The 46-year-old from Sri Lanka said:
“I am honoured to be here in Derby and serving all our guests at the Cathedral Quarter Hotel. I have worked in many countries and in some very prestigious hotels, but my heart is in Derby now.”
Global experience, Derby focus
Buddhika has cooked around the world – including Sri Lanka, Dubai and Bahrain – preparing dishes for dignitaries and thousands of guests. Now he’s channelling that experience into creating memorable food for Derby diners.
“It is an enormous privilege to be here, and I can’t wait to cook for you all,” he said. “I want to meet new people and give guests a meal to remember. My Christmas menu is very exciting and I can’t wait for that.”
New food nights and festive menus
The Grade II-listed Cathedral Quarter Hotel is now home to Buddhika’s new themed food nights, which are already proving popular.
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Every day: a signature steak and wine combo
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Fridays from 5pm: Buddhika’s speciality curries
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Saturdays from 5pm: a line-up of handcrafted pizzas
“Right now, I am concentrating on giving people home-cooked, gourmet food with authentic and original flavours,” he added. “Everything is prepared from scratch, by me, and I want diners to put their trust in what I can do.”
Buddhika has also created a handcrafted Christmas Day menu, and has played a key role in the hotel’s new Friday Night Club, which will feature themed events, wine tastings, party nights and live music with Derby DJs.
This year, the hotel will stay open over Christmas, with a special focus on people who might otherwise feel lonely over the festive period. Residents can enjoy half-price stays including breakfast, lunch and a traditional three-course set Christmas menu.
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Christmas Day three-course set menu: £45 per person (restaurant open 12pm–5pm)
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Single room with full board: £80 per night
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Double room with full board: £90 per night
Refurbished rooms and new coffee lounge
In 2024, the Cathedral Quarter Hotel completed a major refurbishment. All 38 en-suite bedrooms were transformed with new beds and 43-inch TVs. A new Starbucks coffee lounge is now open to both guests and the public. Key public areas – including the lobby, restaurant and corporate meeting rooms – have also been refreshed to highlight the building’s historic character.
Operations manager Isuru Akalanka said he is thrilled to have Buddhika on board and excited about the future of the hotel.
“Our hotel is right in the heart of Derby, and we want to welcome everyone to the Cathedral Quarter Hotel,” he said. “We are building a great team here and now it is time for the people of Derby to come and see what we are doing.”
“We are extremely keen to become an integral part of the community here in Derby. I want the Cathedral Quarter Hotel to be the place for people to meet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We want couples to book their weddings and for businesses to have their corporate events with us. Hopefully, our Christmas initiative will bring new visitors to the hotel too.”
To book a table or make a room reservation, please contact the Cathedral Quarter Hotel, Derby directly.