Nisha Katona, the founder of the popular Indian restaurant chain Mowgli, has built a successful culinary empire that began in Liverpool. However, her life extends far beyond the kitchen, encompassing a 20-year career as a barrister, a prominent role at a Liverpool university, and a bustling family life on a farm near the Wirral.
Originally from Ormskirk, Lancashire, the 53-year-old entrepreneur has become a familiar face on television, all while managing a national business and fulfilling her duties as Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.
Key Takeaways
- Nisha Katona transitioned from a 20-year career as a child protection barrister to found the Mowgli Street Food chain in 2014.
- Mowgli started with a single restaurant on Liverpool's Bold Street and has now expanded to over 20 locations across the UK.
- In January 2022, she became the Chancellor of her alma mater, Liverpool John Moores University.
- Katona lives on a farm near the Wirral with her husband, musician Zoltan Katona, and their two daughters.
- She is also a published author and a regular presenter on television shows like ITV's This Morning.
A Career Change from Law to Food
Before she became a household name in the food industry, Nisha Katona had a long and established career in law. After studying at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), she practiced as a child protection barrister for two decades. Her connection to Liverpool's cultural institutions was also solidified in 2008 when she was appointed as a trustee of the National Museums Liverpool.
However, her passion for cooking eventually led her to make a significant career change. In 2014, Katona decided to leave her legal practice to pursue her dream of opening an Indian restaurant. She invested her life savings to launch the first Mowgli Street Food on Bold Street in Liverpool, introducing a new concept of authentic, home-style Indian cooking to the city.
The Mowgli Concept
Mowgli was founded on the principle of showcasing how Indians eat at home and on their streets. The menu focuses on fresh, healthy, and flavourful small plates, moving away from the traditional British curry house model. This unique approach quickly gained popularity among diners.
The success of the Bold Street location was immediate, leading to rapid expansion. Mowgli became the UK's first national Indian restaurant chain, with venues now operating in cities including Manchester, London, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Edinburgh.
Philanthropy and National Recognition
Beyond its commercial success, the business has maintained a strong focus on community and charity. In 2017, the Mowgli Trust was established to give back to the communities that host its restaurants. The charity has been remarkably successful in its fundraising efforts.
Mowgli Trust's Impact
According to company reports, the Mowgli Trust has raised more than £1.8 million to date. The funds support various organisations, with a primary focus on children’s hospices, cancer charities, and local hospital trusts.
Katona's contributions to the food industry have not gone unnoticed. In 2019, she was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year Honours list for her services to the food industry. This recognition cemented her status as one of the UK's most influential culinary figures.
Life on Screen and at Home
Nisha Katona is also a well-known television personality. She frequently appears on ITV's This Morning to host cooking segments and has served as a judge on the BBC's Great British Menu. Her television credits also include appearances as a guest chef on MasterChef and competing alongside McFly's Harry Judd on Cooking with the Stars.
She also hosted her own show, Nisha Katona’s Home Kitchen, on ITV. The programme offered viewers a look into her personal life, as it was filmed at her family home, a farmstead near the Wirral.
"What a preposterous blessing to have ITV so kindly trust me with my dream cooking show. My most delicious, simplest recipes are set in the natural chaos of my Wirral farmstead with my four-legged and two-legged family," she said when the show was announced.
At her Wirral home, she lives with her husband of 25 years, Zoltan Katona. Zoltan is an internationally acclaimed classical guitarist, performing as one half of the duo "The Katona Twins" with his identical brother, Peter. The couple has two daughters, Tia and India. Their farm is home to numerous animals, including dogs, horses, goats, alpacas, and various poultry, which often feature on her social media.
A Return to Her Alma Mater
In a significant moment that brought her career full circle, Nisha Katona returned to her university in a prestigious new role. In January 2022, she was appointed Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, becoming the first former student to hold the position. As Chancellor, she acts as an ambassador and role model for students and presides over graduation ceremonies.
This role took on a deeply personal meaning during a recent graduation ceremony. Katona had the emotional task of presenting her own youngest daughter with her law degree from LJMU.
This event highlighted the unique intersection of her past and present roles: a former law student, a proud parent, and now the ceremonial head of the very institution where her professional journey began. It is a testament to a career defined by bold transitions, from the courtroom to the kitchen and into the heart of Liverpool's academic life.