Squatters have taken over one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants in London.
At least six people are residing in York & Albany, an eatery connected to the eponymous hotel in Camden Town, according to The Sun and BBC. York & Albany is temporarily closed while Ramsay, 57, finalizes a new lease, The Sun reported.
It’s unclear when the squatters first arrived. Metropolitan Police told Business Insider they “were made aware of squatters at a disused property” on April 10 in Regents Park, where the restaurant is located.
The outlets reported that the group had locked themselves inside the building, boarded up the windows, and are threatening legal action against those attempting to remove them.
Photos obtained by the outlets showed a “legal warning” taped to one of the restaurant’s doors. It was signed by “The Occupiers.”
“Take notice that we occupy this property and at all times there is at least one person in occupation,” the notice reads. “That any entry or attempt to enter into these premises without our permission is therefore a criminal offence as any one of us who is in physical possession is opposed to such entry without our permission.”
The legal warning said the group will to take legal action against those who “enter by violence” or “threaten to enter by violence.”
The notice read, “LASPO does NOT apply,” referring to the 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing, and Punishment Offenders Act. Under LASPO, occupying a non-residential building is not a crime. So the squatters are claiming the law allows them to be there.
Ramsay called local authorities about the property but has so far failed to have the squatters removed, the outlets reported.
Metropolitan Police in London told Business Insider that this issue “is a civil matter and so police did not attend as an emergency call out. However we in the process of identifying if any subsequent offences have occurred, and will take action where appropriate.”
While it’s unconfirmed what the group intends to do with the space, BBC reported that two Instagram accounts — Autonomous Winter Shelter and Camden Art Cafe — have described it as a “new squatted community space.”
“Pop down to a new squatted community space in Camden,” a post’s caption read. “Come on down and say hi, grab some food and a coffee on our first day open tomorrow.”
Camden Art Cafe’s Instagram also appeared to share photos of the restaurant’s interior.
“An autonomous cafe in the heart of Camden committed to providing free food and creating a space for the community,” the bio read.
Ramsay became attached to the property in 2007 when director Gary Love leased it to him on a 25-year term with a yearly rent of £640,000, or about $797,000, the outlets report. Ramsay tried to get out of the lease in 2015 but lost the legal battle.
The property was listed in late 2023 with a guide price of £13 million, or more than $16 million, according to the outlets.
Representatives for Ramsay and York & Albany did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.
Other stories about squatters have made headlines this year.
In New York City, a couple cannot move into the $2 million home they purchased because of a squatter who refuses to vacate the property. The couple sued the squatter to evict him, but he countersued for harassment.
Outlets reported later that month that squatters had lived in a Beverly Hills mansion for five months. The group was evicted but did not face any criminal charges.
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