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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Dec- 2022 -22 DecemberGovernment
Business energy bills to be capped under new gov scheme
The government has unveiled a new plan that is set to cap wholesale energy bills for businesses for an initial six-month period from 1 October. The Government Energy Bill Relief Scheme, unveiled today (21 September) by business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, will reportedly bring support for households, businesses and public sector…
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22 DecemberBusiness
Hospitality real terms sales behind pre-pandemic levels
Hospitality turnover for the year ended September 2022 increased 1.3% to £135bn but this is a real terms decrease compared with 2019, according to data from CGA. Inflationary pressures have meant that even though a 1.3% increase is the first time a full-year figure has been above pre-pandemic levels, it…
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20 DecemberRestaurants
UKH backs plans to extend licensing laws for coronation
UKHospitality has backed plans to extend licensing hours in England and Wales to 1am for next year’s coronation celebrations for HM The King. The coronation is set to be a Bank Holiday weekend, and UKHospitality has said the trading boost could be “vital “ as the sector looks to revive…
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16 DecemberBusiness
Third of venues to reduce Christmas opening hours due to vacancies
A third of hospitality businesses plan to reduce opening hours over Christmas as they face a shortage of applicants for vacancies, according to UKHospitality, while 32% have already been forced to reduce their opening hours. In addition, it was also revealed that more than a third of businesses (35%) plan…
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8 DecemberTrade Associations
UKH launches guide on recruiting over-50s
UKHospitality has launched a new guide that shows businesses how to adapt their recruitment practices with the aim to engage with the over-50s in the job market. The initiative comes as hospitality continues to face staffing challenges, as the hospitality authority says that businesses should be “ensuring” that their recruitment…
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6 DecemberAnalysis
Here’s how the train strikes will impact hospitality
A new wave of fresh rail strikes have been scheduled this winter as Network Rail and 14 other train companies are taking strike action on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December and on 3, 4, 6 and 7 January. However, the chief executive of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls, is worried about…
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Nov- 2022 -25 NovemberBusiness
Rail strikes could cost hospitality £1.5bn, says UKH
Recent analysis from UKHospitality has found the sector could lose up to £1.5bn due to upcoming rail strikes, similar to the level of disruption caused by the Omicron variant of Covid last year. The group said hospitality businesses have “already seen large-scale cancellations, which are unlikely to be rescheduled, and…
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18 NovemberGovernment
Industry reacts: ‘More is needed’ from Autumn Statement
The hospitality industry has warned that the chancellor’s Autumn budget, unveiled yesterday (17 November), does not go far enough with plans for economic growth, adding that “more is needed” to support pubs and breweries. Responding to the Autumn Statement, UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls, said she was “pleased that the chancellor…
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14 NovemberCatering Companies
Contract catering Q3 sales up 41% but remain below 2019 levels
Sales in the contract catering sector have increased 41% between July and September this year, however still remain below pre-Covid levels, according to the latest contract catering tracker from CGA. Sales in this years’ third quarter were down 9% when compared with the same three month period in 2019 and…
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14 NovemberBusiness
Hospitality faces £900m business rates hike
Hospitality businesses will face a £3.6bn bill next April if business rates increase in line with inflation and current relief is ended, a business rates increase of £900m, on top of the £2.7bn the sector currently pays. Ahead of the Autumn Statement this week, UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls is urging…
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