Closing UK’s oldest Indian restaurant after courtroom battle could be a ‘tragedy’
Veeraswamy is locked in a legal battle with its landlord the Crown Estate, which wants to redevelop the site. Charlie Chaplin and Winston Churchill are among those who’ve eaten there
Martin Bennewith, Uday Salunkhe, Manita Panjabi and Ranjit Mathrani deliver a 20,000-signature petition to Buckingham Palace(Image: PA)
The owner of Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant has said it would be a “tragedy” if it was forced to close. Michelin-starred Veeraswamy has been a fixture on London’s Regent Street for a historic 100 years.
But now it is locked in a legal battle with its landlord, the Crown Estate, which wants to reclaim the space as part of a major regeneration project. A court this month heard it wants to redevelop the site for largely financial reasons, with a judge’s ruling expected later this year.
Speaking after the hearing, MW Eat chairman Ranjit Mathrani told The Times: “We fought because we want to keep the restaurant open.
It’s been an institution for decades(Image: Veeraswamy)
“Closure would be a tragedy, not just for the loss of a major historic venue which has contributed so much to British culinary history and London and Regent Street, but also for ourselves.”
The Piccadilly Circus eatery has served a string of high-profile diners since opening its doors in 1926, including Charlie Chaplin, Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill.
At Central London County Court last Wednesday, lawyers for the Crown Estate said the scheme would turn part of the Grade II-listed building into “modern, high-class office accommodation”.
Campaigners are trying to save the restaurant(Image: PA)
Mark Sefton KC explained the rationale was ultimately financial and said the space currently occupied by the restaurant would be worth considerably more as premium office space.
He said the landlord wished to improve the building and increase the rental income it could generate, adding that while the Crown Estate recognised Veeraswamy’s historic and cultural significance, the financial case for redevelopment was “incredibly compelling”.
The court heard the Crown Estate has already secured planning and listed building consent for the project and hopes to begin major works next spring.
The site in central London(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
But lawyers for restaurant owner MW Eat argued the plans would effectively force Veeraswamy out of its long-time home despite the premises being in good condition.
They said a wider loss would also be felt by the chefs, customers and supporters who have backed a campaign to save the restaurant, including more than 20,000 people who signed a petition calling on King Charles to intervene over its lease.
Martin, 73, has worked on the door of the restaurant greeting customers in his resplendent red uniform for nine years. He told The Metro: “This is a wonderful place to work, and I’m so proud of this historic place.
“It would be heartbreaking to see this place shut – and for what? It’s greed taking over at the expense of history. Veeraswamy is part of the fabric of London. This is more than a business and we are obviously sad at the prospect of having to close.”
