“I signed on a near-derelict house during Corona, which I fell in love with and spent every cent I had saved, as well as a small inheritance I had, renovating the property,” Norris said. When the money ran dry, she returned to London to cook for another six months, wiring each paycheck home to finish what she’d started. That determination now has a name: Club Ceylon. “It was tough – but here we are!” adds Norris.

Inside the 1904 villa, there’s candlelight, contemporary Sri Lankan art, and seafood that tastes like it’s still dripping with sea spray. The place feels personal because it is – built from scratch by a woman with a deep connection to the town and a clear vision of what it could be.

A Menu That’s Rooted and Refined

Club Ceylon sources its catch from local day-boat fishermen – a supply chain Norris built herself over years. There are divers and foragers in the mix too, and buyers with decades of market experience. The result is a menu that changes often but always leans fresh, seasonal, and focused. The menu is inspired by Mediterranean sharing plates. Norris’ background in European kitchens shows – but it’s the local ingredients that shine. Every few months, international guest chefs (friends from her London days) join her for collaborative residencies. Most recently: Peter Smit from Dirty Supper, Singapore. Next up: Michelin-starred Lee Westcott in December.

A Local Mission

But the ambition stretches beyond food. Club Ceylon employs staff almost entirely from Negombo – trained in-house – and sources nearly everything locally, from vegetables to handmade candles. Works by Sujeewa Kumari (currently exhibiting at Paradise Road Gallery) grace the walls. Norris is working with local historians to help revive the old town and put it back on the map. “I’ve been coming to Negombo since I was a child. Now 38, I’m hell-bent on bringing this area to life!” she says.

Negombo, often treated as a last-night stop before the airport, finally has a destination in its own right – one that’s intimate, unfussy, and fiercely rooted. Club Ceylon isn’t just a great restaurant. It’s a comeback story, a community hub, and a woman’s personal tribute to the place Norris calls home.