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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Apr- 2021 -9 AprilGovernment
Gov calls for evidence on Covid commercial rent debts
The government has called for evidence regarding the current state and progress of commercial rent debts in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hospitality groups, such as UKHospitality (UKH), have praised the government’s move as an attempt to address issues relating to commercial rent debts for businesses within the sector.…
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1 AprilGovernment
Treasury Committee launches inquiry into job recovery post-Covid
The Treasury Committee has announced it has launched an inquiry into job, growth and productivity recovery after the pandemic. The cross-party group of MPs will examine how the government can reduce and mitigate the economic damage and job losses resulting from the pandemic. Mel Stride MP, chair of the Treasury…
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Mar- 2021 -26 MarchTrade Associations
UKH appoints new Scottish executive director
UKHospitality (UKH) has announced the appointment of Leon Thompson as its new executive director for Scotland. Thompson succeeds Willie MacLeod in the role, taking on the position after leading VisitScotland’s policy agenda over the last eight years. On his appointment, Thompson said: “I am very much looking forward to joining…
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25 MarchTrade Associations
Business rates relief cap may ‘jeopardise’ sector recovery, warns UKH
UKHospitality (UKH) has warned that the business rates relief cap could “jeopardise” the hospitality sector’s economic recovery following the pandemic. Analysis from the trade association reveals almost 8,000 business venues, employing an estimated 343,000 people will be paying full rates in July, despite Budget measures to soften the acute rates…
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24 MarchCoronavirus
Hospitality urged to register for free workplace Covid testing
Trade associations are urging businesses in the hospitality industry to register for free workplace Covid-19 testing. The deadline to register for free rapid lateral flow tests, which will allow businesses to test employees twice a week, is 31 March 2021. With hospitality set to partially reopen in April, trade associations…
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23 MarchGovernment
UKH calls for gov to look at ‘data not dates’ when lifting restrictions
UKHospitality (UKH) is urging the government to follow “data not dates” and loosen some of the restrictions slightly earlier than the current roadmap. According to the group, the continued success of the vaccination programme should allow for “hotels with self-contained rooms to be able to open alongside other self-contained accommodation…
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22 MarchBusiness
Mayor of London to invest £6m into hospitality reopening
Sadiq Khan has announced a £6m investment to directly support the re-opening of London’s economy once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. The mayor revealed he will be investing £5m to support the eventual reopening of central London, which will include a new campaign to attract visitors and tourists back into the…
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15 MarchCoronavirus
Hugh Osmond joins legal battle to reopen indoor hospitality
Hugh Osmond, the current director of Various Eateries, has joined Sacha Lord’s legal challenge against the government to reopen indoor hospitality at the same time as non-essential retail next month. Osmond, founder of Punch Taverns and former Pizza Express director, wrote to Boris Johnson about the prime minister’s “irrational decision”…
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11 MarchTrade Associations
Gov confirms lease forfeiture moratorium extension
The government has announced another extension of the lease forfeiture moratorium, in a boon for the hospitality industry. Robert Jenrick, the house secretary, confirmed protections that prevent landlords from repossessing commercial premises, if businesses are unable to to pay rent due to Covid-19, will now expire in June. Originally the…
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9 MarchRegulations & Policies
Gov extends pavement licences to support hospitality
The government has confirmed plans to extend pavement licences for businesses on the high street. Communities secretary Robert Jenrick intends to extend pavement licences for a further 12 months to help the hospitality industry recover from the imposed national lockdown. Jenrick said: “We’re all looking forward to seeing pubs, cafes…
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