Britain’s Oldest Indian Restaurant Faces Closure Over Lease Dispute
Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant, Veeraswamy, is facing an uncertain future due to a lease row that could see it forced to shut its doors in central London. The key issue? A 12-month refurbishment plan that could remove its only entrance.
Veeraswamy, which has been serving Indian cuisine from Victory House near Piccadilly Circus since 1926, has become something of a landmark. Over the decades, it’s hosted royalty, diplomats, and celebrities, with guests including Princess Anne, David Cameron and King Abdullah of Jordan. But the Crown Estate, which owns the building, has told the restaurant’s owners that it won’t be renewing the lease that expired in June.
According to the Crown Estate, the planned renovation of Victory House is intended to modernise the building and improve the experience for office tenants upstairs. Part of that plan involves reclaiming a section of space currently occupied by Veeraswamy’s entrance, around 11 square metres in size, to expand the reception area.
For the restaurant, that relatively small footprint represents everything. Without an independent entrance, Veeraswamy says it cannot operate. Its parent company, MW Eat, says the only solution offered was to vacate the site, with no suitable alternative access proposed.
Ranjit Mathrani, who co-owns MW Eat, said the decision was both sudden and disheartening. He claims the restaurant had not been given any prior indication that it would need to leave. “It came out of the blue,” he said, adding that just a year earlier the Crown Estate had offered them more space, which he declined. “They don’t care a bugger for history,” he said. “Had they wanted to, they could’ve easily put the office reception on the first floor.”
He added that the restaurant could be forced to close permanently if no suitable relocation can be found in time, putting jobs and a long-standing piece of London’s culinary heritage at risk.
A spokesperson for the Crown Estate responded by saying: “We need to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of Victory House. This includes a major upgrade to the offices and improving the entrance to make it more accessible. Due to the limited options available in this listed building we need to remove the entrance to the restaurant, which means we will not be able to offer Veeraswamy an extension when their lease expires.”
The situation has raised wider questions about how historic businesses are supported in the face of central London’s growing demand for commercial space. For now, Veeraswamy’s future remains unclear, but the story has already prompted concern from regulars and cultural commentators alike.
The restaurant has long been part of London’s food heritage, even earning a mention in the National Heritage List for England for its contribution to the city’s historic identity.
For more updates on the future of Veeraswamy and London’s changing food scene, visit EyeOnLondon. We’d love to hear your views in the comments.
