Veeraswamy’s under threat of closure.

Apparently my grandmother used to eat there. It must have been before the war, and possibly quite a long time before. My mother considered it a very strange thing to do. There was also a very rusty old tin of curry powder in her kitchen cupboard. It was never used because no one else in the family was going to eat that foreign stuff.

My late DF took me to lunch there as a treat before dropping me off at my new boarding school.
It was the 60s and I was 11 years old. It did a lovely, old-style ‘colonial’ curry. I remember the subhadar in his turban at the door.
(We lived in the middle east and actually had an Indian cook who made the best curries.)

annifrance

The Chor Bazaar in Albermarle Street is far better. Authentic good and decor. I've experienced a lot of that during many visits to India.

It's closed

Neither have I heard of it.

The day I chose my wedding dress in Oxford Street, over fifty years ago, I had dinner in Veeraswamy's, the waiters in traditional dress with turbans. It was opulent and beautiful, and the food was marvelous. I've never been back - but that is a happy and treasured memory.

IamMaz

I have never heard of it. I don’t like curry (or any spices).
Not sure what the King could do???

It's a Crown Estate property and they want a change of use.

I am not anti-London, I try to visit once a year, time and money allowing but I suspect that the vast majority of people in Britain have not heard of this place.

Many areas of the country have thriving Indian/Pakistani restaurants, including the Midlands, Yorkshire and Glasgow with their own identities, claims to fame and celebrity visitors. Times change and landlords aren't known for being sentimental. Maybe Veeraswamy's will get a blue plaque on Regent Street.

I was taken there in the Fifties. Very exotic.

... a pity if it had to close.

I have never heard of it. I don’t like curry (or any spices).
Not sure what the King could do???

The Chor Bazaar in Albermarle Street is far better. Authentic good and decor. I've experienced a lot of that during many visits to India.

Just bcause sone people have not heard of it does not undermine Veeraswamy's position as an iconic and famous Indian restaurant.

I am sure that if someone published alist of the 20 most famous restaurants in this country, all of us would find at least one restaurant on the list we hadn't heard of.

kircubbin2000

What is it?

Here is a link to the Wiki page.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veeraswamy

Well it was on the BBC news and pretty much all the online newspapers have mentioned it. Chefs such as Michel Roux Jr. Michael Caines, Tom Kitchen have a letter published in The Times about the closure. I believe it's the oldest Indian restaurant outside of India and has been something of an institution on Regent Street since opening, often frequented by royalty and you don't see too many of them downing a Bhuna at your local Tandoori Nites.

It's been instrumental in training chefs in Indian cuisine and attracts a lot of overseas visitors.

Very "newsworthy".

What is it?

seasider

Never heard of it but now I have looked at the menu I want to visit . Have to be a special treat though .

It’s very special, amazing to think it’s been trading for 99 years and was once the only place in the UK get a curry!

It’s hosted many famous people.

I really hope the King intervenes.

I think I visited there and Red Fort, now closed, an old friend was married to an Indian man who introduced me to various London restaurants, this was in the mid 70’s.

Never heard of it but now I have looked at the menu I want to visit . Have to be a special treat though .

That's a shame.
An essential trip for any curry lover like me .

My DM, ex pat living in London, often dined there and introduced us to curry via their tinned sauces.
Delhi mild
Madras hot.
I can't remember the medium.

keepingquiet

BlueBelle

I ve never heard of it !!!

Me neither...

Nor me.

I’m also puzzled as to what this is doing in N & P

BlueBelle

I ve never heard of it !!!

Me neither...

I ve never heard of it !!!

Why is this in News and politics? Its chat, surely?

Yes, again, I was another taken there in the 1960s, by a male friend, whose mother approved of me! In fact, I am 99% sure he was a closet gay. But that is another story, but he did like to flashe the cash a bit, and he took me to Veeraswamy's. Later DH and I went their to celebrate our weddng anniversary.