Gordon Ramsay has stepped into action after squatters recently took over his £13million pub.
The TV chef has been having an absolute nightmare after a group of at least six people shacked up inside one of his London properties.
Currently up for sale (with a whopper guide price of £13million), the Grade II-listed York & Albany hotel and gastropub has been taken over by squatters.
It was reported by the Sun last week that the group boarded up the windows of Ramsay’s pub and taped up a ‘legal warning’ on the door.
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Naming themselves ‘The Occupiers’, they expressed their right to occupy the venue by Regent’s Park as Ramsay made a seemingly useless call to the police.
As the group can exercise their squatters rights (the place isn’t a residential property), the Metropolitan Police issued a statement that it is ‘a civil matter and so police did not attend’.
But the Hell’s Kitchen star has now apparently 'served papers' to the squatters, forcing them to ‘cancel’ their cafe they were running from the pub.
It is reported The Camden Art Café used Ramsay’s kitchen appliances to barricade themselves in and glued the locks shut.
On Instagram, they say they are an 'autonomous café’ which is ‘committed to providing free food and creating a space for the community’.
However, despite a ‘busy’ day yesterday (15 April), they posted an update earlier this morning.
Writing to their Instagram story, the group said: “Apologies to everyone who was going to come along today. Papers served, café cancelled.”
A notice placed on one of the property’s doors read: “Take notice that we occupy this property and at all times there is at least one person in occupation.
“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.
“That if you attempt to enter by violence or by threatening violence we will prosecute you. You may receive a sentence of up to six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.
"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."
If the group want to make the pricey place theirs, they’ll have to occupy it continuously for 10 years, act as owners the whole time and have not been given permission to live there.
In 2007, film director Gary Love bought the freehold of the former inn. He then leased it to Ramsay on a 25-year term with an annual rent at £640,000.
In 2015, the chef unsuccessfully attempted to free himself from the lease in a legal battle at the High Court. It then went on sale at the end of 2023.
LADbible contacted Ramsay’s team who refused to comment.
Topics: Celebrity, Gordon Ramsay, London, UK News, Food And Drink, Money
Jess Battison