Veeraswamy off Regent Street is due to celebrate its 100th birthday next year
London’s oldest Indian restaurant is fighting for survival after its landlord announced plans to convert its historic premises into offices. The Veeraswamy Restaurant opened in Victory House off Regent Street in 1926 and is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.
The Veeraswamy has entertained the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Princess Anne, Mahatma Gandhi and King Abdullah of Jordan during its 99 years of trading and is one of the longest-serving tenants on Regent Street, beaten only by toy store Hamleys, which opened in 1881, and the exquisite Hotel Cafe Royal which opened its doors in 1865.
But the Michelin-starred business says it has been forced to take legal action as its 100-year lease draws to a close and landlord The Crown Estate unveiled plans to transform Victory House into a grand office complex. Now, some of Britain’s most famous celebrity chefs including Raymond Blanc, Michel Roux Jr and Michael Caines have signed an open letter urging the landlords to engage in a “meaningful debate” to save Veeraswamy, The Times reports.
The chefs urged The Crown Estate, which owns much of Regent Street – making it the property of the King – to “act responsibly” and acknowledge The Veeraswamy’s “rightful home” as Victory House. The chefs’ letter goes on to describe the proposed office conversion as a “sacrilege” which would represent a “profound loss” for London’s restaurant scene and tourism industry.
It adds: “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.”
The Veeraswamy is managed by MW Eat, whose chairman Ranjit Mathrani, 82, says he was dumbfounded by the Crown Estate’s proposal. Mr Mathrani says just a year earlier, he was asked if he wanted to expand inside the building.
The Crown Estate began converting the upper storeys of Victory House into office space in 2023, and as Veeraswamy draws from a different power supply, the restaurant has continued its day to day business. But the Crown Estate wishes to knock down a wall that separates the entrance to The Veeraswamy from the office foyer to create a large reception area for the office tenants, spelling the end of the restaurant.
Mr Mathrani claims he has attempted to compromise with his landlords, without success. He wrote in court filings: “My dealings with the [Crown Estate] have been characterised by an uncompromising refusal to consider any change to their design plan.”
The restaurant pays around £205,000 rent to the Crown Estate each year, and Mr Mathrani says he is willing to match the same rental fee as the new office tenants once renovation works are finished.
A court hearing to decide The Veeraswamy’s fate will be held next spring or early summer. If successful, Veeraswamy could extend its lease for another 14 years. In the meantime, Veeraswamy plans to continue serving at the site until the hearing.
The Crown Estate is managed on the King’s behalf, and its profits are passed to the Treasury, which pays a percentage to the Royal Family through the sovereign grant.
The Crown Estate told The Daily Mail: “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 Crown Estate has been approached for comment.
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