After serving diners in west London for over a decade and a half, Rangrez, the Indian restaurant in Hammersmith, will close its doors next month.
Owner Harman Singh Kapoor announced the decision publicly, describing it as the end of a long and emotional chapter shaped by mounting costs, security concerns and prolonged tensions.
Kapoor said the restaurant, which has operated for 16 years, can no longer continue under the current circumstances.
In a statement, he explained that escalating expenses, persistent online harassment and repeated disturbances had made running the business untenable. He also alleged that the establishment had faced attacks by individuals he identified as Pakistanis and claimed that support from the Metropolitan Police had been inadequate.
The closure, he indicated, is not just a business decision but also a personal shift. Kapoor said he now intends to focus entirely on activism. Signalling defiance, he remarked that while his business may have been disrupted, his resolve remains intact and stronger than before.
News of Rangrez’s impending shutdown sparked an outpouring of reactions across social media. Many patrons expressed sadness and nostalgia, recalling positive dining experiences at the Hammersmith restaurant.
One customer wrote that they had enjoyed visiting Rangrez and praised the quality of its food. Others voiced anger at the circumstances Kapoor described, questioning why a tax-paying business owner would feel unsupported. Messages of encouragement and solidarity also surfaced, urging him to continue his efforts.
Kapoor acknowledged the backing he received from customers over the years, thanking those who had supported the restaurant and expressing gratitude on behalf of his family and the Rangrez team.
The challenges surrounding Rangrez are not new.
In 2023, Kapoor had publicly spoken about threats he said he received after sharing a video critical of the Khalistan movement. According to him, tensions intensified following vandalism at the Indian High Commission in London that year.
Kapoor alleged that his restaurant became a target for pro-Khalistan supporters and that his family faced intimidation. He claimed to have received death threats and abusive messages, and said he was pressured to remove his video and chant slogans including “Khalistan Zindabad” and “Hindustan Murdabad.”
At the time, UK authorities stated that officers had engaged with Kapoor, reviewed CCTV footage and implemented safeguarding measures. They indicated that additional security steps were offered in response to the reported incidents.
Despite these assurances, Kapoor maintained that no arrests were made and that concerns over safety persisted. He has repeatedly said that his family continued to feel vulnerable.
Rangrez’s closure marks the end of a 16-year presence in London’s dining landscape. For many, it was a familiar neighbourhood spot; for Kapoor, it became intertwined with larger political and personal battles.
While customers mourn the loss of a long-running restaurant, Kapoor views the move as a turning point. With business operations coming to an end, he says his focus will shift entirely to activism — a path he appears determined to pursue without distraction.
As Rangrez prepares to shut its doors next month, its story reflects not only the pressures faced by small hospitality businesses in a challenging economic climate but also how broader political tensions can spill into local communities and livelihoods.
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