Squatters Take Over Gordon Ramsay’s Pub in London, Plan to Turn it into Cafe and Art Gallery
A group of squatters has taken over Gordon Ramsay’s former pub in London, the Grade II-listed York & Albany gastropub, with plans to transform the space into a community cafe and art gallery welcoming “the victims of gentrification.”
The celebrity chef had long operated his pub at the historic building near Regent’s Park, but following legal disputes with the property’s freeholder, film director Gary Love, the venue was put on the market with a guide price of £13m last year.
The squatters, at least six in number, have boarded up the windows, locked themselves inside, and put up a “legal warning” defending their occupation. Despite Ramsay’s attempts to have them removed, the Metropolitan Police stated that it is a civil matter and did not intervene.
In a statement, the squatters announced their intentions to open the York & Albany Hotel as the Camden Art Cafe, offering free food, drinks, and a space for local artists to display their work without the constraints of traditional galleries. They emphasized the importance of providing a welcoming space for the community, particularly those affected by gentrification in Camden.
The group, believed to be associated with the Autonomous Winter Shelter, previously occupied a former convent in east London to house homeless individuals before being evicted by police.
The occupation of non-residential property without permission is not a criminal offense in the UK, but police can intervene if crimes are committed during the occupation.
The York & Albany property was purchased by Love in 2007 and leased to Ramsay on a long-term basis. Despite legal battles in the past, the venue was put up for sale last year.
The squatters’ takeover of the iconic building reflects growing tensions around gentrification and the need for community spaces in rapidly changing neighborhoods like Camden.