The UK’s oldest Indian restaurant is at risk of closure following a dispute with its landlord, the Crown Estate.
Since 1926, Michelin-starred Veeraswamy has served guests from its site in Victory House, just off London’s Piccadilly Circus.
However, The Times reports that the restaurant has been informed its lease will not be renewed when it expires in June.
The Crown Estate is reportedly seeking to reclaim the space in order to carry out a major 12-month renovation and convert the building into offices.
Ranjit Mathrani, co-owner of Veeraswamy's parent company MW Eat, told the paper that the landlord had declined to let Veeraswamy remain at its current location until an alternative site could be found.
He has now taken legal action against the Crown Estate, seeking an extension of the lease.
“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 spokesperson for the Crown Estate told The Times that it needed to carry out a “comprehensive refurbishment” of Victory House and, as a result, would “not be able to offer Veeraswamy an extension when their lease expires.”
In addition to Veeraswamy, MW Eat owns other notable Indian restaurants, such as the high-end Chutney Mary and Amaya, as well as the more relaxed Masala Zone group.
