Entertainment
Gordon Ramsay’s £13,000,000 London pub taken over by squatters threatening legal action against chef-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro
The TV chef is said to be ‘at the end of his tether’.
TV and culinary star Gordon Ramsay is facing squatters at one of his restaurants (Picture: Getty/PA)
Gordon Ramsay has been left with his own kitchen nightmare after one of his London pubs was taken over by a gang of squatters.
The York & Albany pub, which also functions as a boutique hotel, near Regent’s Park is understood to have been temporarily closed while Ramsay, 57, signed over a multi-million-pound lease to new partners.
However, during its closure, a group of ‘six professional squatters’ have managed to gain access to the building, in which they are now sleeping and living.
TV chef Ramsay, who owns and operates dozens of restaurants, is thought to have called the police on Wednesday but has been unable to have the squatters removed from the Grade II listed building.
In pictures snapped of the inside, the interior of the bar area is shown to be scattered with debris including plugs, water bottles, a beer can, used cups and a pair of crutches leaning against the wall.
Other photographs obtained by The Sun show a barefoot squatter lying across a leather sofa sleeping in the bar, while another man was snapped dressed in a robe and flipflops on the ground of the property, scrolling on his smartphone.
Ramsay has operated the York & Albany pub since 2008 (Picture: Fox via Getty)
The premises was closed as the chef negotiated new lease partners, and the squatters took their chance (Picture: Getty)
The group has even placed a sign on the door threatening legal action against anyone who tries to force them out, claiming that they are entitled to stay there as it ‘is a non-residential building’.
According to the publication, the squatters have secured their hold on the building by gluing the locks shut and using kitchen appliances to barricade themselves inside.
They also warn that ‘at all times there is at least one person in occupation’ at the pub on their notice, confirming that they will prosecute anyone attempting to enter ‘by violence or by threatening violence’.
Inside the pub now appears cluttered with debris after the group moved in (Picture: n.c)
The interior of the pub previously
Describing the situation as ‘an absolute nightmare scenario’ for Ramsay, a source revealed: ‘The pub was temporarily closed whilst he 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 c**p everywhere and brazenly telling locals this is now their home.’
They added: ‘Some are crashing on sofas, but others have taken over the beautiful bedrooms. God knows the damage and filth.’
The TV star is struggling to secure an eviction notice, the insider explained, and described the famously fiery chef as ‘at the end of his tether’.
When contacted for comment by Metro.co.uk, Met Police confirmed in a statement: ‘Police were made aware of squatters at a disused property in Parkway, Regent’s Park, NW1 on Wednesday, 10 April.
Ramsay is said to be ‘at the end of his tether’ as he tries to get the squatters evicted (Picture: Greg Gayne/Granada/Fox Tv/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)
‘This is a civil matter and so police did not attend the property.’
Further photographs reveal that the squatters appear to be running a community art cafe offering free food to locals out of the building.
A pictured sign taped to one of the windows revealed that the group is actively seeking donations.
‘We welcome food and clothes donations and anything else you no longer want or need so we can keep our freeshop [sic] going…’
‘Knock or contact us on Instagram @camdenartcafe,’ it added, with the linked account sharing photos and advertising their opening hours at a ‘new squatted community space in Camden’, listed as the ‘York and Albany Hotel’.
Squatters in the pub have put up a sign asking for donations (Picture: n.c)
Potatoes were left by the door near the sign asking for help running their kitchen for the homeless (Picture: n.c)
Crates of Potatoes and vegetables were also seen on Saturday morning, left at the side of the building, near the sign asking for donations to help their food kitchen.
Film director and actor Gary Love bought the freehold for the former coaching inn from the Crown Estate in 2007, with Ramsay purchasing a 25-year lease off him and transforming it from an all-but derelict pub into a boutique hotel and restaurant.
The Michelin-starred chef also lost a court battle back in 2015 over the premises, when he was found personally liable to pay £640,000 in rent, as arranged by his father-in-law Chris Hutcheson, whom Ramsay had sacked years prior.
Hutcheson, 75, had been chief executive of Ramsay’s business until he was forced out in 2010, amid accusations of fraud, with his daughter Tana – Ramsay’s wife – even testifying against him at the High Court.
The Kitchen Nightmares star has previously faced legal woes at this property (Picture: Getty)
He was jailed for six months in 2017 for conspiring with his sons to hack company computers to steal information during his public bitter dispute with the celebrity chef.
Sons Adam and Chris Jr were both handed four-month prison sentences, suspended for two years.
The families are believed to have since reconciled.
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Gordon Ramsay for comment.
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