Britain's oldest Indian restaurant may have to shut in central London lease row

Evening Standard

Britain’s oldest curry house is at risk of closing just shy of its 100th anniversary due to a dispute over a space barely larger than a box room.Since 1926, Veeraswamy has made its home in Victory House, just a stone’s throw away from Piccadilly Circus. In that time, it has welcomed a number of famous faces through its doors, including Princess Anne, Lord Cameron and King Abdullah of Jordan.

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00:00Britain's oldest curry house is at risk of closing after the Crown Estate informed them

00:05they would not be renewing their lease.

00:07Vera Swamy has been told the space needs to be reclaimed for a comprehensive refurbishment

00:12of Victory House.

00:14This will include knocking through the restaurant's entrance area, meaning the business will no

00:18longer be able to operate.

00:20The restaurant opened in 1926 and is just shy of its 100th anniversary.

00:25It may never reach this milestone, with the expired lease to be in June.

00:29Ranjit Mathrani, co-owner of MW Eat who owned Vera Swamy, said the news came out of the

00:35blue and that an alternative solution, such as a different entrance for the restaurant,

00:40is said to not be possible.

00:42If the restaurant is forced out, the space will be converted into offices as part of this

00:47refurbishment.

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