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British Prime Minister David Cameron (centre) and President Xi Jinping (third left) pictured at the pub in Buckinghamshire in October last year. Photo: AFP

Chinese firm buys British pub where Xi Jinping, David Cameron had a pint

Hostelry near British prime ministers’ official country residence has become a tourist attraction for Chinese visitors

Xi Jinping

A Chinese investment firm has bought the British village pub where President Xi Jinping and then British prime minister David Cameron had a drink together last year.

Chinese government-backed SinoFortone has bought The Plough at Cadsden, a traditional pub that rose to fame after Cameron treated Xi to a pint of English ale and British fish and chips there during Xi’s state visit in October 2015.

The deal was announced on Monday by property firm Christie & Co, which brokered the sale.

The pub, a few minutes away from British prime ministers’ official country residence at Chequers, was said to be one of Cameron’s favourites. It traces its history back to the 16th century when it was a staging post for London coaches.

Neil Morgan, who overseas pub business for Christie & Co, said in the announcement the pub had become a tourist attraction for Chinese visitors since Xi’s visit.

Chinese tourists were keen to sample the classic British food and beer the president tried, Morgan said.

Peter Zhang, the managing director of SinoFortone Investment,said: “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.”

During the 2015 visit, SinoFortone signed investment deals worth about £5.2 billion (HK$51 billion) in Britain, including a project to build a Paramount theme park near London.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: State firm buys UK pub where Xi and Cameron drank
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