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Theresa May treats French president Emmanuel Macron to Michelin-starred pub lunch to discuss post-Brexit relationship

Theresa May greets Emmanuel Macron at The Royal Oak in Maidenhead: Jeremy Selwyn
Theresa May greets Emmanuel Macron at The Royal Oak in Maidenhead: Jeremy Selwyn

Theresa May treated Emmanuel Macron to a gastro-pub lunch today in a bid to usher in a new Anglo-French relationship after Brexit.

Under tight secrecy the Prime Minister invited the French president to a Michelin-starred 17th Century inn located in a picturesque Berkshire village.

Their working lunch at the historic Royal Oak in Littlefield Green, near Maidenhead, was the opening course to Mr Macron’s visit as French President to Britain.

Later he was due to be honoured with a parade at the Anglo-French summit venue, Sandhurst military academy.

Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to The Royal Oak in Paley Street, Maidenhead (@Number10gov/PA )
Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to The Royal Oak in Paley Street, Maidenhead (@Number10gov/PA )

The pub was bought by broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson and his son Nick, re-opened in 2001, and has won a series of awards including a Bib Gourmand in 2008, and a Michelin star in 2010.

Sous chef Craig Johnston, 22, was crowned winner of MasterChef: The Professionals – one of Mrs May’s favourite TV shows – last year with a combination of mackerel, pigeon and mousse.

The £65 tasting menu at the restaurant includes such dishes as Salad of Sweet Pickled Beetroot, Baby Onions, Toasted Quinoa and Herbs, shellfish Raviolo, Chilli Jam and Shellfish Bisque, paired with fine wines.

Desserts include Baked Chocolate Mousse, 100’s & 1000’s, with Honey Ice Cream.

Theresa May waits for Emmanuel Macron outside the eatery in Maidenhead (Evening Standard / eyevine)
Theresa May waits for Emmanuel Macron outside the eatery in Maidenhead (Evening Standard / eyevine)

The convivial setting and fine food was chosen to get the top-level Anglo-French meeting off to a good start.

But the two countries are riven by a series of rifts including on how to stop snarl-ups at Calais from hampering cross-Channel trade after Brexit.

The Evening Standard can reveal worries at the heart of the Government that France will deploy hundreds more border officials to carry out checks which could delay lorries, cars and pedestrians.

The UK is pushing for a hi-tech approach to make the border as frictionless as possible after Britain leaves the single market and customs union.

However, concerns were being voiced in Whitehall that France favours a more “manpowerbased” solution.

“The French approach is hundreds more border officials,” said a government source.

“We are proposing a systems-based approach fit for the 21st century.

“We have to work out whether the other side is going to be up to the job — that’s where the problem is.

Theresa May and Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)
Theresa May and Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)

“If the blockage is at Calais, not at Dover, there is nothing we can really do about it — it’s not in our control.”

Ports were said to be enthusiastic about adopting a pioneering electronic system, with forward declaration of goods, to ensure the smooth flow of trade.

However, British officials privately accept that it could take at least three years to fully implement the

scheme once a Brexit deal is struck.

If an agreement is reached in October, the new system might not be in place even after a two-year transition period.

Calais handles billions of pounds’ worth of British trade and there were fears that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU could disrupt or reduce this.

“Without a technological breakthrough, the obvious short-term solution to keeping everything moving is

more manpower,” said a senior source in the En Marche! party, led by Mr Macron.

“This will not only ensure that one of the most successful and efficient ports in Europe continues to operate effectively, but that jobs will also be created.”

The different stances emerged as Theresa May faced criticism from some Tory MPs for agreeing to pay tens of

millions of pounds for extra security in Calais and other northern French ports to deal with the migrant crisis.

The £44.5 million cash injection will fund fencing, CCTV and detection technology and the UK is also expected

to accept more migrants, particularly children and those with relatives already here.

Britain’s ambassador to France, Lord Llewellyn, former chief-of-staff to David Cameron, defended the deal.

He said the Anglo-French co-operation had seen the number of migrants in the Calais area reduce from about 10,000 to some 500 now.

He did not rule out Britain contributing to the wider Calais economy given complaints from French civic chiefs that it was being hampered by the migrant situation.

He said that the UK and France do £71 billion worth of trade.

“Ultimately it’s in all our interests to work out a (Brexit) deal that works for everyone and keeps trade moving,” he added.

Britain has proposed that an electronic customs system could also be used to avoid the return of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

However, Paris was sceptical about whether such a scheme could be successfully implemented.

Today’s summit at Sandhurst also saw France and the UK increasing co-operation on defence and counter-terrorism.