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Call to prevent closure of UK’s oldest Indian restaurant reaches Royal Palace
The dispute centers on The Crown Estate’s refusal to renew the restaurant’s Regent Street lease as it nears its 100th anniversary.
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Staff Reporter - Wed, 25, Feb 2026
- 14:16 EST
- 18
Campaign to save Veeraswamy / Instagram/ veeraswamy.london
A petition backed by 20,000 signatories was submitted at Buckingham Palace on Feb. 24, calling for intervention to save Veeraswamy, the United Kingdom’s oldest Indian restaurant, from closure.
The petition calls on King Charles III to intervene and reverse a decision by The Crown Estate not to renew Veeraswamy’s lease at Victory House on Regent Street, where the restaurant has operated for nearly a century.
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In a statement shared on its official Instagram account, the restaurant said it has initiated legal proceedings to protect its premises but warned that “the outcome won’t be known until July 2026 and the risk of closure is very real.”
Veeraswamy described itself as “a symbol of Indo-British cultural connection” and said it is among the oldest rent-paying tenants on Regent Street. The restaurant has long been regarded as a landmark in London’s dining history, closely associated with the city’s Indian diaspora and the evolution of Indian cuisine in Britain.
According to the local reports, The dispute centers on The Crown Estate’s plans to carry out what it has described as a “comprehensive refurbishment” of Victory House, a Grade II–listed building.
Proposed changes to the ground floor and entrance area, intended to improve accessibility and expand office space, make it unfeasible to renew the restaurant’s lease.
The Crown Estate has said it offered assistance in identifying alternative premises in London’s West End and proposed financial compensation. Buckingham Palace has indicated that leasing decisions fall under the remit of The Crown Estate, which manages property on behalf of the monarch but operates independently, with profits transferred to the U.K. Treasury.
Supporters of the restaurant have appealed for reconsideration as Veeraswamy approaches its 100th anniversary. Opened by Edward Palmer in March 1926, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in 2016 and has hosted generations of diners, including prominent political and cultural figures.
The Crown Estate has not issued a public response specifically addressing the petition submitted to Buckingham Palace.
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