Revelations that Sir John Bourn, the UK auditor-general, enjoyed dinner on expenses worth £125 ($255, €179) a head at Wiltons as well as gastronomic delights at the Ritz, Savoy and Dorchester did not sit comfortably with a man who preaches prudence.

It is a reminder that when it comes to business dining, the choice of restaurant should fit with the image of the organisation you represent. As Colin Lewis, head of sales and marketing at Aer Arann, the airline, says: “It’s essential to choose a venue that represents what we stand for as an organisation.”