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MW Eat, the hospitality group behind some of Britain’s most acclaimed Indian restaurants, has been acquired by affiliates of Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings in a deal the company says will propel its long-planned international expansion.
MW Eat — operator of Chutney Mary, Amaya, Masala Zone and the Michelin-starred Veeraswamy — announced Tuesday that the change in ownership will bring “significant investment” aimed at scaling its brands globally and experimenting with new restaurant formats.
Group Director Camellia Panjabi, the Mumbai-born restaurateur and author, called the acquisition “a transformative chapter” for the company. “Fairfax brings financial strength, global perspective and a long-standing commitment to India,” she said, adding that MW Eat’s teams would benefit from expanded opportunities as the group enters its next phase.
Panjabi said she and fellow directors Namita Panjabi and Ranjit Mathrani will support Fairfax through a “seamless handover” as the new owners look to take the group’s brands beyond the UK.
Founded with the launch of Chutney Mary in 1990, MW Eat will now join a Fairfax portfolio that already includes major Indian interests such as Bangalore International Airport, Thomas Cook (India), and Sterling Holiday Resorts. Fairfax chief Prem Watsa praised MW Eat’s leadership trio for building “iconic restaurant brands,” noting the firm’s experience in hospitality through Canada’s Recipe Restaurant Group.
The acquisition also casts fresh attention on the uncertain future of Veeraswamy, located on Regent Street and regarded as London’s oldest surviving Indian restaurant. Though its lease expired in June, protected tenancy rights have allowed it to continue operating while it contests the Crown Estate’s plan for a major refurbishment of Victory House. A court hearing is expected next year.
Until then, Veeraswamy — nearing its 100-year milestone since opening in 1926 — remains open as industry figures rally behind efforts to preserve its historic home.
(Source: PTI)
