Veeraswamy, Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant, has applied for Asset of Community Value (ACV) status in a bid to block redevelopment plans by the Crown Estate that threaten to close it down.
It comes after Westminster City Council approved Crown Estate plans to alter Victory House’s ground floor as part of a wider refurbishment to create office spaces on the upper floors— changes that would effectively cut off access to the restaurant and force it to close.
The proposals have “devastated” Veeraswamy owners Ranjit Mathrani and Namita Panjabi, who took on the restaurant’s legacy in 1997, and fear that a piece of London’s cultural history could be lost forever.
In response, the Soho Society has now submitted an application on behalf of Veeraswamy to designate it an Asset of Community Value (ACV), a move that could protect the restaurant by imposing restrictions and potentially delay redevelopment plans.
An ACV is defined as a building or piece of land that is used to further the social wellbeing or interests of the local community.
Mr Mathrani said: “We urge Westminster Council to make Veeraswamy an Asset of Community Value.
“For nearly 100 years the restaurant has been the most iconic Indian restaurant in the country.
“It is not only an asset for the local community but has national value as it attracts so many overseas visitors.
“It is an important part of Regent Street, and if it is forced to close by The Crown Estate it will be a terrible loss to London.”
Westminster City Council is now considering the application, and a decision will be made in the coming weeks.
Veeraswamy has been operating from Victory House in Regent Street since 1926, welcoming notable figures such as Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Indira Gandhi.
A long-standing royal favourite, the restaurant catered for Queen Elizabeth II in 2008 and 2017, served Princess Anne, and hosted King Edward VIII so frequently that his coat of arms was displayed at its entrance.
It was awarded a Michelin star in 2016, coinciding with its 90th anniversary, and has been featured on a number of “must visit” lists for overseas and domestic tourists.
Veeraswamy’s 25-year lease expired in June 2025, and the Crown Estate has previously stated it does not intend to renew it.
In response, MW Eat—the company behind the restaurant—has launched legal action, allowing Veeraswamy to continue operating until a court hearing expected in spring or early summer next year.
Veeraswamy holds a protected tenancy, which grants long-term tenants enhanced legal rights. If the court rules in its favour, the lease could be extended by up to 14 years.
On the ACV application, Veeraswamy is described as “a hub of London’s Indian Community and celebrated, enjoyed by many on a regular basis.”
A popular restaurant, the restaurant has a turnover in excess of £5 million per annum.
The application states: “It is famous, inter alia, for introducing beer with Indian food following a visit from Prince Axel of Denmark in 1926.
“It has also been visited by Mahatma Gandi, Prime Minister Nehru, Charlie Chaplin and many members of royal families from across the world including the Princess Royal. It has uniquely twice catered for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2008 and 2017.
“The restaurant is also a key local hub for local residents and a meeting place as it has been for nearly 100 years.
“It acts as a venue for London Chefs specialised in Indian cooking, giving them a place to meet and discuss new and old ideas, an opportunity to review menus from the past century and learn new techniques from the current team running the Michelin-starred restaurant.”
“Its cultural significance cannot be overstated,” the application concludes.
A spokesperson for the Crown Estate said: "Our focus remains on working with MW Eat and has included offering to help find new premises on our portfolio so they can continue to be in the West End.”
