Veeraswamy, Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant, faces possible closure after a legal dispute with its landlord, the Crown Estate. Supporters have delivered a petition to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace seeking symbolic backing to preserve the historic Regent Street dining room.
Founded in 1926 by Edward Palmer, a former Anglo-Indian army officer, Veeraswamy helped introduce fine Indian dining to Britain. Renowned for its lavish interiors and formal service, the restaurant has hosted diplomats, politicians and visiting dignitaries and twice catered for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace: in 2009 for an Indian presidential state visit and in 2017 to mark 70 years of Indian independence.
The row began after the Crown Estate unveiled plans to modernise Victory House, the Grade II-listed building that houses Veeraswamy. Planning documents say proposed changes to the entrance would make the restaurant inaccessible. The Crown Estate says the work is necessary to update the building and make full use of the property, and it has offered financial compensation and assistance finding alternate West End premises.
Co-owners Ranjit Mathrani and Namita Panjabi say the Crown Estate has shifted the reasons for eviction and refused to compromise. A petition backed by chefs including Raymond Blanc, Michel Roux and Richard Corrigan has gathered more than 20,000 verified signatures. Buckingham Palace said the matter is for the Crown Estate to resolve and that the monarch has no authority over commercial leasing decisions.
