London's historic 70-yr-old India Club set to close amid hotel redevelopment plans
India Club, a cherished London curry house with deep-rooted connections to India's struggle for independence, will bid farewell to its patrons this Sunday, unable to thwart a hotel redevelopment proposal.
Nestled discreetly at the top of a steep staircase along the bustling stretch of The Strand in central London, this restaurant was established merely four years after India achieved independence in 1947. It was founded by members of the India League, a British-based advocacy group fervently supporting India's liberation from British colonial rule.
Over the decades, the India Club has attracted a diverse clientele, including regulars yearning for masala dosa or bhuna lamb paired with a pint of Cobra or Kingfisher beer, as well as Londoners of Indian descent.
In report by Reuters, Indian politician Shashi Tharoor, whose late father Chandran played a pivotal role in founding the India Club, expressed, «For many students, journalists, and travelers, it was a home away from home, offering simple and good quality Indian food at affordable prices as well as a convivial atmosphere to meet and maintain friendships.»
Phiroza Marker, the manager of the India Club, revealed to Reuters that the establishment witnessed an influx of patrons during its final days of operation.
She is actively seeking an alternative space nearby to continue the legacy of the restaurant. The India Club's formica tables and mustard yellow walls evoke the ambiance of a colonial-era Indian coffee house.
In the same Reuters report, Ian Angell, a retired civil servant who has been a loyal patron of the India Club for nearly a decade, expressed his sorrow over its closure.
