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Campaigners have delivered a petition of more than 20,000 signatures to Buckingham Palace and the Crown Estate, calling for urgent action to prevent the closure of Veeraswamy, the UK’s oldest Indian restaurant.
The petition calls on The King to intervene and reverse the Crown Estate’s decision not to renew Veeraswamy’s lease at Victory House on Regent Street, its home since it first opened in 1926. Without a resolution, the Michelin-starred restaurant faces being forced from the site as it approaches its 100th anniversary next month.
The petition follows months of campaigning as public concern grows over the potential loss the oldest Indian restaurant outside of India and one of London’s most historically significant dining institutions. The campaign has drawn backing from across London’s hospitality and cultural communities, as well as from thousands of customers who regard the restaurant as part of their personal history.
The Crown Estate has said it needs to undertake a comprehensive refurbishment of Victory House to bring the building up to modern standards and into fuller commercial use. The proposals would see the restaurant space converted into office accommodation.
Ranjit Mathrani, joint owner of Veeraswamy, said: “Veeraswamy, the world’s oldest Indian restaurant, is being pushed out of its home after nearly 100 years by its landlord, The Crown Estate.
Unfortunately the Crown Estate which owns the building have kept on shifting the reasons for evicting the restaurant. They have not been open and have refused to have serious discussions. Compromises are possible, but the Crown Estate have not been open to them.
We have taken legal steps to protect Veeraswamy’s location, but the outcome won’t be known until July 2026 and the risk of closure is very real.
The legendary Veeraswamy Indian restaurant is a symbol of Indo-British cultural connection. It is one of the oldest rent-paying tenants on Regent Street.
That’s why we’re calling on Your Majesty King Charles III to intercede with The Crown Estate and The Crown Estate to reconsider this short-sighted decision and protect a historic institution that has stood through war, migration and monarchy.
We urge them to recognise the value of Veeraswamy as a living piece of shared cultural history – and to allow this historic institution to continue its story at the very place it began.
If you believe in preserving culinary heritage, if you care about London’s cultural soul, or if you’ve ever experienced the magic of a meal at Veeraswamy — please stop this closure.”
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