Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant to take battle against eviction to court

Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant to take battle against eviction to court The Michelin-starred restaurant Veeraswamy has been located on Regent’s Street for 100 years - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant is set to fight for its right to remain on London’s iconic Regent Street after being threatened with eviction. Veeraswamy, which has been located in Victory House near Piccadilly Circus since 1926, is embroiled in a legal battle with the Crown Estate, which has decided against renewing their lease. The estate has said the building requires “comprehensive refurbishment,” including the offices on the upper floors, which have been empty since a basement flood in 2023 that did not affect the Michelin-starred restaurant. In planning applications submitted to Westminster City Council, the ground-floor entrance to the restaurant on Swallow Street would be altered to create a larger office reception entrance, which would block access to Veeraswamy. The Times reported that the restaurant has proposed sharing the larger entrance and matching whatever rents the estate believes it can charge new tenants, but his has been refused. The estate received planning permission to carry out the refurbishments on the Grade II property in the summer of 2025. The case is now set to be heard in court with a five-day hearing due to begin on 29 June at the county court in central London. During an interview with The Independent last year, Ranjit Mathrani, co-owner of its parent company MW Eat, said that the Crown Estate had insisted it would not be possible to create a new entrance for the building, and has so far been unable to find suitable place nearby for the restaurant to relocate to once the lease expires. “I think it’s an outrage. This is cultural philistinism,” Mr Mathrani told The Independent. “Here is an institution supposedly with some regard for history given its legacy and its social objectives. And it is basically subordinating everything to the homogeneity of having a uniform office building.” Veeraswamy has been frequented by a host of royalty and dignitaries from Britain and overseas during its decades spent in Victory House at 99 Regent Street, with notable guests including Princess Anne, Winston Churchill, Indira Ghandi and Charlie Chaplin. The restaurant even believes it was the only outside caterer ever to have been invited by Queen Elizabeth II to cater for a function hosted by the late monarch at Buckingham Palace in 2008, an honour repeated in 2017 during a visit by the Indian president. A spokesperson on behalf of The Crown Estate said: “We need to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of Victory House to both bring it up to modern standards, and into full use. “We understand how disappointing this is for MW Eat and have offered help to find new premises on our portfolio so that the restaurant can stay in the West End as well as financial compensation. “The Crown Estate has a statutory responsibility to manage its land and property to create long term value for the UK and return its profit to the UK Government for public spending. “This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly. With external advice, we have reviewed alternative proposals including those put forward by MW Eat, and unfortunately there isn’t an alternate scheme which meets our responsibilities as stewards of this heritage listed building, our legal obligations and our responsibilities to manage public money.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments [Image text:] KING CHARLE GREEDY KEEM AVE STOPTHE ERASWAMY GREEDY AND MANY CROWN ESTATE OULDTHE CROWN CURRY IOBS JSTOME FROMEVICTING ON VEERASWAMY CROWN ESTATES ARE AFTER 100 WHY ARET CROWI THE CROWN OSET WHHREEEEE ESTATES THE GREEDY KING CHARLES BEHONEST THE CRON YEARS ESTATES ESTATES CROWN ESTATES CROWN WE 100YEAF THEYWANT NOTWILLING AREIGNORING TOHAVE ON'T SHAME ESTATE BEOPEN OF YRS SHUT ON TALKTO SHOULD GOOD ARE BE FAIR M TALKS? VEERASWAMY? NOT YOU TENANTS BE REASONABLE EVICT VEERASWAMY VEERESWAMY? OF HERITAGE SAVE VEERASWAMY VEERASWAMY