The then Prime Minister and Mr Xi chatted over fish and chips and pints of Greene King IPA at the pub, which is a few minutes away from the prime minister’s official countryside residence at Chequers.
After the visit the pub’s landlord, Steve Hollings, claimed The Plough had become “the most famous pub in the world” and it has now become an unlikely tourist destination for Chinese visitors to the UK.
Peter Zhang, 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."
The Plough was sold through property company Christie and Co. Neil Morgan, managing director of pubs for the firm, said: "We are really pleased to have completed the sale of the Plough to SinoFortune Investment.
"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."
The Plough’s proximity to Chequers means it has been a frequent destination for British politicians during their country retreats. Former Prime Minister Edward Heath was known to be a visitor, while the pub also claims to “regularly host a variety of local celebrities from the world of film, television and the music industry”. The location has also featured in ITV series Midsomer Murders.
Following the visit of the Chinese president, Mr Hollings said Mr Xi had sent him an email “thanking him, and saying that he enjoyed the meal and drink in the pub”.
SinoFortone specialises in investing in infrastructure, energy, education, food and beverages and is involved in the new London Paramount theme park development and the planned Crossrail 2 train line through London, as well as new metro systems in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.
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