Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was barred from entering a top Cape Town nightclub at the weekend because he was dressed too casually.

The star of BBC Lifestyle shows including Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and The F Word, was in Cape Town for the Good Food and Wine Show which ended yesterday.

A household name in his native UK and the US, and familiar to many South African viewers who see him on DStv - Ramsay was wildly popular at the show. Tickets to watch him cook were priced at R750 for a VIP seat, and completely sold out.

Good Food and Wine Show spokesman, Jeannine Orzechowski, said Ramsay's fans thronging at the event "treated him like a rock star".

But it was a different story when the father of four arrived at Hemisphere nightclub on the 31st floor of the Absa building in Cape Town's city centre late on Friday night. The doormen did not have a clue who he was.

The club is a favourite watering hole for international celebrities, and has hosted the likes of Kate Moss, Leonardo di Caprio, singer Brian McKnight, JK of band Jamiroquai, action star Steven Seagal and cricketer Brian Lara.

It is not clear what Ramsay was wearing when he arrived. Whatever it was, the doormen did not like it, and turned him away.

As many revellers were queueing to get into the club, news spread fast on social networking site Twitter that "Ramsay was gated at Hemisphere".

The club's website says that its "dress code is anything from smart casual to glitz, glamour and bling, but there are two no-nos - guests wearing T-shirts or trainers/running shoes will be denied access!"

However, the chef who is known for his tantrums and foul language reportedly took the rejection in his stride and left good naturedly.

But when Hemisphere's owner, Douglas Oberwortmann, found out on Saturday what had happened he was horrified, and sent a message to Ramsay, who was staying at Cape Town's One & Only hotel, where he has a outlet of his signature chain of restaurants, Maze.

Oberwortmann apologised for his doormen's faux pas - and invited Ramsey to go back to the club at any time for the VIP treatment.