Veeraswamy: UK's oldest Indian restaurant, which served Churchill, Chaplin and Brando, forced to close; here's why

Veeraswamy, the UK’s oldest Indian restaurant, is facing closure at its home on London’s Regent Street. The Crown Estate says renovation work at Victory House will prevent Veeraswamy from operating there. She decided not to renew the lease.

Edward Palmer, a former Anglo-Indian army officer, opened Veeraswamy in 1926. The Michelin-starred restaurant has served Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Marlon Brando. He also handled events at Buckingham Palace. Its century on Regent Street is central to the campaign to keep it.

Who owns Veeraswamy and why the dispute?

Ranjit Mathrani owns Veeraswamy and MW Eat is the parent company of the restaurant. According to him, the trade is treated unfairly. The Crown Estate denies this claim.

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“We vehemently reject any suggestion that The Crown Estate favors certain types of cuisine. We are proud to have a diverse food offering across our West End portfolio that reflects the diversity of London itself,” said a spokesperson.

The Crown Estate manages the monarch’s property interests and is the landlord of the restaurant. Mathrani wrote to King Charles asking him to intervene. Buckingham Palace says the matter rests with Crown Estate officials.

The dispute is now in court under the Landlord and Tenant Act. The case began Nov. 5 and could determine whether the restaurant can keep its lease.

Guy Fetherstonhaugh KC, representing MW Eat, argued that the landlord was picking on Veeraswamy. He suggested that the Crown Estate wanted new offices without an Indian restaurant in the building. The Crown Estate rejects any suggestion that the type of food influenced its decision.

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The owner says that building work is necessary. Its West End properties are said to offer food from a range of cuisines. It also says that its profits go to the treasury. The Crown Estate says this imposes a duty on it to manage taxpayers’ money well.

what’s next

The Crown Estate offered compensation and assistance in finding another location in its property portfolio. This offer could give MW Eat a way to keep the restaurant open elsewhere. The trial continues and Veeraswamy’s future at Victory House remains uncertain.

Employees say the move would mean leaving a place that shaped the restaurant’s history. Seventy-three-year-old Martin has been welcoming diners at the door for nine years. He told Metro that another location could never replicate the site’s history.

“Veeraswamy is part of the fabric of London. I don’t know if it was a restaurant run by Gordon Ramsay or another celebrity chef, it would have been treated the same. But we feel we’ve been treated badly,” he told the publication.

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“We love this place; we’re like family. Generations of people have come to eat here. Regent Street won’t be the same without Veeraswamy,” said another employee.

The staff also asked King Charles to help save the restaurant. A petition in support of Veeraswamy has collected 20,000 signatures. Proponents include famous chefs Raymond Blanc and Michel Roux.

Customers also supported the campaign. Vijay, 29, told Metro that he usually tries to have lunch there during business trips to Britain. He praised the food and service. For employees and activists, the dispute concerns both the company and its century-old home.