Bar owners in 'unexpected' meeting with the King

Shaun and Sophie Oceans run La Reve cocktail bar in Lichfield

A couple who run a bar said they ended up discussing cocktails with King Charles after a chance email saw them invited to meet the monarch.

The King was in Staffordshire on Monday, where he visited Lichfield Cathedral and the National Memorial Arboretum.

Shaun and Sophie Oceans, who run La Reve cocktail bar in Lichfield, were among guests at the cathedral and had a chance to speak to the King while they were there.

"It was all very last minute and very random actually, very unexpected," Mrs Oceans said.

"We saw on Wednesday that he was coming to Lichfield and, Shaun being Shaun said 'I'm going to email the palace and ask if he wants to come to La Reve', Mrs Oceans added.

They "had a giggle" about it, she said, but did not know if it would lead to anything.

Their business was supported with a £4,000 young entrepreneurs' loan when they first started, and Mr Oceans said he told the King how this had helped them and that he had been able to repay the loan in full.

He said he received the call to invite them to the cathedral while doing a workout.

"It was really nice," talking to the King, Mrs Oceans said.

"Everybody was really, really excited by it."

They spoke about the King's Trust, formerly the Prince's Trust, and their work with a local foodbank.

Mrs Oceans added that her customers would love it if they were to serve the King a "zombie" cocktail.

The drink contains five different rums, topped off with an 80% rum and then set on fire to serve.

The monarch also joked about the couple staying together after 13 years of running the business, she added.