Michelin-starred Veeraswamy faces closure in battle over lease

The UK’s oldest Indian restaurant could face closure in a dispute with its landlord the Crown Estate.

Michelin-starred Veeraswamy has served customers from its site in Victory House, near London’s Piccadilly Circus, since 1926.

But The Times reports the restaurant has been told that its lease will not be renewed when it expires in June.

The Crown Estate reportedly wants to take back the space so it can complete a major 12-month renovation of the building and convert Veeraswamy into offices.

Ranjit Mathrani, co-owner of Veeraswamy parent company MW Eat, told the paper the landlord had refused to allow Veeraswamy to stay in place until it found an alternative site.

He has now taken the Crown Estate to court to get the lease extended.

“We’re open to moving, because we accept the inevitability that, sooner or later, they will be able to turf us out,” said Mathrani. “Ideally, if they’re being reasonable people, we need two years to find a site [and fit it out], but that is not currently something they’re willing to do.”

A Crown Estate spokesperson said: “The Crown Estate has a duty to generate value for the nation, while acting as responsible stewards for this historic part of London. 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.

"We appreciate this is upsetting for Veeraswamy and have offered to help find new premises elsewhere on our portfolio having explored other options to accommodate their needs. Veeraswamy has been a valued part of Regent Street for many years. We thank them and their customers for their contributions to the West End.”

MW Eat owns other Indian restaurants including the high-end Chutney Mary and Amaya as well as the more casual Masala Zone group.