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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Jun- 2025 -9 JunePeople
Kate Nicholls appointed as UKHospitality chair
UKHospitality has announced that current CEO Kate Nicholls OBE is to step up to the new role of chair, while current deputy CEO Allen Simpson will transition to CEO. At the same time, current non-executive chairman, Steve Cassidy, will move to become president. The move will enable Nicholls and Simpson…
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May- 2025 -27 MayFood and Drink
KFC unveils plans to invest £1.49bn in the UK and Ireland
KFC UK and Ireland has announced plans to invest £1.49bn and create over 7,000 new jobs in the UK and Ireland over the next five years. Of the £1.49bn investment, £466m will go towards opening new restaurants focusing on building flagship sites and drive-thrus in key locations such as Ireland…
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20 MayGovernment
UKH urges UK and EU to agree on flexible youth experience scheme
UKH has urged the UK government and the European Union to pursue a youth experience scheme with “maximum flexibility” for critical cultural exchange and economic benefit. The call comes as the UK and the EU have recently announced a new deal which includes a number of measures intended to improve…
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19 MayRestaurants
UKH celebrates seventh anniversary with new member additions
UKHospitality is celebrating its seventh anniversary with new memberships across all types and sizes of business – from independent pubs, restaurants and hotels, to major UK-wide operators. New members include the Beautiful Pubs Collective, EasyHotel, Fulham Shore, Leonardo Hotels, Nutwood Pubs, Paulton’s Park, Popeye’s and Starbucks. According to UKH, a…
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12 MayGovernment
London Mayor unveils new £300,000 ‘Summer Streets’ fund
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a new £300,000 Summer Streets fund to boost al fresco dining and extend opening hours for pubs, restaurants and venues, in summer 2025. The fund will be delivered in partnership with councils across the city to support restaurants, cafes, small nightlife venues,…
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7 MayTrade Associations
UKH rolls out hospitality training programmes across England
UKHospitality, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has announced the launch of hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) in 26 areas across England. The new programme trains jobseekers with hospitality skills in a working environment and provides them with both work experience and a guaranteed interview…
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Apr- 2025 -24 AprilBusiness
Hospitality stability under threat from wave of govt costs, UKH warns
UKHospitality has warned that the hospitality industry’s stability is under threat from a new wave of government costs, after pubs, restaurants and hotels achieved marginal growth in outlets over the last 12 months. It comes as CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners’ latest Hospitality Market Monitor indicated that a total of…
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22 AprilPubs and Bars
Pubs to stay open later as part of VE 80 celebrations
Prime minister Keir Starmer has ordered pubs and bars across the country to be able to keep serving until 1am to celebrate next month’s historic 80th anniversary of VE day. With parties planned across the country on 8 May 2025, venues with a usual closing time of 11pm will be…
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15 AprilRegulations & Policies
UKH calls for maximum discount as business rates reform bill becomes law
The Government’s commitment to reform the business rates system has become law as the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act received Royal Assent. The new legislation aims to provide a permanently lower level of business rates for the hospitality sector. UKHospitality is asking for the maximum discount to be…
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7 AprilGovernment
Gov launches initative to cut red tape to boost British nightlife
Pubs, clubs and restaurants are set to be released from red tape which has stifled business as the government ‘backs the British night out’, after revealing its new Plan for Change initiative. Action includes moves to improve the application of licensing laws and strengthen businesses’ competitiveness, giving diners, pub and…
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