Battle to save London's oldest Indian restaurant reaches court showdown

Detailed summary

Owners of Michelin-starred Veeraswamy say plans by the Crown Estate could force the historic restaurant from its Regent Street home after 100 years

The owner of London's oldest Indian restaurant has warned it would be a "tragedy" if the landmark venue was forced to close, as a court heard its landlord wants to redevelop the site for largely financial reasons.

Michelin-starred Veeraswamy, which has occupied Victory House near Piccadilly Circus since opening in 1926, is fighting plans by the Crown Estate to reclaim its space as part of a major regeneration project on Regent Street.

The celebrated restaurant, which has welcomed diners including Princess Anne, Charlie Chaplin, Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister David Cameron, is locked in a legal battle over its future.

At Central London County Court on Wednesday, lawyers for the Crown Estate said the scheme would turn part of the Grade II-listed building into "modern, high-class office accommodation".

Mark Sefton KC, representing the Crown Estate, told the court the rationale was ultimately financial, saying the space currently occupied by the restaurant would be worth considerably more as premium office space, The Times reports.

The barrister said the landlord wished to improve the building and increase the rental income it could generate, adding that while the Crown Estate recognised Veeraswamy's historic and cultural significance, the financial case for redevelopment was "incredibly compelling".

But lawyers for restaurant owner MW Eat argued the plans would effectively force Veeraswamy out of its long-time home despite the premises being in good condition.

Guy Fetherstonhaugh KC, representing MW Eat, told the court there was no suggestion the restaurant itself required significant redevelopment works. He argued the Crown Estate simply did not want the restaurant to remain within a revamped office building.

The Crown Estate rejected that claim, arguing the building's current office entrance is unsuitable for modern prime office tenants and that the redevelopment would require changes affecting the restaurant's access arrangements.

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