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

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.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.Veeraswamy’s elegant dining roomPress handoutThe 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".The court heard the Crown Estate has already secured planning and listed building consent for the project and hopes to begin major works next spring.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.Speaking after the hearing, MW Eat chairman Ranjit Mathrani said losing Veeraswamy would represent more than the closure of a successful restaurant.A chef at the Veeraswamy Indian restaurant on May 31, 1973Getty"We fought because we want to keep the restaurant open," he said."Closure would be a tragedy, not just for the loss of a major historic venue which has contributed so much to British culinary history and London and Regent Street, but also for ourselves."Read MoreHe said a wider loss would also be felt by the chefs, customers and supporters who have backed a campaign to save the restaurant, including more than 20,000 people who signed a petition calling on King Charles to intervene over its lease.Veeraswamy was founded in 1926 and is one of the oldest businesses on Regent Street. The restaurant earned a Michelin star and has become one of London's most famous dining institutions over the past century.Judge Alan Johns KC is expected to hand down a ruling before the close of the year.