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After making his restaurant's non-halal identity a flashpoint in a bitter religious controversy, Harman Singh Kapoor now says his London eatery is struggling to survive. He alleges Google is blocking genuine five-star reviews while accepting fake one-star ratings, and warns of mounting rent pressures and possible court action.
Harman Singh Kapoor made a public appeal for bookings on social media, claiming that the online reviews were seriously hurting his business. (Images: File)
New Delhi,Oct 13, 2026 14:59 IST
A Sikh restaurateur in London, who made headlines over his refusal to serve halal meat, has appealed to customers to help keep his business afloat, alleging that Google was accepting fake one-star reviews while rejecting genuine five-star ratings. Harman Singh Kapoor, who has previously announced the closure of his restaurant Rangrez amid a bitter controversy over its non-halal policy and alleged Pakistani threats, said his current eatery, Singh's Dining, was struggling with outstanding rent and the threat of court proceedings by the landlord.
In a social media post on October 12 (Monday), Kapoor made a public appeal for bookings, claiming that the online reviews were seriously hurting his business. He wrote, "Today, I am swallowing my pride and asking for your help to save my restaurant. Running a restaurant is more than a business to me. It's my passion, my livelihood, and something I have worked incredibly hard to build."
Kapoor alleged that Google was allowing negative reviews to appear while preventing positive ones from being published.
"Right now, Google is accepting only 1-star fake reviews, while genuine 5-star reviews from customers are not being accepted. You can try posting a 5-star review and see for yourself," he wrote on X.
He also cited financial pressure, adding, "With outstanding rent and our landlord threatening court proceedings, the pressure is unbearable."
The claims about Google's handling of reviews have not been independently established. Kapoor did not provide evidence in the X post to substantiate his allegation that Google was selectively accepting reviews.
FROM RESTAURANT CLOSURE TO ANOTHER APPEAL
Kapoor previously ran Rangrez, an Indian restaurant on Fulham Palace Road in Hammersmith in west London, which operated for around 16 years. In February, he announced plans to shut it down, blaming rising costs, online harassment, repeated disturbances and what he described as inadequate police support.
The restaurant's refusal to serve halal meat became the centre of a controversy after Kapoor prominently advertised its non-halal identity. A sign outside the establishment read, "Proudly, we don't sell Halal".
Kapoor has linked the decision to his Sikh faith, saying he prefers jhatka meat, which involves slaughtering an animal with a single swift strike and is considered religiously permissible by some in the community.
Amid the row, the Rangrez restaurant was shut. He added, "Rising costs, ongoing online harassment, repeated disturbances and attacks by Pakistanis and a lack of proper support from the Met[eropolitan] Police have made it impossible to continue.”
However, the dispute went beyond a restaurant's choice of meat. Kapoor's social media posts, which included inflammatory remarks about Muslims and calls for halal slaughter to be banned in the UK, drew criticism.
In March, he also promoted what he called a "Non-Halal meetup", asking supporters to bring recording equipment to document disturbances. A confrontation followed, and Kapoor was detained by police.
ARREST, ALLEGATIONS AND FRESH FINANCIAL CONCERNS
Kapoor subsequently alleged that he had been illegally arrested and detained for nearly 24 hours. In May, he said he intended to take legal action against the Metropolitan Police and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, accusing them of discriminatory treatment. Hi
His latest appeal, however, centres on keeping his venture, Singh's Dining, open. Kapoor urged customers to book tables, visit the restaurant and share his post.
"We're proud to be a non-Halal restaurant and want to keep serving our community for years to come," he wrote.
He added, "If you can't visit, please share this post with friends and family. Every booking, share, and a bit of support means more than you can imagine."
Kapoor concluded his appeal by saying, "We need you now more than ever. Please book. Please share. Please help us survive."
As of Tuesday, October 13, Singh's Dining has received 2.8 stars out of 5, based on 20 ratings, with the latest review posted three weeks ago. A detailed look at the review tab revealed that, rather than responding to feedback constructively, the restaurant management has often been curt in his replies and made personal remarks about patrons.
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(Written by Anand Singh)
