Kate Nicholls

RMT suspends tube strikes suspended after ‘positive’ talks with TfL

08-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has suspended industrial action that would have wiped out tube services in London this week.

Tube strikes set to cost hospitality £50m

05-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has warned that next week's tube strikes in London could cost the sector up to £50m in lost sales.

Lower VAT rate for hospitality leads UKHospitality's 2024 three-point plan

02-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

UK Hospitality has unveiled its three-point plan for the coming year that will focus on growth, investment, and jobs.

Inflation to drop £864m business rates 'bombshell' on hospitality

18-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

The planned inflation-linked rise in business rates in April will cost hospitality businesses an additional £234m it has been revealed.

UKHospitality: ‘It's near impossible for venues to keep up with the cost of doing business’

08-Sep-2023 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has warned that the rate of inflation means it’s 'near impossible' for operators to keep up with the cost of doing business.

Kate Nicholls: 'Hospitality an economic powerhouse the Government should be eager to embrace'

15-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

A report from UKHospitality suggests hospitality could increase its direct contribution to the economy by £29bn and create 500,000 new jobs by 2027, providing it receives the right support.

UKHospitality calls on Ofgem to tackle the 'reckless behaviour’ of some energy suppliers

16-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

UKHospitality has written to energy regulator Ofgem urging it to penalise bad practice by energy suppliers and to compel them to renegotiate the worst deals.

Cost of rail strikes to industry rises to £2.5bn

04-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

The impact of the train strikes has cost the hospitality sector a total of £2.5bn in lost sales since industrial action began in June last year, according to UKHospitality.

Decision on further energy bill support for businesses postponed until New Year

20-Dec-2022 By Restaurant

A decision on extending help for businesses facing soaring energy bills will not be made until the new year, the Treasury has said.

Hospitality sector faces £900m business rates increase

14-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Hospitality businesses are facing a £900m increase in business rates next April, if current relief ends and rates increase in line with inflation, UKHospitality has warned.

Energy suppliers undermining benefits of Energy Bill Relief Scheme

07-Nov-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Whitehall is investigating claims that energy companies are charging inflated prices for fixed rate deals, with UKHospitality calling for an investigation

UKHospitality makes energy advice available to all

28-Oct-2022 By Restaurant

UKHospitality (UKH) has published its energy advice, guidance and cost calculator to help hospitality manage the rising costs in energy.

Female hospitality leaders show solidarity with Iranian women

17-Oct-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Female hospitality leaders including Clare Smyth, Andi Oliver, Sally Abé, Emma Ainsworth, and Kate Nicholls have shown solidarity with the women’s movement taking place in Iran following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.

Government extends energy prices bill scheme

12-Oct-2022 By Restaurant

The Government has extended the period its energy prices bill covers to include contracts from December 2021.

Westminster Works scheme launched to tackle hospitality staffing shortage in the capital

11-Oct-2022 By Restaurant

A new multi-million pound scheme that promises rapid recruitment in the hospitality sector by scrapping the need for CVs has been launched in Westminster.

Hospitality operators ‘labouring under extreme pressure’ as costs soar

27-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality operators are ‘labouring under extreme pressure’ with costs soaring to a new record high, according to the latest UKHospitality Christie & Co Benchmarking Report.

Government review of short-term letting market welcomed

30-Jun-2022 By Restaurant

The Government’s call for evidence on England’s short-term letting market has been welcomed by trade body UKHospitality following years of it pushing for a review.

UKHospitality: Government needs to help sector attract investment

08-Jun-2022 By Shwetali Sapte

A lack of a coherent Government strategy to tackle the cost of living crisis is negatively impacting investment in the sector, UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls has said.

More than 10,000 hospitality businesses at risk of closure

06-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

More than 10,000 pubs and restaurants are at risk of closure due to 'perfect storm' of inflation and surging energy costs, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has warned.

National rail strike would 'jeopardise hospitality recovery', warns UKH

25-May-2022 By James McAllister

Trade body UKHospitality (UKH) has warned that a national rail strike would 'further jeopardise' hospitality businesses working hard to rebuild following the pandemic.

UKHospitality warns against 'inappropriate practises' as it implores sector to help disabled people flourish

12-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The hospitality industry can 'lead the way' in helping disabled people to flourish, according to a leading trade body.

Keeping VAT at 12.5% is vital, UKHospitality tells Government

09-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has told a Government select committee that keeping VAT at 12.5% is vital to the sector, describing it as the only industry in a position to deliver post-pandemic jobs, growth and investment at speed.

Boiling point: how the pandemic inflamed the sector’s mental health challenges

01-Feb-2022 By Helen Gilbert

The pandemic has exacerbated what is already a stressful working environment for some chefs. But help is out there for those who are struggling

No restrictions (yet) and no help for stricken hospitality sector

21-Dec-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The Government is unlikely to introduce additional Covid restrictions before Christmas but has warned that further measures remain on the table and that data will be reviewed ‘by the hour’.

More calls for support as hospitality ‘suffers £4bn sales drop’

16-Dec-2021 By Joe Lutrario

UKHospitality says it is currently seeing a 25% reduction on expected trade, with industry bosses expecting a further drop of around the same as Christmas draws closer.

Kate Nicholls appointed disability ambassador for hospitality

28-Jul-2021 By Restaurant

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has been appointed the hospitality sector's disability ambassador.

Kate Nicholls receives Live Your Life Award

05-May-2021 By Restaurant

The British Institute of Innkeeping has awarded CEO of UK Hospitality Kate Nicholls with the Franca Knowles Live Your Life Award, for 'devotion of energy, spirit and life to the hospitality sector’.

More than 333,000 jobs at risk if rent protections removed this summer

05-May-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The £2.5bn in rent debt 'hanging around the neck of the hospitality industry' is a threat to the future of thousands of businesses and more than 330,000 jobs, new analysis by UKHospitality has revealed.

GDP figures highlight damage to sector but also bounce back potential

12-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

GDP figures published by the Office for National Statistics reiterate the economic importance of the UK’s hospitality sector, and the urgent need for it to be supported by Government as it reopens.

Think tank calls for London ‘College of Food’

20-Jan-2021 By Joe Lutrario

A world-beating College of Food should be established in London with a mission to transform culinary education and support the hospitality industry to recover from Coronavirus and Brexit.

Kate Nicholls awarded OBE in New Year Honours list

04-Jan-2021 By Cameron Henderson

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has been awarded an OBE in a New Year Honours List that has recognised a number of figures in the hospitality industry.

UKHospitality demands immediate support for ailing sector

24-Dec-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Trade body UKHospitality has called on the Government to immediately announce relief measures to ‘save hospitality’ as the sector faces its toughest ever winter.

Kate Nicholls: "Businesses are in a far less resilient place than during the first lockdown"

17-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has said it is 'imperative' the current lockdown in England is time limited so that as many businesses as possible can reopen in December.

Eat Out to Help Out boosts treasury coffers by £250m

09-Sep-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme benefitted the Government to the tune of £250m, data revealed by leading hospitality trade bodies shows.

Mandatory calorie labelling for out-of-home food businesses employing more than 250 confirmed

27-Jul-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The Government is pushing ahead with plans to force restaurants, pubs, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 employees to add calorie labels to menus.