Three linked food developments: a Gorebridge curry house introduces a new chef and interior with reduced-price meals, Britain's first Indian restaurant faces a lease showdown, and Great British Menu resumes for its 21st series
Gorebridge, Regent Street and a telly comeback: three food stories to bookmark
Naseeb’s reopens in Gorebridge with a fresh face and half-price grub Naseeb’s Authentic Indian Restaurant in Gorebridge has reopened after a makeover. The dining room has been refreshed and a new head chef has taken over the kitchen — and for a limited time the menu is being offered at half price.
Management hopes the bargain meals will coax locals back through the door, who can judge the new dishes and atmosphere for themselves rather than rely on reviews alone.
It’s a familiar playbook for independents: visible changes, an attractive price point and an open invitation to the neighbourhood.
For diners it’s a low-risk chance to try something new; for the wider high street it’s a reminder that smart pricing and a bit of polish can nudge footfall back in the right direction.
Veeraswamy’s fight to stay on Regent Street One of London’s oldest curry houses, Veeraswamy — often billed as Britain’s first Indian restaurant — is facing the threat of eviction as the landlord prepares to repurpose the site for commercial offices.
The decision has provoked a surge of public support: more than 20,000 people have signed a petition, chefs and food writers have spoken up, and campaigners insist losing Veeraswamy would amount to erasing a piece of cultural history, not merely a business closing.
Organisers plan to deliver the petition to Buckingham Palace to raise political pressure and haven’t ruled out legal action if negotiations collapse. The row crystallises a familiar London dilemma: preserving places that hold collective memory versus the financial drive to convert prime real estate into higher-yield uses. Supporters argue Veeraswamy’s long-standing role in shaping British tastes gives it value beyond the balance sheet.
Great British Menu returns on 24 February — films meet food Great British Menu is back on 24 February, with regional chefs heading to St George’s Hall in Liverpool — a cinematic backdrop that doubled as Gotham City Hall in The Batman (). The show’s familiar competitive arc remains: chefs battle in regional heats for a shot at the banquet, where one representative from each area presents a dish for the final table.
This series brings Tom Kerridge and Lorna McNee back to the judging bench, welcomes comedian Phil Wang to the panel, and returns Andi Oliver as presenter. Expect the usual mix of technical flair and storytelling, as chefs weave regional produce and cinematic themes into plates designed for a high-profile celebration of the British film industry.
Why these stories matter What links the relaunch in Gorebridge, the Veeraswamy campaign and the Great British Menu reboot is simple: places matter. A small restaurant’s revival can re-knit local dining habits; a threatened institution can become the rallying point for cultural identity; and a national TV contest can spotlight regional kitchens and producers. Together they show how food is about more than flavour — it’s also about people, memory and the spaces where communities meet.
