in brief

soho's Taxing time

Peter Boizot, PizzaExpress founder and chairman of the Soho Restaurateurs Association, has called on the Government to make business entertaining in restaurants tax-deductable.

"Soho restaurants have weathered the recession," he said, "but we have seen no real return in business entertaining. Increasingly, companies entertain in their offices - a tax-deductible expense. It's time for this penalisation of restaurants to be reviewed."

berkeley job filled

Ram¢n Pajares has named Jean-Jacques Pergant as general manager of London's Berkeley hotel - his first senior appointment since he became Savoy Group managing director.

Mr Pergant (above), who takes up the post next month, is moving from Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire, which he has run since 1991. Before that he was general manager of the Four Seasons in Ottawa.

hill goes it alone

Former Gidleigh Park chef Shaun Hill is hoping to open his new venture, to be called Merchant House, before Christmas.

He plans to spend about £45,000 developing the 25-seat restaurant, a Grade II-listed property in Ludlow, Shropshire, bought for £150,000.