Squatters to leave Gordon Ramsay’s York & Albany following High Court order
In a statement shared yesterday (18 April) with the PA news agency, the group, which identified itself as the Anarchist Association London Branch, vowed to leave the Camden site within 24 hours.
The group had previously announced plans to turn the venue, which had been vacant and up for sale with a guide price of £13m, into a community café, but those plans were subsequently halted earlier this week after papers were served by Ramsay.
Referring to Ramsay as ‘the foul-mouthed chef’, the statement 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.”
It 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.”
The incident is latest of issues that Ramsay has faced with the property, which is owned by film director Gary Love, and which he took on in 2007.
In 2015 the chef lost a high court battle to free himself from his 25-year lease term claiming he was not liable to pay the £640,000 annual rent.
