Who is chef Nikita Pathakji on Great British Menu 2026?
With Great British Menu 2026 now on our screens on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, we find out more about chef Nikita Pathakji, who is competing in the Central heat.
Nikita Pathakji is a Michelin-trained private chef and former MasterChef: The Professionals champion known for her elegant fine-dining style combined with bold Asian flavours.
Michelin training and early career
Originally from Derby, Nikita began her culinary journey through an apprenticeship at Westminster Kingsway College, where she combined formal study with hands-on experience in professional kitchens.
Her first professional role came at The Lanesborough Hotel in London, where she worked across multiple sections of the kitchen, including afternoon tea and pastry, before moving into the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Céleste.
She later joined Bibendum, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant led by Claude Bosi, where she developed strong foundations in classical French cooking and refined fine-dining techniques.
Influences from Asia and Michelin kitchens
After Bibendum, Nikita spent nine months travelling across Southeast Asia. The trip proved a pivotal moment in shaping her culinary identity, exposing her to vibrant spice-led cuisines and new flavour combinations that continue to influence her cooking today.
Upon returning to London, she joined Core by Clare Smyth, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Notting Hill, before moving to Kitchen W8, the Michelin-starred Kensington restaurant led by Mark Kempson.
At Kitchen W8 she progressed through the kitchen to become junior sous chef, further refining her technical precision and leadership skills.
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MasterChef: The Professionals winner
In 2022, Nikita achieved national recognition after being crowned champion of MasterChef: The Professionals.
Throughout the competition she impressed judges with her technical precision, clean presentation and distinctive flavour combinations, ultimately winning the title and establishing herself as one of the UK’s rising culinary talents.
In 2024 she took on her first head chef role at The Princess of Shoreditch in London, where she combined classical fine-dining technique with global influences.
Private chef and Great British Menu 2026
Nikita now works as a private chef, creating bespoke dining experiences for clients and drawing on her experience across some of the UK’s most respected Michelin-starred kitchens.
Her cooking style centres on elegant fine dining, bold Asian flavours, balanced spice and clean presentation.
In Great British Menu 2026, Nikita represents the Central region. Her menu celebrates style, the Central region and the films and actors that hail from the area, interpreting the competition’s film-themed brief through refined, modern dishes.
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