Beijing Restaurant Sees Surge in Bookings After UK Prime Minister Starmer's Visit

A restaurant in Beijing has experienced a significant increase in popularity following a visit by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in January. The establishment, named In and Out, has been fully booked since Starmer and his team dined there during his trip to China, the first such visit by a British prime minister since 2018. Images of the visit were shared widely on Chinese social media.

In response to the interest, the restaurant created a 'prime minister’s menu' featuring the dishes Starmer ordered, including mint leaves wrapped in thinly sliced beef, grilled asparagus with porcini, pork ribs in plum sauce, sweet pineapple rice, and deep-fried shards of goat milk cheese.

The restaurant specializes in Yunnan cuisine, which incorporates various fungi and herbs from the southwestern Chinese province bordering Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Starmer opted for porcini mushrooms rather than other varieties.

Chen traveled from Hebei province to Beijing after learning about the visit on social media. Su stated that they believed the food must be good if the prime minister chose the restaurant. Sun mentioned seeing news about it on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

A waiter at the restaurant reported that about half of recent customers were influenced by Starmer's visit. Customers have asked about the dishes he ate, and the waiter described Starmer as friendly and approachable.

The restaurant's special menu includes a cartoon illustration.

Similar menus have appeared in restaurants in Yunnan province, as noted by Guardian columnist Martin Rowson. Starmer's visit was intended to improve relations between the UK and China. It received positive reception from some in China, contrasting with domestic criticism in the UK.

British cultural elements, such as the Premier League and actor Rosamund Pike, maintain popularity in China. One diner expressed interest in visiting the University of Cambridge.