London, England, UK: Veeraswamy, the UK’s oldest surviving Indian restaurant and a landmark on Regent Street, is confronting the threat of eviction as it approaches its 100th anniversary. The Crown Estate, which owns the building, has declined to renew the restaurant’s lease, citing plans to expand the ground-floor reception area and refurbish the property.

A group of Britain’s most celebrated chefs—including Raymond Blanc, Michel Roux Jr., Michael Caines, Cyrus Todiwala, and Tom Aikens—has publicly appealed to the Crown Estate to protect the restaurant, calling its removal from Victory House “a profound loss” to London’s culinary and cultural heritage.

Veeraswamy, founded in 1926 by Edward Palmer, has hosted historic figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Charlie Chaplin, Winston Churchill, Princess Anne, and even Queen Elizabeth II. The restaurant’s owners, MW Eat, argue that relocating such a historic establishment would erase nearly a century of legacy tied to its original site.

Though the lease expired in June 2025, the restaurant continues to operate using tenancy protection rights while awaiting a court decision next year. A ruling in its favour would allow Veeraswamy to celebrate its 100th year at its iconic Regent Street location; otherwise, the restaurant may be forced to move, ending its long-standing presence in central London.