Squatters have been slapped with legal letters after taking over a pub owned by Gordon Ramsay.
The foul-mouthed chef was left stunned when a gang of squatters took residence at his swanky boozer in London which cost a staggering £13 million. York & Albany, Gordon's pub in Camden, was taken over by The Camden Art Cafe in what they claimed was a legal occupation of the building.
But the group, consisting of at least six "professional squatters" used kitchen appliances owned by Ramsay to barricade the doors as well as glued the locks to prevent people gaining access to the building. But new legal papers served to the group are forcing them to "cancel" the soup kitchen they are reportedly running from the establishment.
Taking to Instagram in view of their 843 followers, the group shared a snap on their Stories reading: "Apologies to everyone who was going to come along today. Papers served, café cancelled!" An update just one day prior to this read: "We are occupying the York and Albany Hotel in Camden as the collective Camden Art Café. We aim to open our doors regularly to anyone and everyone, particularly the people of Camden who have been victims of gentrification and parasitic projects like HS2. We provide free food, drinks, and a space to display their art without the ridiculous red tape that galleries require people to jump over. We believe all of us and our art deserve dignity.
The York & Albany in Regent's Park is said to be now occupied by squatters (Google Maps)"Camden is a borough with one of the biggest wealth disparities in London, so it seems only fitting that £13 million properties that most locals would never be able to afford to visit should be opened up to all. The York and Albany is an iconic building in Camden since its opening in the 1820s; it has withstood wars and bombs, and despite what the media says, it will withstand the potentially short but hopefully long stay we squatters have here. At a time when Camden market has been bought out by a billionaire and many longstanding local businesses are being evicted from their units, it’s even more important that we all band together in all the forms of resistance that we know and can."
Gordon Ramsay calls the challenges on his new show 'a f***ing nightmare'
Gordon has been unable to remove the squatters from the building and has been embroiled in a legal battle with them since 2015. A notice on the door claimed the group were able to occupy the property as it was not a "residential building" and was not subject to the 2012 ruling that stated it would be an offence to squat in a residential building.
The notice 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. The Occupiers."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
