To bring the authentic taste of Kerala's coastal cuisine to food lovers everywhere. We believe in preserving traditional cooking methods while creating memorable dining experiences.

Quality ingredients, authentic recipes, and warm hospitality are at the heart of everything we do. We source the finest spices and ingredients to ensure every dish tells a story.

From Kerala to Derbyshire — a dream more than two decades in the making

I came to England as a young man in my early twenties, carrying with me the values, memories and flavours of the place I grew up in.

Like many people who start a new life away from home, my journey has taken many different turns. I worked my way through a variety of roles, eventually building a long career with Royal Mail and the Post Office, progressing into senior leadership and management positions. Along the way, I continued my education and completed an MBA in Leadership and Management.

But food — particularly the food of Kerala — has always remained closely connected to family, home and identity.

In October 2023, that connection became Alleppey Kitchen.

At 43, owning a restaurant that represents where I come from genuinely feels like a dream come true. The name itself reflects our roots: Alleppey, or Alappuzha, is a place very close to my family and to the food traditions we want to share.

Staying authentic wasn't always the easy choice

When we opened, we made a conscious decision not to simply recreate the familiar British Indian restaurant menu.

There was no naan bread. No chicken tikka masala. No balti.

That was a risk.

We wanted people to discover the food we actually grew up eating — Kerala and South Indian dishes built around coconut, curry leaves, spices, seafood, slow-cooked meats, dosas, rice and recipes with their own regional character.

In the beginning, that approach could be challenging. Some customers naturally asked for the dishes they already knew. But little by little, people tried something different, came back, brought friends and began recommending us to others.

Today, seeing customers who may never have experienced Kerala food before develop favourite dishes of their own is one of the most rewarding parts of Alleppey Kitchen.

Family is at the heart of it

The photograph you see here was taken with my family in India a few years ago.

For me, it represents much more than a family portrait. It represents where this journey began — the people, culture, memories and traditions behind the food we serve today.

Alleppey Kitchen is an independent family business, but it is also a very personal expression of home.

Our ambition is simple: to serve genuinely authentic South Indian food, welcome people warmly, and give our guests a little taste of Kerala here in Derbyshire.