5 AA Rosettes Nico Ladenis (22 April 1934 – 10 September 2023) was a British self-taught chef who was the first to gain three Michelin Stars.

Best known for his fiery temper and his mantra "the customer is not always right", he taught a generation of British chefs who went on to run their own businesses, win Michelin stars and become household names.

In 1999, he handed back his stars due in part to prostate cancer and because of his disillusionment with the London restaurant scene.

He said in a press statement at the time that "Working in a three-star restaurant is very restrictive and people do not want to eat very expensive food.

"[9] He later admitted that this was due in part from being disillusioned with the restaurant scene in London, but also because he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer the month before speaking to the Michelin reviewers.