Having gained her Bachelor of Business Administration (with Hons.) and Diploma in Interior Design Kate’s intended career path was set on design and fashion. This soon changed when she landed her first job in the developing London wine bars scene in the late 80’s.

By 1991 Kate had opened and was running her own business - The Mulberry Bush Restaurant and Bar in The City of London. The 70-seater restaurant and bar offered not only great cuisine and customer service but also provided live jazz music every Thursday evening. Sadly City developers had other ideas for the site, which was closed in 1994 for redevelopment into another City office block.

From 1994 to 1998 Kate managed two Jamie’s Wine & Champagne Bars in the City of London. Kate also ran corporate events and her significant sales of Champagne resulted in her being invited on The Champagne Academy Course in 1998.

In 1998 Kate opened The Contented Vine PLC in Pimlico SW1 with her partner (now husband) Don Morris (Chairman 1994). She directed and managed the eclectic food and beverage establishment that built a reputation for a great wine list with particular focus on great value wines and of course Champagne. The Contented Vine often hoisted wine tastings with visiting wine makers from around the world. With a function and event room upstairs and a cellar and garden downstairs, the CV hosted many Wine Trade and other events including the dinner for Led Zeppelin the night before their London reunion concert in 2007. Prior to closing the business in 2011, Kate and Don self-published “Wines and Times at The Contented Vine” a wine and food book detailing recipes, wine notes, and memories of the 13 years.

In 2007 Kate worked with past Chairmen Janie Harding-Edgar and Martin Dibben raising £40k for the Nick Tarayan Charity and was involved in organising and running two wine education trips to France (Champagne & Burgundy) and Spain (Penedes) for the Nick Tarayan bursary in his memory. Having gained her WSET Diploma in 1989 Kate also served on the Grand Maisons d’Alsace committee prior to serving on the Champagne Academy committee and becoming Chairman in 2010.