Kate Nicholls
This archive features our reporting on Kate Nicholls OBE — a key voice in the UK’s hospitality and foodservice policy landscape. As Chair of UKHospitality, Nicholls plays a central role in lobbying government, shaping regulation, and influencing the commercial environment in which restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés, and catering firms operate. Catering Today covers Nicholls’ statements, policy positions, and leadership activity because her work directly affects the trading conditions, labour challenges, and long-term resilience of foodservice businesses. For operators navigating rising costs, staffing pressures, or post-pandemic recovery, her advocacy and insights are both timely and consequential.
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Mar- 2024 -13 MarchFood and Drink
Most Britons still prioritise hospitality outings, report finds
Despite the cost-of-living crisis, eating and drinking out remains as important to Britons as ever, with 65% of consumers saying it’s still a priority for them, research from Zonal’s latest GO Technology report with CGA and UKH. Those prioritising hospitality outings among people aged over 65 rises to 71%, while…
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7 MarchNews
Gaucho launches VAT-free Friday lunches
Gaucho has decided to launch VAT-free lunches on Fridays during March in all its ten central London locations. The decision follows the decision for the Chancellor not to abandon the ‘tourist tax’ in the Spring Budget as well as the Mayor of London’s campaign to bring back Friday trading in…
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Feb- 2024 -29 FebruaryTrade Associations
Hospitality bosses back UKH’s call for action at upcoming Budget
Hospitality CEOs from groups including Mitchells and Butlers, Accor Hotels, Stonegate Pubs and Crerar Hotels have signed an open letter urging the Chancellor to take immediate action at the budget to prevent further business failure. In the letter, UKH and a total of 112 business leaders highlighted how rising costs,…
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23 FebruaryRegulations & Policies
New tipping rules strike right balance, says UKH
UKHospitality has praised the proposed tipping code of practice saying it “rightly enables businesses to reflect the circumstances in which they operate, without being too prescriptive and burdensome”. The Government legislated in May 2023 to introduce the Tipping Act which sets out how tips, gratuities and service charges are processed…
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22 FebruaryPeople
Hospitality confidence dips amid soaring costs
Some 41% of the UK’s top hospitality groups currently feel confident about the hospitality market over the next 12 months, down by 8% since October 2023, an exclusive poll by CGA by NIQ has reported. The proportion of leaders who feel optimistic about prospects for their own business in the…
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2 FebruaryPeople
UKH appoints first deputy chief executive
UKHospitality has announced the appointment of Allen Simpson as its new deputy chief executive, bolstering its senior team at “critical” time for hospitality. Simpson joins the trade body from London and Partners, the Mayor of London’s tourism, inward investment and city marketing agency, where he served as executive director, and…
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Jan- 2024 -19 JanuaryFood and Drink
Hospitality venues’ sales rise 8.8% over December
Restaurants, pubs and bars saw sales rise by 8.8% over the latest Christmas period compared with data from 2022, according to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker. According to CGA and RSM, the industry saw a sharp increase from 4% in November to more than 8% in December, and…
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17 JanuaryTrade Associations
UKH ‘encouraged’ as job vacancies fall by 35,000 in 2023
UKH has been “encouraged” by news that job vacancies within the industry have fallen by 35,000 within 2023, according to new figures from the ONS. However, current vacancies still remain “far higher” than pre-pandemic levels, when there were 89,000. According to UKH, reforms to the apprenticeships levy and addressing the…
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16 JanuaryTrade Associations
New Aslef strike action could cost hospitality £350m
New Aslef strike action planned for the end of January into early February could cost hospitality businesses almost £350m, according to UKHospitality. Aslef announced another series of strikes between 30 January and 5 February, affecting different train operators each day. Furthermore, an overtime ban will also be in place from…
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5 JanuaryTrade Associations
Tube strikes could cost hospitality £50m, says UKH
The latest round of strikes from RMT members on the London Underground could cost hospitality businesses up to £50m according to UKHospitality. Staff on the tube will go on strike between 7 January and 11 January and disruption will last from the evening of 6 January until midday on the…
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