Squatters who took over Gordon Ramsay’s £13m pub vow to leave after lawyers get High Court order

‘This swanky building has been left empty for years, even though Camden has some of the worst levels of rough sleeping in the country,’ squatter group says

The squatters locked themselves inside Grade II-listed York & Albany hotel and gastropub (PA)

Squatters who took over a £13 million Gordon Ramsay pub have promised to leave after lawyers secured a High Court order for the possession of the premises.

The group last week locked themselves inside Grade II-listed York & Albany hotel and gastropub, near London’s Regent’s Park, transforming it into a cafe and art gallery to welcome “the victims of gentrification”.

A spokesperson for the group, which said it was the Anarchist Association London Branch, on Thursday vowed they would leave the restaurant within 24 hours. It is understood the group plans to vacate the premises by midday on Friday.

The statement, which referred to Ramsay as “the foul-mouthed chef”, said: “This swanky building has been left empty for years, even though Camden has some of the worst levels of rough sleeping in the country. Some of these rough sleepers decided to take their right to housing into their own hands.”

The Independent on Monday visited one of the art classes that have been on offer at the restaurant alongside pasta instead of the unlimited pizza buffets the celebrity chef put on before closing its doors in March.

The group of 20-something activists have been volunteering to set up what they call the Camden Art Cafe (Barney Davis)

Posters taped to a door said the group of 20-something activists, volunteering to set up what they call the Camden Art Cafe, had a right to occupy the venue, which they said was not a residential building and was therefore not subject to 2012 legislation that had created a new offence of squatting in a home. They have since been ripped down.

Each calling themselves Gordon in a bid to protect their identities, one squatter told The Independent: “Most of the neighbours have been really supportive. Sometimes they are slightly bewildered but we explain what we are doing and they say ‘oh great, see you around’.”

A neighbour said: “They are here now, we can’t do anything about it. But they haven’t been too loud in fairness.”

The York & Albany pub near Regent’s Park (PA Wire)

The statement issued by the group following the court order added: “The fact that the chef was able to obtain the order that quickly shows that the legal system is designed for the rich. It has nothing to do with justice. Laws won’t help us, politicians won’t help us. They only serve the wealthy and powerful.

“Only we can help ourselves. If people are not allowed to survive, they will take action to do so. All evictions are violence. But that won’t stop us from squatting and we hope our actions will inspire others to take back control of their lives.”

On Thursday, lawyers for Gordon Ramsay Holdings International Limited (GRHI) told a judge it had an “immediate right to possession” of the pub and asked for an order to retake the property amid a “risk of public disturbance”.

Judge Simon Brown granted the order at a short hearing in London.

Squatters inside the York & Albany pub near Regent's Park (Victoria Jones/PA Wire)

It is understood from court staff that the order paves the way for High Court enforcement officers to retake the occupied pub in the coming days.

In 2007, film director Gary Love bought the freehold of the former 19th-century coaching inn.

He subsequently leased the property to Mr Ramsay on a 25-year term with an annual rent of £640,000.

The Kitchen Nightmares host unsuccessfully attempted to free himself from the lease in a legal battle at the High Court in 2015.

The venue went on sale at the end of last year with a guide price of £13 million.

According to a Companies House document, GRHI is the holding company that offers management and operational support to the restaurants within the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants Limited group.