Boss of UK’s oldest Indian restaurant says battle to close them is hitting taxpayers in pocket
The Veeraswamy’s owner has claimed the Crown Estate has lost around £1.8m in their effort to shut the restaurant adding it is a ‘price which will be ultimately be borne by the UK taxpayer’
Ranjit Mathrani and Namita Panjabi his wife(Image: Alamy Live News.)
The owner of the UK’s oldest Michelin-star Indian restaurant has claimed the King’s Crown Estate has blown ‘around £1.8m’ in its battle to shut the beloved eatery.
The restaurant boss also alleged the massive sum of cash is “a price which will be ultimately be borne by the UK taxpayer.” The 100-year-old Indian restaurant, the Veeraswamy, was due to enter a court battle for their survival last week.
The Crown Estate, the business’ landlord, are attempting to kick the restaurant out of Victory House, Regent Street, London, and turn the food spot into office space. However the five-day court feud between the curry house and Crown Estate has been delayed due to “administrative reasons”.
Ranjit Mathrani, 83, chairman of MW Eat, Veeraswamy’s owner, told the Daily Star: “Our estimate is that in the absence of a settlement, the costs of the delay will add a further £500,000 to The Crown Estates costs through loss of rent.
“This is in addition to the £1.8m costs we estimate they will have incurred through loss of rent and legal costs without this delay. These costs will ultimately be borne by the UK taxpayer.”
Mathrani added: “So, we can only hope that this will be an added incentive for them to want to settle as we’ve been seeking to try and do.”
The Crown Estate have stressed Victory House is currently in poor condition and in urgent need of renovation. This has included emptying the office premises after a flooding incident in November 2023. A spokesperson on behalf of The Crown Estate has said: “We need to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of Victory House to both bring it up to modern standards, and into full use.”
The Crown Estate has offered to find the Veeraswamy a new home in their property portfolio so the restaurant can stay in the West End. And the Estate has also offered the curry house financial compensation if they are evicted from their home.
The legal row was sparked after the Crown Estate announced plans to modernise the Grade II-listed building, Victory House. Planning documents showed changes to the current entrance would make the restaurant inaccessible forcing the Veeraswamy to find a new home.
Mathrani has stated he fears the 100 year-old institution will be “airbrushed out of history” if the Crown Estate successfully removes them.
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