Crown Estate faces court battle Nov. 4 over lease of 100-year-old Veeraswamy

Ranjit Mathrani of MW Eat is taking the Crown Estate to court on Nov. 4 after it refused to extend the lease for Michelin-starred restaurant Veeraswamy on Regent Street in London.

The Crown Estate said it needs to refurbish Victory House because the structure is in a poor condition.

Mathrani accused the Crown Estate of insularity and treating Indian gastronomy as inferior to European cuisine, noting the 100-year-old restaurant catered twice for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

Mathrani said he offered to meet the landlord 99% of the way on the points it raised during lease negotiations.

A Crown Estate spokesperson refuted any suggestion that it prefers types of cuisine, citing its diverse dining offer across its West End portfolio.

The Crown Estate stated it offered to help MW Eat find new premises on its portfolio and provide financial compensation.

For Indian-origin diners and heritage observers, the legal challenge contests the planned eviction of Britain's oldest surviving Indian restaurant from its historic Regent Street address.