PoliticsXi Jinpingdavid camerontony blair

Fish And Chips Diplomacy: World Leaders Dining Out On Visits To Britain And Ireland As President Xi Gets A Pint

Why World Leaders Want Fish And Chips When They Visit Britain
Graeme Demianyk
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David Cameron: I'll have what Xi's having
KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH via Getty Images

Chinese President Xi Jinping was reportedly "desperate" to sample Britain's most famous dish during his state visit to the UK. Today he got his wish - and a pint.

The premier of the Asian super-power was pictured tucking into his desired fish and chips (mushy peas to be confirmed) at The Plough near Chequers, Buckinghamshire.

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He isn't the first world leader to have enjoyed a slap-up feed in the best and/or most humble of Britain and Ireland's restaurants and boozers.

Here are some of the biggest political names with the biggest appetites.

World Leaders Eat Out In Britain And Ireland
"And a packet of dry-roasted nuts ..."(01 of07)
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Some cask-ale diplomacy as David Cameron takes French President Francois Hollande to The Swan Inn in the Prime Minister's Oxfordshire constituency last year. On the menu: potted shrimps, rainbow trout and apple and raisin crumble. (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
Getting to the meat of the matter(02 of07)
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Barack Obama looks unimpressed as David Cameron (possibly) urges the US President to use separate tongs for the meat at the Downing Street cook-out/barbecue in 2011. We're not saying the Prez is picky, but Obama later gave Cameron a $2,000 barbecue grill to commemorate a state visit. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
All hands to the pump(03 of07)
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Tony Blair flashes his trademark smile as George W Bush meets locals at The Dun Cow pub in the former Prime Minister's Sedgefield constituency in 2003. The tee-total ex-President drank non-alcoholic lager with his fish, chips and mushy peas. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Archive)
I'll just have a half(04 of07)
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Blair again at The Dunn Cow, this time with French counterpart Lionel Jospin in 1998. While they feasted on fish and chips, Jospin gave beef the thumbs up, despite still being subject to an EU ban. "I will eat English beef if ever you offer - with pleasure," he told hacks. (credit:PA Archive)
The bar of public opinion(05 of07)
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Some top-level supping between French President Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair at the County Restaurant in Aycliffe village, Durham, in the ex-PM's constituency in 2000. Years later Chirac would reportedly quip to Gerhard Schroeder and Vladimir Putin about British food: "One cannot trust people whose cuisine is so bad." (credit:PA/PA Archive)
Dining out on this(06 of07)
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Bill and Hillary Clinton looking relaxed in the company of the Blairs at the shishi Le Pont de la Tour restaurant overlooking the Thames in 1997. According to Blair's former chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, Clinton was "horrified" when his advance team arranged dinner at an Indian restaurant, to remind him of his days as a student in the capital. (credit:PA Photos/PA Archive)
Having a large Ron (07 of07)
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Still this side of Atlantic, and in 1984 President Ronald Reagan visited O'Farrell's pub in Ballyporeen, the village in the Irish Republic where he could trace back his descendants. The First Lady appears not to be enjoying the craic. (credit:RON EDMUNDS/AP)
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