Top cooks Raymond Blanc and Michel Roux Jr lead fury over Crown Estate’s plans to transform Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant into workplaces
Plans announced by the Crown Estate to convert Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant into offices has prompted a furious reaction from some of country’s top chefs.
The Michelin starred Veeraswamy has been serving customers at Victory House on London‘s Regent Street since 1926.
High profile guests at the curry house over the years have included Mahatma Gandhi, Princess Anne and King Abdullah of Jordan.
However, the 99-year-old restaurant is now threatened with closure after the Crown Estate – who own the building – announced in summer plans to convert the building into offices.
Now, Raymond Blanc, Michel Roux Jr and Michael Caines are among a number of high profile chefs calling on the Crown Estate to engage in ‘meaningful dialogue’ and ‘act responsibly’ to save Veeraswamy.
They added that the restaurant’s ‘rightful home’ is in Victory House and that converting the establishment into offices would be ‘sacrilege, representing a profound loss, both for London’s restaurant scene and for our tourism economy’.
Veeraswamy, which is currently owned by MW Eat, is one of the oldest occupants on Regent Street together with Hamleys and Café Royal – which opened in 1881 and 1865 respectively.
The vast majority of Regent Street, is owned by the Crown Estate which is the property of King Charles III during his reign.
Veeraswamy has been serving customers at Victory House on London’s Regent Street since 1926. High profile guests at the curry house over the years have included Mahatma Gandhi, Princess Anne and King Abdullah of Jordan
Owners Ranjit Mathrani and Namita Panjabi at Veeraswamy Restaurant which is the oldest Indian restaurant in the country
It is not his private property and he does not manage or make decisions about its assets. The estate pays its profits to the Treasury, which in turn gives a percentage to the royal family in the form of a sovereign grant.
Restaurant boss Ranjit Mathrani, 81, previously said he was blindsided by the decision, especially after being asked just the year before if he wanted to expand into more space in the building.
He added the decision came completely ‘out of the blue’.
In an open letter to The Times, the chefs wrote: ‘As the Crown knows, heritage cannot be relocated, nor can history be replaced.
‘Keeping Veeraswamy alive is an act of responsibility by the Crown worthy of London’s reputation as one of the world’s great dining and tourist cities.’
Veeraswamy’s lease is set to expire at the end of June next year.
They will continue to trade on the site until a hearing which is due to take place next spring or early summer.
If the court finds in favour of the restaurant it could extend its lease for a further 14 years.
Veeraswamy’s staff in 1927. After 99 years the curry house is now threatened with closure after the Crown Estate – who own the building – announced plans to convert it into offices
Top chefs Michel Roux Jr (left) and Raymond Blanc are among the famous faces who have signed an open letter in The Times saying that Veeraswamy’s ‘rightful home’ is in Victory House and that converting the establishment into offices would be ‘sacrilege’
This is because it is a protected tenancy which gives long-term tenants enhanced rights.
The Crown Estate told The Times: ‘We need to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment to ensure the building meets modern standards and is brought back into full use. We understand how challenging this is for MW Eat.
‘Our focus remains on working with all parties and has included offering to help find new premises on our portfolio so that they can continue to be in the West End, as well as financial compensation.’
The Daily Mail have approached Veeraswamy for a comment.
