ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
UK's oldest Indian restaurant takes Crown Estate to court over eviction
Veeraswamy will challenge plans to remove it from its historic Regent Street premises as a legal battle over redevelopment heads to court later this month.
-
Malvika Choudhary - Mon, 15, Jun 2026
- 18:03 EDT
- 40
London Iconic Veeraswamy Restaurant / File photo
Veeraswamy, the UK's oldest Indian restaurant and a landmark of Indian dining in Britain, is set to take the Crown Estate to court over its eviction.
Veeraswamy's parent company, MW Eat, will present its case before the Central London County Court in a five-day hearing beginning June 29, according to UK media reports.
Also Read: Call to prevent closure of UK’s oldest Indian restaurant reaches Royal Palace
The dispute stems from the Crown Estate's plans to redevelop Victory House on London's Regent Street, where the restaurant has operated since 1926. The estate has said it intends to carry out a major refurbishment of office space in the building after the upper floors were left vacant following a flood in 2023.
The redevelopment includes creating a larger reception area for office tenants, a move the estate says requires changes to the restaurant's entrance area.
MW Eat argues that the refurbishment can be carried out without forcing Veeraswamy to leave and has proposed alternative arrangements, including sharing the redesigned entrance space. The company has also said it offered to match the rental income the Crown Estate expects to earn from the redeveloped offices.
The case follows the expiration of Veeraswamy's lease earlier this year. The restaurant has remained at the site while the dispute continues through the courts.
Founded in April 1926 by Edward Palmer, Veeraswamy is widely regarded as Britain's first surviving Indian restaurant and played a pioneering role in introducing Indian cuisine to British diners.
Located on Regent Street, it received a Michelin star in 2016 and has hosted generations of prominent guests, including Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Marlon Brando, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Queen Elizabeth II.
The dispute has drawn public attention in recent months, with supporters launching campaigns to preserve the restaurant, which many consider a significant part of Britain's culinary and multicultural heritage. Earlier this year, a petition calling for the restaurant's protection gathered tens of thousands of signatures.
The court's decision could determine the future of one of the UK's most historic Indian dining institutions as it approaches its centenary year.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login