House Boat, on St Peters Street, has built a strong reputation since opening, with more than 1,000 reviews across Tripadvisor and Google rating the restaurant as excellent. The venue has become especially popular for its authentic Kerala-inspired dishes, distinctive décor and newly opened beer garden.
The 64-seater restaurant also has space for 40 guests in its outdoor beer garden, along with new café-style seating at the front.
Johns Geo, who runs House Boat with friends, said the response from Derby diners has been overwhelming.
He said: “We were so happy to be shortlisted among the best in the UK by the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards. We were also in the running for Regional Restaurant of the Year in the East Midlands region, and this meant everything to us.
“But to be top of Tripadvisor for a city-based Indian restaurant is the best news ever. We feel very proud and deeply touched.”
House Boat was shortlisted in the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards, widely known as the ‘Curry Oscars’, and management say they are now planning to enter even more awards in 2026.
Johns said diners are not only enjoying the food, but also the restaurant’s striking interior, which features bespoke murals including tigers, elephants, a Derby Ram and a Rolls-Royce motor car.
The venue’s beer garden is now open, with enquiries already coming in from people interested in hiring the outdoor space for private events. Guests can also make use of the new street-side seating area at the front of the restaurant.
Last month, House Boat also welcomed a TV crew from India, who filmed New Year celebrations at the restaurant. The footage captured Vishu, the Malayalam New Year festival, and is due to be broadcast on Indian TV news channels in April.
Johns said: “We were really excited to have the film crew. We wanted to show them what makes our restaurant so unique and reveal the secret to our success.
“What makes House Boat special is that we put customers before anything. Of course, we need to make money to keep the business running, but our diners are extremely important to us.”
House Boat launched in August 2024 and welcomed 1,000 diners within its first three months. Now, the team says it is preparing to expand, with plans for a second venture already in progress.
“Watch this space,” Johns said. “It’s definitely coming and it won’t be long.
“I am just getting all the paperwork signed off and then we will be announcing our second venture. The warm welcome in Derby has been so good that we want to build our business and extend the brand.”
The restaurant has also attracted attention from popular food influencer Jonathan Yates, better known as Only Scrans, who visited earlier this year and gave the food a glowing review. Yates has a large following across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
House Boat specialises in food from Kerala, a region in South India, with a menu featuring dosas, thalis and seafood dishes alongside rich beef, chicken and lamb curries, fragrant biriyanis and a range of starters.
The restaurant currently offers a lunch special for £9.99, including a soft drink, and has also launched a bottomless brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 4pm, priced at £35 per person. The brunch includes 90 minutes of free-flowing drinks and a South Indian meal.
House Boat is open seven days a week from 12 noon until 10pm.