UK’s 99-year-old Indian restaurant, once visited by Mahatma Gandhi and Charlie Chaplin, faces closure

The restaurant is also credited with introducing the UK’s first tandoor oven during the 1950s.

Veeraswamy, widely regarded as the United Kingdom’s oldest surviving Indian restaurant, is facing the prospect of closure after nearly a century at its Regent Street location, following a dispute over the renewal of its lease with landlord the Crown Estate, BBC reported.

Founded in 1926, the Michelin-starred restaurant has operated continuously from the same premises near Piccadilly Circus and is approaching its 100th anniversary in March. Campaigners seeking to prevent its closure are preparing to submit a petition to Buckingham Palace in the coming weeks, calling on King Charles III to support efforts to retain the restaurant at its current site.

Supporters argue that Veeraswamy represents an important part of Britain’s cultural and culinary history and have described it as a long-standing symbol of Indo-British connections. More than 18,000 people have signed the petition, which asks the King to intervene or lend his backing to protect what campaigners describe as a historic institution.

The Crown Estate, which owns the building, has confirmed that it does not intend to renew the lease. A spokesperson said the decision was linked to plans for a major refurbishment of Victory House, the Grade II-listed property in which the restaurant operates. According to the estate, the proposed redevelopment is incompatible with Veeraswamy continuing to trade from the space.

“This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly,” a Crown Estate spokesperson said, adding that the refurbishment is intended to bring the building up to modern standards and make full use of the property.

The Crown Estate is an independent commercial property organisation whose profits are passed to the Treasury. Planning documents indicate that the redevelopment would involve converting the restaurant area into office space and altering the building’s entrance in a way that would make continued restaurant operations impractical, according to the report in BBC.

Veeraswamy’s owners have challenged the decision, and unless an agreement is reached, the dispute is expected to be heard in court later this summer.

Veeraswamy’s (opened 1926) is facing closure. It was one of the first Indian restaurants to cater to largely European (many ex-Indian Civil Service & Indian Army) customers. In honour of this institution, it is Sunday night - what will you eat? pic.twitter.com/5gAgVoaoy1

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— Back in Time West London (@OldLondonW14) February 1, 2026

As part of the campaign, supporters and chefs are expected to bring the petition to the gates of Buckingham Palace. A centenary dinner scheduled for March, which is anticipated to attract prominent public figures and celebrities, is also being viewed as an opportunity to rally further backing.

Veeraswamy’s co-owner, Ranjit Mathrani, has spoken about the restaurant’s long-standing role within both the Indian community and wider British society. He said that in its early years, the restaurant attracted civil servants, military officers and business figures with connections to India, as well as members of London’s Anglo-Indian population.

Over the decades, its guest list has included figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, alongside film stars Charlie Chaplin and Marlon Brando. British political figures including Sir Winston Churchill have also been counted among its patrons. In more recent years, visitors have included Princess Anne, former prime minister David Cameron and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Veeraswamy restaurant is set to close as their lease won't be renewed. The Crown Estates need to refurbish the building. There is a petition about it somewhere. When I went in the 60s, they still had ceiling Punkahs. Long gone now. pic.twitter.com/0HzO1XED1v — CC Hogan, Author, Narrator, Podcaster (@Its_CCHogan) February 1, 2026

Veeraswamy’s history is closely tied to the evolution of Indian cuisine in Britain. When it opened, Indian restaurants were rare in the UK, and Veeraswamy was among the first to introduce such food to a wider audience. The restaurant continued to operate during the Second World War, including throughout the Blitz, the BBC report mentioned.

The restaurant is also credited with introducing the UK’s first tandoor oven during the 1950s. A 1959 menu lists chicken tandoori at a price equivalent to 52 pence in today’s currency. Veeraswamy was awarded a Michelin star in 2016, marking its 90th year of operation.

Mathrani said the restaurant’s significance goes beyond food, noting that many customers associate it with major personal milestones. “We have people coming in to say: ‘I first came here with my godfather when I was aged 12’ or ‘I was engaged here during the Blitz’ or ‘I came here because my uncle brought me here in the 1950s’,” he said.

While the Crown Estate has offered financial compensation and assistance in finding alternative premises elsewhere in the West End, Mathrani argues that relocation would undermine the restaurant’s historical value. He said its long-standing presence on Regent Street provides continuity and a sense of place that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

He described proposals to remove the restaurant from its current location as culturally insensitive, adding, “This is where we should be."