Restaurant Owners Blame Closure on Refusal to Serve Halal Meat

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Rangrez on Fulham Palace Road shutting after 16 years

The Hammersmith's restaurant's policy attracted abuse

February 27, 2026

Rangrez, a long-established Indian restaurant near Hammersmith Broadway, will close next month after more than a decade and a half in business. Owner Harman Singh Kapoor announced the decision in a statement on Facebook, saying a combination of financial pressure, repeated disturbances and fears for staff safety had made it impossible to continue trading.

He wrote, “After 16 unforgettable years, I’ve made the difficult decision to close Rangrez restaurant Hammersmith next month. Rising costs, ongoing online harassment, repeated disturbances and attacks by Pakistanis and a lack of proper support from the Met Police have made it impossible to continue. Now it’s time for me to dedicate myself fully to activism without distraction. Radicals should keep this in mind: you can disrupt my business, but not my will.”

In a video posted on Facebook with his wife, Kapoor said one factor behind the closure was the backlash the restaurant received after refusing to serve halal meat.

Kapoor alleged that the business had faced intimidation and disturbances “over several years”, including threats and abusive calls directed at his family. He also claimed the restaurant had been targeted with coordinated negative online reviews. While Rangrez had historically received broadly positive feedback, there had been a surge in one-star ratings from accounts that had not reviewed other restaurants.

The closure comes after a period in which Kapoor attracted controversy for his political posts on social media. He had previously shared material linked to Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom movement and posted anti-Islamic messages. At one stage, the restaurant offered a 25% discount to Reform UK supporters. These posts prompted mixed public reactions, with some customers expressing support and others distancing themselves from the business.


The Kapoors posted a video on Facebook blaming their policy on halal meat for the closure

Alongside the political tensions, Kapoor pointed to the broader pressures facing hospitality businesses. Rising food prices, energy bills and staffing costs have hit restaurants across London, with many long-standing venues struggling to remain viable.

Kapoor said these financial pressures, combined with what he described as inadequate support from police following disturbances, left him with no option but to close.

The restaurant is expected to cease trading next month. Kapoor said he intends to focus on activism after the business shuts.

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