Veeraswamy, Britain's oldest curry house, is at risk of closure just before its 100th anniversary due to a lease dispute with the Crown Estate, which owns the building. The estate plans to reclaim the restaurant's space to refurbish Victory House, which includes expanding office reception areas. Co-owner Ranjit Mathrani stated that losing the restaurant would have significant implications, potentially leading to job losses and the end of a historic dining institution. The previous year's offer for more space adds to the confusion surrounding the situation.
Ranjit Mathrani, co-owner of MW Eat, expressed disappointment, saying, "I think they've come to the view that it's too tiresome having a restaurant there, they want it to be all offices."
The Crown Estate's plan involves reclaiming the space to expand the ground-floor reception area, offering a mere 11 square metres increase in area for their offices.
Mr Mathrani emphasized the potential impact of the closure: "If the Crown Estate refuses to allow the restaurant to stay until it has found an alternative, then it would have to close down."
The original lease expired in June, leaving the 97-year-old Veeraswamy facing an uncertain future as the Crown Estate aims to redevelop the building.
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