OXFORDSHIRE beef was on the menu as Boris Johnson dined with German Chancellor Angela Merkel this afternoon.

The German premier joined Boris Johnson at Chequers for bilateral talks amid concerns over plans to restrict travel to the EU.

The Prime Minister smiled and attempted fist and elbow bumps as he welcomed Mrs Merkel at the entrance to his country residence in Buckinghamshire. The pair enjoyed a working lunch of English asparagus tart, Oxfordshire beef fillet and baked custard tart, while discussing issues including travel restrictions.

Mr Johnson bounded out of the Chequers front door just as Mrs Merkel’s convoy arrived.

He said: “Angela, how are you? Welcome.”

He then asked: “You’ve been here many times before?”

Mrs Merkel replied: “Twice.”

Mrs Merkel is also expected to address a virtual meeting of the Cabinet, the first foreign leader to do so since Bill Clinton in 1997, while the two leaders are set to discuss relations between London and Berlin.

Mrs Merkel has been pressing EU leaders to impose stringent quarantine requirements on arrivals to the bloc from Britain, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.

Mr Johnson said “double jabs will be a liberator” when asked about reports that fully vaccinated people may be able to travel quarantine-free from amber list countries by July 26.

As part of today’s visit, days after England crushed Germany’s Euro 2020 dreams, Mr Johnson announced the creation of a new academic medal in the German Chancellor’s honour.