Veeraswamy, the UK's oldest Indian restaurant, is facing the threat of closure just before reaching its centenary, due to a lease disagreement with the Crown Estate.

Established in 1926 and located in Victory House near Piccadilly Circus, Veeraswamy has served a long list of notable guests over the years, including Princess Anne, Lord Cameron, and King Abdullah of Jordan. But now, after nearly 100 years in business, the restaurant may be forced to shut its doors.

The Crown Estate, which owns the building, has informed Veeraswamy’s parent company, MW Eat, that it will not renew the lease, which expired in June. The estate says it needs to reclaim the space to carry out a year-long "comprehensive refurbishment" of Victory House, including expanding the building’s ground-floor reception area to better serve the offices above.

The renovation would involve removing Veeraswamy’s current entrance, allowing for an additional 11 square metres of reception space, according to The Times. However, the restaurant has stated that it cannot continue to operate without a dedicated entrance, and the space it currently occupies is slated to be converted into office space as part of the overhaul.

Ranjit Mathrani, co-owner of MW Eat, said the decision came unexpectedly. “Just last year, they asked if we wanted more space. We declined, not knowing if we could fill the extra tables consistently,” he told The Times. He suspects the estate has simply grown tired of having a restaurant in the building and prefers to transition it entirely into offices.

Mathrani has requested an alternative entrance be provided, but claims the Crown Estate has refused. Without an immediate replacement site, he warns the restaurant could be forced to close permanently, which he says would deal a severe blow to staff and mark the end of a cherished London institution.

“They don’t care about history,” Mathrani said. “If they really wanted to, they could’ve put the office reception upstairs. I would’ve even matched the rent.”

In a statement, the Crown Estate responded: “We need to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of Victory House, including major upgrades to the offices and making the entrance more accessible. Given the limited options within this listed building, we’re unable to retain the restaurant’s entrance, and so cannot extend their lease.”

As of now, no alternative location has been found for Veeraswamy, leaving the future of the historic restaurant uncertain. Photo by Alex.muller, Wikimedia commons.