UK's Oldest Indian Restaurant Veeraswamy Faces Closure; Staff Appeal to King Charles

Employees and supporters of Veeraswamy, the UK's oldest Indian restaurant, have appealed to King Charles III to help save the historic London eatery from closure, according to Metro.

Located on Regent Street in central London, Veeraswamy was established in 1926 by Edward Palmer. The Michelin-starred restaurant has hosted several prominent guests over the years, including Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Marlon Brando.

The restaurant's future is now uncertain due to a lease dispute with its landlord, the Crown Estate. According to the Financial Times, the matter is set to go to court on Thursday. In 2024, the Crown Estate informed the restaurant's owners that its lease would not be renewed as the building, Victory House, is scheduled for a major refurbishment.

The landlord reportedly said that carrying out the renovation while the restaurant continued to operate would pose safety concerns.
Ranjit Mathrani, chairman of MW Eat, which owns Veeraswamy, said the restaurant had made efforts to address the landlord's concerns. However, he questioned whether the same decision would have been taken if the establishment served a different cuisine.

"We have done everything to meet their concerns," Mathrani said, adding that the restaurant's history, culinary heritage and contribution had not been given due consideration. He also questioned whether the landlord would have taken a similar approach towards a well-known British chef such as Gordon Ramsay.

The Crown Estate, meanwhile, rejected suggestions that it favours certain cuisines over others. It said its West End restaurant portfolio reflects London's diverse dining culture.

As the legal dispute continues, employees and heritage supporters are hoping for royal intervention to help keep the restaurant at its historic address beyond its 100th anniversary. Support for the restaurant has also grown, with more than 20,000 people signing petitions calling for its preservation. However, King Charles III has yet to intervene in the matter.