President Clinton's pub lunch bill has finally been paid, it emerged last night.
The US leader popped into the Portobello Gold bar in London's trendy Notting Hill yesterday, but left without paying for his food.
Mr Rob Jameson, the bar's general manager, said last night that the £24.70 debt had now been cleared, but refused to say who picked up the tab.
"His bill has been settled. I was asked not to say who by," he said. Mr Jameson also declined to say how long he had to wait for his money.
The President and his wife Hillary nipped into the pub on west London's fashionable Portobello Road after trawling the area's antique shops.
Mr Clinton, drinking a half-pint of organic beer, spent 45 minutes propping up the bar at the near-empty pub, enjoying a bar meal and chatting to the few American drinkers who had coincidentally dropped in.
He shared a serving of gambo prawns (£6.95), smoked trout and pecan nut pate (£5.25) and a club sandwich (£5.95) with about 10 secret service men.
As well as his £1.30 half-pint of organic Pitfields lager, made in Britain from New Zealand ingredients, he also downed a Diet Coke, while his black-suited security men drank Coke.
Pub owner Mr Mike Bell (59) said he became aware of the surprise visit just 20 minutes before it began when "men in black" came to look the place over to see if it was safe.
During Mr Clinton's stay, an oyster delivery man showed up with seafood from Northern Ireland, which was "swarmed" upon by secret service men checking to see if it contained a bomb, Mr Bell said.