For 100 years, Veeraswamy has been serving Indian food from its home on London’s Regent Street. Now, the city’s oldest Indian restaurant is fighting to remain there, after its landlord, the Crown Estate, decided not to renew its lease. The Michelin-starred restaurant has accused the property manager of undervaluing Indian cuisine compared with European food, turning a property dispute into a much bigger conversation about how Indian food is viewed in London. Scroll on to know more about this.
Why Is Veeraswamy Being Asked To Leave Its London Home?
While talking to The Telegraph, Ranjit Mathrani, chairman of Veeraswamy’s parent company MW Eat, claimed the Crown Estate may not have considered Indian cuisine to be as important within the world of gastronomy.
He suggested that French and European restaurants could have been treated differently, adding that the situation might have been different if the restaurant had been run by chefs such as Michel Roux or Gordon Ramsay. The Crown Estate has disputed this interpretation.
According to Eastern Eye’s report, the Crown Estate says the decision is not about the kind of food Veeraswamy serves. Instead, it wants to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of Victory House, the Grade II-listed building where the restaurant has been located since 1926.
The plans include turning the restaurant’s existing space into a larger office reception area. This would mean Veeraswamy could not return to its current location once the redevelopment is complete. The Crown Estate has also said it offered to help the restaurant find another property in its West End portfolio, along with financial compensation.
Veeraswamy, however, says it has tried several ways to remain at the site. MW Eat has reportedly offered to buy Victory House, match the rent that could be earned from office tenants and take responsibility for the building works. It also suggested redesigning the restaurant to accommodate a shared reception area. However, none of these proposals were accepted.
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A Restaurant That Has Been Part Of London For A Century
Veeraswamy first opened in 1926 and has remained at the same Regent Street location ever since. Over the decades, it has welcomed royalty, celebrities and generations of London diners. Queen Elizabeth II was among its guests, while the restaurant has also catered for events at Buckingham Palace.
It survived the Blitz and the Second World War and went on to become one of London’s best-known Indian restaurants. In 2016, it was awarded a Michelin star, adding another milestone to its long history.
A petition supporting the restaurant’s future also attracted more than 20,000 signatures earlier this year.
The legal battle is now expected to head to court in November. Until then, Veeraswamy continues to operate from its Regent Street home, with its future hanging in the balance.
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The dispute raises a bigger question: can a restaurant’s cultural value outweigh commercial plans for its historic home? Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: X/@kamraslan
FAQs
Why is Veeraswamy fighting to stay at its Regent Street location?
The restaurant is facing eviction as the Crown Estate plans to refurbish the building and repurpose its current space.
How long has Veeraswamy been at Regent Street?
Veeraswamy has been at its Regent Street location since 1926, making it a century-old London institution.
Why is the Veeraswamy dispute significant for Indian food in London?
Beyond the lease dispute, the case has sparked a wider conversation about the cultural value and recognition of Indian cuisine in London’s food scene.
