A group of ‘professional’ squatters have invaded a pub owned by Gordon Ramsay in central London and put up signs claiming it as their own property, despite the York & Albany hotel and gastropub currently being up for sale at £13 million.
The group of at least six people have fully made themselves at home; boarding up windows, putting up a “legal warning” defending their occupation of the Grade II-listed building, and are now in the process of setting up their own makeshift ‘community art cafe’ inside it. Because nothing says ‘community’ like taking over a celebrity chef’s property, right?
They’ve also put up a sign asking for food and donations – how cheeky can you get?
Two accounts on Instagram called the Camden Art Cafe and Autonomous Winter Shelter have posted about a “new squatted community space” at the York & Albany hotel:
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
I cannot even begin to imagine how utterly enraged Gordon Ramsay is right now. We’ve all seen how he treats people who undercook chicken or make soggy risottos. Just imagine how fuming he would be hearing that a group of hipster bums have taken over his pub and are turning it into some poncy art cafe? If Channel 4 had half a brain they’d fire up the cameras right now because watching Gordon Ramsay go to war with a group of squatters would be A+ television by anyone’s standards.
Ramsay has reportedly been in touch with the Metropolitan Police, who have said in a statement: “Police were made aware of squatters at a disused property in Parkway, Regent’s Park, NW1 on Wednesday, 10 April. This is a civil matter and so police did not attend the property.”
A local said: “The pub was temporarily closed whilst Gordon was finalising a new lease, and during this handover period a gang of professional squatters somehow bypassed all the security and CCTV, and got themselves in. They’ve now boarded themselves in the building and are slowly taking over the place, leaving their crap everywhere and brazenly telling locals this is now their home. They’ve glued tight all the locks and are cooking up a storm in the kitchen, which is especially galling for Gordon.”
Legally, squatters can apply to become the registered owners of a property if they have occupied it for 10 years in a row. It seems there are other laws and loopholes this lot are exploiting to remain in the building indefinitely, having put up a notice that says the group had a right to occupy the venue, which they said was not a “residential building” and was therefore not subject to 2012 legislation which bans squatting in a residential building.
Signed by “The Occupiers”, the notice says there’s always “at least one person in occupation” and claims any attempt to enter the premises without their permission is a criminal offence and could result in a prison sentence or fine. How ridiculous is that?
“If you want to get us out you will have to issue a claim for possession in the county court or in the High Court,” the note added. Can you believe the b@lls on these guys? Let’s hope we can at least get some footage of Gordon Ramsay fuming about all this, otherwise it will have all been for nothing.
For the pub chef’s undercooked Shepherd’s Pie which killed one woman and left 31 others seriously ill, click HERE.
