Derby’s historic Cathedral Quarter Hotel has experienced a significant resurgence following its acquisition by new owners, Lavendish Leisure, in May. The Grade II-listed establishment, located on St Mary’s Gate, has witnessed a surge in guest bookings, with most weekends fully booked, marking a new chapter in the hotel’s storied history.
Newly appointed operations manager Isuru Akalanka, who relocated from Sri Lanka for the role, has taken an immersive approach to running the hotel. Isuru has moved into the property himself to oversee day-to-day operations, a practice he believes allows him to understand the finer details of his surroundings. “I’m staying at the hotel right now because I need to be here to oversee everything,” he said. “In the beginning, the hotel was very quiet, and there were quite a few things that needed our attention behind the scenes. I also had to recruit a team of staff and find some top chefs. Four months later, I can report that we are fully booked most weekends. When the hotel is busy with guests and there is laughter in the bar, the whole place comes to life.”
The hotel’s transformation represents the ambitions of Lavendish Leisure’s management team. Co-owner Rashmi Dedigama explained that the team aims to restore the Cathedral Quarter Hotel to its former glory. “We are fully aware that the hotel was once a jewel in Derby’s crown,” she remarked. “It is such an iconic building that oozes sophistication and luxury, and we want to celebrate its unique personality. Derby needs a boutique hotel like the Cathedral Quarter Hotel, and we are working extremely hard behind the scenes.”
The Cathedral Quarter Hotel, originally constructed in the 19th century, has a fascinating history as it once served as a police station and council headquarters. Today, the hotel has been transformed into a boutique destination featuring 38 individually designed ensuite bedrooms, an elegant function room for events such as weddings and corporate gatherings, and two popular bars: Bar 16 and Bogart’s Lounge Bar.
Isuru highlighted several original features that have been retained, preserving the hotel’s historic charm. “We still have an old police cell in the hotel, and there are tunnels underground which were used to get to the neighbouring Magistrates’ Court,” he shared. “I am pleased to say that a lot of the original décor remains in the boutique hotel, like the impressive marble and alabaster lobby and the ornate plaster ceilings and oak-frame windows in the Opulence restaurant.”
Lavendish Leisure plans to further enhance the guest experience at the hotel with live music events and themed nights. The management team hopes to attract more visitors to Derby and to establish the Cathedral Quarter Hotel as a prime location for both leisure and business travelers. Rashmi Dedigama and her husband, Peter, who manage a portfolio of hotels, have expressed particular excitement about their Derby property, seeing it as an opportunity to blend history with luxury in the heart of the city.
With bookings up and a vibrant programme of activities in the pipeline, the Cathedral Quarter Hotel’s new chapter is already well underway. The management hopes that the revival of this landmark property will add to Derby’s reputation as a destination, echoing memories of the hotel’s former guest, Queen Elizabeth II, who dined there in 2010.