By Islam El-Sakka
The Crown Estate, which manages King Charles's property portfolio, is in a High Court battle to evict Veeraswamy, the UK's oldest Indian restaurant, from its 100-year home on Regent Street in London.
The restaurant's owners, MW Eat Ltd, argue the estate wants to remove the Michelin-starred eatery because it does not want an Indian restaurant "in the midst" of a planned £1 billion regeneration of the street into high-class offices.
Historic venue
Veeraswamy was founded in 1926 by Edward Palmer, the great-grandson of General William Palmer and the Moghul Princess Faisan Nissa Begum. Winston Churchill, Marlon Brando and Charlie Chaplin have dined there, and its chefs have twice catered for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. The restaurant is also credited with popularising lager with curry in Britain.
Lease dispute
The restaurant's lease expired in 2025. The Crown Estate Commissioners are opposing a renewal bid under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, seeking to convert the upper floors of Victory House into modern offices as part of a £1 billion improvement programme for the Regent Street portfolio.
Court arguments
Lawyers for MW Eat Ltd told Judge Alan Johns KC that the premises are smart and well-kept, and the only conceivable reason for eviction is that the landlord "simply does not wish its hoped-for smart new offices to have an Indian restaurant in their midst." The Crown Estate's counsel, Mark Sefton KC, said the redevelopment is "entirely legitimate" and that the building currently comprises outdated, unlettable office space. Planning permission has been granted for a comprehensive scheme to strip the building back to its structure and refit it as energy-efficient offices.
Financial stakes
Restaurant director Ranjit Mathrani has said relocation could cost up to £5 million. In February he urged King Charles to intervene, and a petition to save the restaurant has gathered more than 20,000 signatures.
Judgment pending
The hearing began on Thursday, November 5, and is expected to run into next week. Judge Johns is likely to reserve his judgment until a later date.
