, he said proudly.