Squatters have occupied the York & Albany, a Grade II-listed pub in central London owned by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and currently valued at £13 million. This establishment, located near Regent’s Park and currently up for sale, became the site of squatting by at least six individuals around mid-April 2024. The squatters have boarded up windows and have publicly declared their intentions to transform the venue into an art cafe that would serve free food and drinks, specifically aimed at supporting those affected by gentrification in Camden.

The Metropolitan Police have categorized the situation as a civil matter, stating that squatting in non-residential buildings is not illegal in the UK unless associated with other criminal activities. The property’s complex ownership and past leasing agreements, including a lease to Ramsay and ownership by film director Gary Love since 2007, contribute to the legal intricacies of the case.

The squatters, who have masked their identities and avoided direct media contact, have utilized social media to campaign for donations and articulate their objective of addressing wealth disparities via the utilization of the building. They have also posted warnings on-site to deter unauthorized entry, asserting their legal stance and potential avenues for formal property claim after a decade of continuous occupation.

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, the leaseholder, has been contacted for a response regarding the ongoing occupation. Meanwhile, the situation has sparked broader discussions on property ownership, squatting rights, and property laws in the UK.