London’s historic Veeraswamy may be evicted after nearly a century, as legal battle erupts with Crown Estate over redevelopment plans
Veeraswamy, the UK’s longest-standing Indian restaurant and a culinary landmark in central London since 1926, is confronting possible closure following a bitter lease dispute with the Crown Estate, the sovereign property body linked to King Charles.
The renowned establishment, located at Victory House on Regent Street, has welcomed dignitaries and celebrities for nearly a century – from Winston Churchill and Princess Anne to Charlie Chaplin and Indira Gandhi. It was also uniquely invited to cater for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2008 and again in 2017 during an official Indian state visit.
Plans for the late Queen to dine at the restaurant herself were ultimately disrupted by the Covid pandemic, according to Ranjit Mathrani, co-owner of MW Eat, Veeraswamy’s parent company.
However, the restaurant now faces eviction after the Crown Estate declined to renew its lease, set to expire in June. The disagreement centres on building renovations which, according to the Crown Estate, require the removal of Veeraswamy’s current entrance to create a new access point for office space above.
“This decision could mark the end of a living institution,” warned Mr Mathrani, who described the restaurant as a cultural cornerstone rather than a relic of the past. He accused the Crown Estate of “cultural philistinism”, saying it prioritised commercial gain over historical value.
The dispute has now moved to the courts, with MW Eat seeking to delay the eviction to allow time for relocation – a process Mr Mathrani estimates could take up to two years. If an interim solution isn’t reached, the business may be forced to shut down before reopening elsewhere, placing 50 jobs at risk.
The Crown Estate insists the grade II-listed building requires urgent refurbishment. A spokesperson said Victory House needs “significant modernisation”, including upgrades to upper-level offices that have been vacant since a flood last year compromised the power supply. “We are unable to extend Veeraswamy’s lease as the entrance will be removed during redevelopment,” the spokesperson explained.
According to reports, the restaurant space itself is likely to be converted into offices once renovations are complete. Mr Mathrani said the Crown Estate has not been able to identify a viable nearby alternative for the restaurant’s relocation, nor has it invited Veeraswamy to match projected commercial returns from retail or office use.
“It’s disgraceful,” he said. “This is a body supposedly grounded in heritage, yet it’s disregarding its cultural responsibility for the sake of architectural uniformity and higher yields.”
Established in the year Queen Elizabeth II was born, Veeraswamy was founded by Edward Palmer, a former officer in the Indian army and grandson of Mughal royalty. It has hosted numerous prominent guests, including Marlon Brando, Laurence Olivier and Prince Axel of Denmark, who famously introduced beer to the curry experience by sending a barrel of Carlsberg to the venue.
In recent years, the restaurant has continued to thrive, holding a Michelin star since 2016 and welcoming around 80,000 diners annually – many of them international visitors to London.
Mathrani remains hopeful that the Crown Estate will reconsider, warning that drawn-out legal action benefits no one. “This shouldn’t be reduced to court proceedings and confrontation,” he said. “It would be a great shame to lose such a vibrant piece of Britain’s multicultural legacy in this way.”
