The owner of the UK's oldest Michelin-star Indian restaurant, Veeraswamy, has alleged that the King's Crown Estate has spent approximately £1.8 million in its legal battle to evict the beloved eatery, a cost he says will ultimately fall on UK taxpayers.
Legal Dispute Delayed, Costs Mount
The 100-year-old restaurant, located in Victory House on Regent Street, London, was scheduled for a five-day court hearing last week to fight for its survival. However, the case was postponed due to administrative reasons. Ranjit Mathrani, 83, chairman of MW Eat, which owns Veeraswamy, told the Daily Star: “Our estimate is that in the absence of a settlement, the costs of the delay will add a further £500,000 to The Crown Estates costs through loss of rent. This is in addition to the £1.8m costs we estimate they will have incurred through loss of rent and legal costs without this delay. These costs will ultimately be borne by the UK taxpayer.”
Landlord's Renovation Plans Clash with Restaurant
The Crown Estate, the restaurant's landlord, seeks to evict Veeraswamy to convert the space into offices, citing the poor condition of Victory House and the need for comprehensive refurbishment. A spokesperson for The Crown Estate stated: “We need to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of Victory House to both bring it up to modern standards, and into full use.” The building suffered a flooding incident in November 2023, which led to the emptying of office premises. The Crown Estate has offered to relocate Veeraswamy to another property within its portfolio in the West End and has proposed financial compensation if the restaurant is evicted.
Historical Institution at Risk
Mathrani expressed fears that the century-old institution would be “airbrushed out of history” if the Crown Estate succeeds in removing them. The legal row began after the Crown Estate announced plans to modernise the Grade II-listed building, with planning documents indicating that changes to the current entrance would render the restaurant inaccessible. Mathrani added: “So, we can only hope that this will be an added incentive for them to want to settle as we've been seeking to try and do.” The outcome of the dispute remains pending as both parties await a new court date.
