Peter Boizot

The son of Gaston and Susannah Boizot, he was born, educated and lived in Peterborough, England. In his childhood he stopped eating meat,[https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/mr-pizza-and-all-that-jazz-profile-peter-boizot-1285293.html Mr Pizza And All That Jazz] The Independent, 26 January 1997 and he remained a vegetarian.

Boizot attended The King's School, Peterborough where he was head boy[http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/lifestyle/the-guide/arts-culture/peterborough_icon_peter_boizot_to_auction_off_artwork_1_3140592 Peterborough Icon Peter Boizot To Auction Off Artwork] Peterborough Today, 2011 and sang in the choir of Peterborough Cathedral.

In 1953, Boizot earned an Honours Degree in History at St Catharine's College, Cambridge.

Boizot received an Honorary Degree at Loughborough University in 2000 in recognition of his successful business acumen and career, and his contributions to Peterborough.[http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/et-business/business-news/peter_boizot_at_77_no_plans_to_sit_back_and_relax_just_yet_1_69179 No Plans To Sit Back And Relax Just Yet] Peterborough Today, 16 November 2006

File:PizzaExpress Logo.jpg

Boizot founded PizzaExpress in 1965, after having worked in Europe for ten years and noticing that he was unable to eat an authentic pizza slice in London.[http://www.pizzaexpress.com/our-restaurants/about-pizza-express.aspx PizzaExpress] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102014821/http://www.pizzaexpress.com/our-restaurants/about-pizza-express.aspx |date=2 November 2011 }} PizzaExpress, 2012

Boizot floated PizzaExpress on the London Stock Exchange in 1993 but remained president.{{cite web |title=PizzaExpress lost its identity in a corporate wash |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6c29e260-eaab-11e9-aefb-a946d2463e4b |website=Financial Times |access-date=5 March 2021}}

His first restaurant opened in Wardour Street, Soho, London, to much acclaim, with a second PizzaExpress opening in 1967. He was also the first to import Peroni into the UK. Boizot's empire grew quickly because of its authentic Italian taste and unique artistic approach.[http://www.peach-report.com/Latest/686503/pizzaexpress_founder_peter_boizot_an_industry_icon.html PizzaExpress founder Peter Boizot an Industry Icon ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405032700/http://www.peach-report.com/Latest/686503/pizzaexpress_founder_peter_boizot_an_industry_icon.html# |date=5 April 2015 }} Peach Report, 19 November 2010

Boizot was an active supporter of the Liberal Party. He twice stood as the Liberal candidate for Peterborough at the general elections of February and October 1974.Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1970-1983

File:Peter Boizot Sports Ground, Grantchester Road - geograph.org.uk - 592338.jpg

In 1977, Boizot created the Veneziana pizza in his PizzaExpress restaurant to gain attention to and raise funds for Venice in Peril. 5p from each Veneziana pizza sold would be donated to the charity, a charity set up to raise funds to restore and conserve works of art and architecture in Venice.

This charity initiative still exists at all PizzaExpress restaurants, but the amount donated has increased to 25p from each pizza. Boizot's efforts have raised over £2,000,000 to date.[http://www.pwwsolicitors.co.uk/charitable-applications/charity-details/the-veneziana-fund The Veneziana Fund ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026080655/http://www.pwwsolicitors.co.uk/charitable-applications/charity-details/the-veneziana-fund |date=26 October 2011 }} Pothecary Witham Weld Solicitors, 2011 For his Venice in Peril charity efforts, in 1996, Boizot was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.[http://www.debretts.co.uk/people/biographies/browse/b/10167/Peter%20James+BOIZOT.aspx Peter Boizot ]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Debretts, 2012

He was a generous benefactor of St Catharine's College and the Peter Boizot Sports Ground on Grantchester Road, Cambridge, was named in his honour.

Boizot was awarded the MBE "for political and public service" in the 1986 Birthday Honours.{{London Gazette |date=13 June 1986 |supp=y |issue=50551 |pages=12 }}

Boizot was locally renowned as 'Mr Peterborough' because of the work and funds that he put back into his hometown of Peterborough. He purchased and then modernised his favourite local haunt, the Great Northern Hotel in 1993.[http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/environment/peter_boizot_happy_birthday_mr_peterborough_1_142913 Peter Boizot: Happy birthday, Mr Peterborough ] Peterborough Today, 16 November 2009 In 1997 he bought the ailing Peterborough United Football Club and invested £5 million into its resurrection. Boizot acquired the former Odeon cinema building in 1996 and transformed it into a multi-purpose entertainment venue complete with theatre, concert and conference rooms.[http://www.peterboroughhiddenheritage.org/heritage/Odeon.html Odeon Cinema ]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Peterborough Hidden Heritage, 2008

Boizot was an avid jazz fan. He opened his first jazz club, the PizzaExpress Jazz Club, in Soho in 1969, whilst founding the Soho Jazz Festival in 1986. He then opened other PizzaExpress Jazz Clubs across the UK. These jazz clubs have played host to greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Jamie Cullum, Sting, Amy Winehouse and Norah Jones.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/peter-boizot-death-pizza-express-founder-uk-peroni-a8671046.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/peter-boizot-death-pizza-express-founder-uk-peroni-a8671046.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Pizza Express founder Peter Boizot, whose chic take on fast food became a high street fixture|date=2018-12-13|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2018-12-14}}

Boizot began collecting art from an early age and incorporated art into many of his ventures. At PizzaExpress and the jazz clubs, he commissioned pop artists such as Sir Peter Blake, Eduardo Paolozzi and Enzo Apicella to fill the walls of the establishments.

In 2004, St Catharine's College in Cambridge presented Boizot with a portrait by artist Suresh Patel in recognition of his contribution to the university.

In 2011, Boizot sold the majority of his art collection near his hometown of Peterborough.{{cite news |url=http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/lifestyle/the-guide/arts-culture/peterborough_icon_peter_boizot_to_auction_off_artwork_1_3140592 |title=Peterborough icon Peter Boizot to auction off artwork |newspaper=Peterborough Today |date=12 October 2011 |access-date=18 December 2018 |publisher=JPIMedia Ltd.}} He worked with restaurant designer Enzo Apicella, who has been credited with being the visual architect of PizzaExpress.

At the age of 84, Boizot turned his life story into the 2014 autobiography Mr Pizza and All That Jazz. The work, which was written with journalist Matthew Reville, received positive reviews.

Boizot died on 5 December 2018 at the age of 89. He was survived by his sister, Clementine Allen.{{cite journal |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/542775/pizza-express-founder-peter-boizot-dies-aged-89 |title=PizzaExpress founder Peter Boizot dies, aged 89 |date=6 December 2018 |access-date=18 December 2018 |magazine=The Caterer |first=Vincent |last=Wood |publisher=Travel Weekly Group}}

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Category:1929 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:Alumni of St Catharine's College, Cambridge

Category:British restaurateurs

Category:People from Peterborough

Category:Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:People educated at The King's School, Peterborough

Category:Peterborough United F.C.

Category:Pizza chain founders