A group of squatters who began an occupation at Gordon Ramsay’s Camden pub last week have outlined their plans to turn the Grade II-listed building into a community art space and cafe, with their first event being held this afternoon.
At least six “professional squatters” entered Ramsay’s York and Albany pub, on the edge of Regent’s Park, early last week. Ramsay is reported to have called the police last Wednesday to have them removed, but Met officers refused to attend due to the occupation being a “civil matter”.
The squatters posted a notice to the pub’s window explaining that the building is not a “residential property” and therefore they are not breaching the law by squatting. The notice also threatens legal action against anyone who attempts to remove them.
In a statement released to Freedom News, the collective of squatters detailed their plans to rename the space as “Camden Art Cafe.”
“We aim to open our doors regularly to anyone and everyone,” the statement says, “particularly the people of Camden who have been victims of gentrification and parasitic projects like HS2.”
Today, they are holding their first event, a “Paint ‘n’ Chinwag” session until 4pm with free food and coffee, where visitors are invited to come and chat about “what Camden means to you”.
Ramsay has leased the York and Albany site from its freeholder, film director Gary Love, since 2007. The pub closed its doors in March 2024, and has been listed on the market with a guide price of £13 million.
In its statement, the Camden Art Cafe collective reference the property’s price tag, saying: “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 statement continues: “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.”
The collective appear to be linked to the community group Autonomous Winter Shelter, who previously occupied a former convent in east London, where they helped to house dozens of homeless people before being evicted by police last year.
According to English law, the occupation of a person’s non-residential property without their permission is not a crime, though police can take action if crimes are subsequently committed, including causing damage to the property or stealing from it.
A source told The Sun that the occupation is an “absolute nightmare” for Ramsay. “The pub was temporarily closed whilst he was finalising a new lease,” the source claimed, “and during this handover period a gang of professional squatters somehow bypassed all the security and CCTV, and got themselves in.
“They’ve now boarded themselves in the building and are slowly taking over the place, leaving their crap everywhere and brazenly telling locals this is now their home.
“They’ve glued tight all the locks and are cooking up a storm in the kitchen, which is especially galling for Gordon.”
According to the collective’s Instagram, the cafe will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1—4pm, serving free food and drinks. They have been assisted by non-profit organisations and Camden based charity shops, who have provided them with donations and food.
Neither the squat collective or Gordon Ramsay responded to requests from the Standard for comment.
