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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Nov- 2018 -23 NovemberFeatures
What challenges will the hospitality industry face post-Brexit?
It is alarming as we inch closer to Brexit that it is still unclear what the impact of leaving the EU will have on the UK economy and its people. Pundits are trying to predict an outcome, but until the goalposts are cemented in, there is actually still no way…
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16 NovemberGovernment
Almost 90% of pubs failed to stop children using gambling machines
Tests on a sample of pubs in England indicated almost 90% failed to prevent children accessing gaming machines meant for those over 18. The Gambling Commission worked with licensing authorities and local police to test compliance with laws in place to protect children from the risks gambling can pose. Children…
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13 NovemberBusiness
Falling migrant-worker numbers will ‘undermine’ hospitality sector
UKHospitality has warned that restricting the number of migrant workers entering the UK will “severely impact” the hospitality sector. The warning follows the publication of figures by HR body CIPD that show the number of non-UK-born workers in the UK decreased by 58,000 between April to June last year and…
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6 NovemberBusiness
Hospitality costs reach 12-year high
Government-implemented costs are taking a significant toll on businesses in the eating and drinking-out sector, new data by UKHospitality and business property adviser Christie & Co suggests. According to the 2018 UKHospitality Christie & Co Benchmarking Report, controllable costs have risen to an average of 52.5% of turnover, the highest…
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Oct- 2018 -17 OctoberPubs and Bars
Hospitality sector ‘faces £113m business rates hike next April’
UKHospitality (UKH) is warning that a large part of the UK economy, including hotels, pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and cafes, face a £113m business rates bombshell. The inflation figures are used to set the annual increase in business rates, and analysis by UKH shows that “thousands of businesses” will be hit…
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1 OctoberGovernment
Restaurants and bars to be banned from taking employees’ tips
New legislation banning restaurant bosses from deducting or keeping employee tips is set to come into force, Theresa May has announced. Speaking at the Conservative Conference today (1 October), the prime minister named high street chains Prezzo, Strada and Zizzi as some of the worst offending restaurants for taking staff…
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Sep- 2018 -7 SeptemberPeople
Jackie Marlow named as new UKHospitality chief operating officer
Trade association UKHospitality has appointed Jackie Marlow as its new chief operating officer. Marlow joins UKHospitality from ISBA, the voice of British advertisers, where she has 30 years of experience and will formally take up the position on Monday 10 September. Marlow said: “In under a year, UKHospitality has established…
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5 SeptemberCafes and Coffee Shops
Mandatory calorie labelling could cause ‘serious burden’, warns UKHospitality
UKHospitality has warned that the introduction of inflexible mandatory calorie labelling could present a “serious burden” for hospitality businesses. The warning follows reports that the government is preparing the launch of a consultation on a requirement for businesses to provide calorie labelling on menus. The Department of Health is proposing…
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Jul- 2018 -17 JulyGovernment
UKHospitality expresses concern over ‘dwindling immigrant’ numbers
UKHospitality has reacted with “considerable alarm” at the news that net EU migration has fallen to 100,000. According to figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), migration to the UK from the EU reached its lowest point in four years. This figure is still higher than the government’s aim…
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13 JulyGovernment
UKHospitality commends Brexit white paper for acknowledging sector
UKHospitality has welcomed the government’s acknowledgement of the importance and prioritisation of the food and drinks industry in its Brexit white paper, published on 12 July. The trade body praised the government for its proposal of a free trade area, which will see a “friction free” trade at the border…
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