Yadgar Marker bought the business 23 years ago

A FAMOUS Indian restaurant that was set up to foster Indo-British friendship in the years following Indian independence is set to close after more than 70 years.

The India Club, based in the Strand, has announced it will close this Sunday after a long battle with Marston Properties, the freeholder of the building.

In 2018 Westminster Council refused a planning application from the company to turn the building into “modern tourist accommodation”, which would have obliterated the historic bar and restaurant. Over 25,000 Londoners signed a petition opposing the application at the time.

In 2021 the landlords were again defeated after serving the club with a straightforward eviction notice.

To fight the eviction £50,000 was raised as part of an online crowdfunder. Phiroza Marker, whose father Yadgar bought the business 23 years ago, told the Extra at the time: “We’ve grown up here: through school, uni, my siblings and I. We’ve all had jobs here.”

Phiroza Marker: ‘Old London is really being swept away – It’s really sad’

The club was established after the Second World War by the likes of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lady Mountbatten and Krishna Menon, the St Pancras borough councillor who became independent India’s first high commissioner to Britain and was connected to the India League, which campaigned for independence prior to 1947.

In the 1990s Yadgar was approached by the league to take over the venue. “They knew he’d be sympathetic to the cultural background of the place. He recalls them saying ‘keep it exactly as it is’,” his daughter said.

Their campaign to save the club was successful in the short term, but the reprieve proved temporary. Marston Properties has now announced its plans “to run its own hotel from the property”.

In a statement the developer said the hotel, restaurant and bar currently occupying the building will “give up occupation” of the site.

Inside the famous India Club on the Strand

In 2021 Ms Marker told the Extra: “Old London is really being swept away… It’s really sad. These places are what makes London London, what makes it distinct to other cities. If everything is a modern development there’s no distinction from city to city.”

A spokesperson for Marston Properties has said: “Goldsand Hotels, trading as Strand Continental Hotel and The India Club, and Marston Properties have agreed terms for the hotel, restaurant and bar to give up occupation of 143/145 Strand WC2.

“This will allow Marstons to run its own hotel from the property. Goldsand is looking for alternative premises to relocate the hotel, club, restaurant and bar and in the meantime wish to thank all their customers for their support and patronage over the years for which they are extremely grateful. Goldsand and Marstons wish each other well for the future.”