Ranjit Mathrani and Namita Panjabi, who co-own Veeraswamy through their MW Eat group, have called on the King and the Crown Commissioners to renew the restaurant’s lease, which is set to expire in June.
It comes after Mathrani revealed that The Crown Estate wants to take the Veeraswamy site back in order to carry out a 12-month renovation of the building in which it’s housed, a move that would see the restaurant space converted into offices.
The Crown Estate has told Veeraswamy, which is reputed to be the ‘UK’s oldest Indian restaurant’ having originally opened within Victory House on Regent Street, close to Piccadilly Circus, in 1926, that its lease will not be renewed after it expires this summer.
The petition, which at the time of writing has around 650 signatures, describes The Crown Estate reasons for not wanting to extend the lease as ‘very flimsy’ and claims the restaurant has offered to compensate its landlord for loss of income it might suffer by Veeraswamy remaining in its current rightful location.
Mathrani has applied to the courts to extend the lease, and a decision is not expected until summer 2026.
The petition goes on to say that there is a ‘serious risk of closure’ if the case does not succeed, and the restaurant isn’t given sufficient time to find alternative premises.
In a statement previously provided to Restaurant, a spokesperson for The Crown Estate said: “The Crown Estate has a duty to generate value for the nation, while acting as responsible stewards for this historic part of London. We need to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of Victory House.
“This includes a major upgrade to the offices and improving the entrance to make it more accessible. Due to the limited options available in this listed building we need to remove the entrance to the restaurant, which means we will not be able to offer Veeraswamy an extension when their lease expires.
“We appreciate this is upsetting for Veeraswamy and have offered to help find new premises elsewhere on our portfolio having explored other options to accommodate their needs.
“Veeraswamy has been a valued part of Regent Street for many years. We thank them and their customers for their contributions to the West End.”
To view the petition, click here.