Gordon Ramsay pub squatters turn it into soup kitchen
Squatters occupying Gordon Ramsay’s £13 million Regent’s Park pub restaurant have held a press conference to say they are using “our house” to run a soup kitchen for the homeless.
The Grade II-listed York & Albany pub and boutique hotel, in a wealthy corner of Camden in north London, has been barricaded with kitchen appliances, cardboard boxes and bike locks.
At least five men and one woman are understood to be inside, with a legal notice pinned up on the door stating 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 group broke their silence on Saturday afternoon by delivering a statement outside the former 1820s coaching inn and Georgian townhouse, which was until a month ago an upmarket restaurant, bar and hotel run by the celebrity chef and host of Kitchen Nightmares.
“We are occupying this property under squatting law which is our right in this country,” they told The Telegraph. “We run a free cafe for the community on Tuesdays and Thursdays although we hope to open more frequently.”
Describing themselves as Camden Art Café, they said: “This is a civil matter between the occupiers and the landowner who we understand has also refused to comment on the matter... People will be welcomed again into our cafe on Tuesday, that is all.”
A spokesman for the squatters, who wore a mask and declined to be named, described it as “our house” and told how they were already hosting “guests”.
The Metropolitan Police has refused to intervene. A spokesman for the force said: “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.”
The Telegraph understands that the pub was closed a month ago and a new partner had been lined up in a multi-million-pound deal, but while it was changing hands squatters moved in a week ago.
Ramsay leased the property from Gary Love, the director and actor, on a 25-year term but in 2015 was embroiled in an unsuccessful legal battle to end the lease. The chef put it on the market with a £13 million guide price in December last year, with the business having lost a total of £15.3 million since opening in 2008, according to Companies House files.
Ramsay, 57, is said to be trying to finalise an eviction notice but “it’s proving an absolute nightmare”. A source told The Sun: “They’ve glued tight all the locks and are cooking up a storm in the kitchen, which is especially galling for Gordon.”
Four of the squatters were seen coming and going on Saturday from the £13 million building, designed by the renowned architect John Nash, including one man in a Palestine-style keffiyeh scarf who jumped the fence and ran away with a skateboard while shouting.
Later, another squatter came out to speak to reporters, insisting that any impression that it was a group of posh squatters was untrue.
The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous and said her house had burnt down, said: “Most Londoners are priced out, they cannot afford to rent or buy in London and that’s why many people are homeless.
“I was born in this country, so are my family, and we’re being treated like refugees basically. It’s really disgusting.
“We’re looking to get whatever food we can and provide meals, we give people a lot more than just potatoes – freshly cooked and prepared meals and it’s all free of charge.”
Asked what they have to say to accusations they have invaded Ramsay’s property, she said: “From my knowledge, it’s not Gordon’s property, Gordon just happens to be the person who was helping to run the establishment from what I’ve been told, I’m not sure if that’s correct.”
British law allows squatters to become the registered owner of property or land if they have occupied it for 10 years, acted as the owners for that time and did so without the owner’s permission.
A neighbour in Regent’s Park, a 52-year old banker who wished to remain anonymous, told The Telegraph: “It’s legend around here that Ramsay’s father signed the lease 15-20 years ago”, but it was “a thriving, beautiful restaurant”.
“Apparently it was being readied for a new tenant. I suspect they will have to offer them something to get out to avoid causing a ruckus. The squatters seem to have changed the locks on the former pizzeria so they can now come and go as they want with their own keys.”
A delivery of two large crates of potatoes was left at the pub on Saturday afternoon.
Ramsay has been contacted for comment.