Veeraswamy
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Founder | Edward Palmer |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Indian cuisine |
| Website | www |
Veeraswamy stands as a distinguished Indian dining establishment located at 99-101 Regent Street, London. Founded in 1926 by Edward Palmer, a retired British Indian Army officer of Anglo-Indian descent, it holds the distinction of being the United Kingdom’s longest-operating Indian restaurant. Originally focused on Anglo-Indian cuisine, its menu has since expanded to feature regional specialties from areas such as Punjab, Lucknow, Kashmir, and Goa. The restaurant's name, Veeraswamy, originated from a typographical mistake involving Palmer’s grandmother’s surname.
In 2025, the property owner proposed modifications to the premises and chose not to renew Veeraswamy's lease, placing the restaurant’s future at risk.
History
Edward Palmer established E. P. Veeraswamy & Co. in 1896 with the goal of introducing Indian culinary products adapted for Western kitchens, marketing them under the brand name 'Nizam'. In 1924, he served as a consultant for the Indian Government Pavilion's restaurant at the British Empire Exhibition in Middlesex, where he managed authentic Indian food preparation that attracted significant patronage, serving approximately 500 curries daily.
Following the Indian government's withdrawal from the 1925 Exhibition, Veeraswamy & Co. assumed full management of the pavilion's restaurant, which accommodated 200 guests. While not the first Indian restaurant in Britain, Veeraswamy was among the earliest upscale venues catering predominantly to European customers, including members of royalty.
In 1930, ownership transferred to Sir William Steward, who steered the business through challenging economic times during the 1930s. Edward Palmer authored Indian Cookery for Use in All Countries in 1915, a cookbook that remains available today. The mid-20th century saw Veeraswamy expand its operations; notably, it introduced one of the first canned curry products under its label in the early 1950s. Steward sold the restaurant in 1967 but retained control over the food product line into the 1990s.
The interior design underwent several transformations over time, shifting to an ultramodern aesthetic in the late 1990s before returning to its original 1920s style to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2006. After acquisition by the Chutney Mary group in 1997, Veeraswamy was refurbished with décor inspired by maharaja palaces.
A memorable episode in Veeraswamy’s history involves Prince Axel of Denmark’s visit in 1924: impressed by the cuisine, he began sending barrels of Carlsberg lager annually to the restaurant. This gesture helped popularize pairing lager with Indian food throughout UK Indian restaurants.
Among its notable patrons have been Winston Churchill, King Gustav VI of Sweden, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Charlie Chaplin, and Ian Sinclair. In February 1939, Sir Abdul Qadir enjoyed dishes such as Mulligatawny Soup and Chicken Madras there.
In 1997, Ranjit Mathrani and Namitha Panjabi took ownership of Veeraswamy and enhanced its historic grandeur. The restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in 2016 for its meticulously crafted traditional Indian cuisine served within an elegant and lively atmosphere managed with dedication and sophistication.
As of 2025, Veeraswamy is at risk of closing due to the Crown Estate’s decision not to renew its lease on Victory House amid plans for office space refurbishment.
See also
External links
Further reading
- Veeraswamy, E. P. – Indian Cookery: For Use in All Countries (Herbert Joseph, 1936)