The historic York and Albany pub near Regent’s Park

HE delighted television audiences who loved to see a chef screaming and shouting at less experienced and less skilled cooks just trying to do their best.

So it can only be imagined how Gordon Ramsay – highly fluent in industrial language – reacted to hearing his gastropub in Camden Town had been squatted.

His personal kitchen nightmare at the York and Albany pub last night (Wednesday) appeared to have been short-lived as the group of people who had moved in the empty pizzeria attached to his restaurant moved out just a few days after arriving.

During their time inside, it was announced that they would be opening the Camden Art Cafe for the community and a man was asking passers-by on Monday to come in for free coffee.

The celebrity chef, who hosted the short-lived quiz show Bank Balance for 10 episodes, took on the lease in 2007 and immediately installed Mayfair hotel chef Angela Hartnett to create an Italian menu.

building is steeped in history having originally opened as a pub in 1827. It was designed by Regent’s Park architect John Nash and named after his friend the Duke of York and Albany.

But it had stood derelict and unused for many years before its previous owner, the actor Gary Love, bought the property from the Crown Estate in 2006 for £2 million and spent a further £1.8 million on renovations.

Mr Love, however decided to sell it on without opening after pouring a fortune into renovating the Grade-II listed building.

At the time, Mr Love told the New Journal how he had removed thousands of pigeon carcasses from the top floor and shored up crumbling foundations. Then came Mr Ramsay’s arrival on a 25 year lease, with the chef taking on rent of £680,000 a year.

Gordon Ramsay [Alan Warren]

He later disputed how the deal was signed for and tried to free himself from the arrangement – but failed in a High Court case in which he said his signature had not been “lawfully authorised”.

He had claimed his father-in-law, Christopher Hutcheson, had used a ghost-writing machine to ink the papers.

When Mr Love sold the building on to the chef, he said one of the attractive features for anybody moving into the upstairs would be the sound of lions and tigers in nearby London Zoo at night.

The squatters this week had said they wanted to invite residents and workers in Camden Town into free exhibitions and art classes. But just a day after opening, bailiffs working for Mr Ramsay’s company served an eviction notice. It is believed a small number of people have decided to stay on at the pub and use it as their home, but the art collective has moved out.

Members of the Art Cafe confirmed the end of their brief occupation through a post on social media, which said: “We are sad to announce Camden art collective have left the building after being served papers yesterday. We wish those left in the building the best of luck in their endeavours.  We hope to be a part of the community again soon.”

The occupation of the pub comes in the face of rising homelessness and an ongoing crisis over rent levels and the lack of social housing, and the Art Collective said it had wanted project to highlight these political issues.

Organisers said they had wanted to open the building up for “everyone to enjoy” – and not just those who could afford restaurants with expensive menus.

“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,” the group’s statement said.

“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.”

Meanwhile, up to 400 squatters moved into another celebrity chef Marco Pierre White’s former restaurant in Leicester Square.

Metal locks were put on the front doors of the restaurant, and graffiti was sprayed on the restaurant’s exterior.

The group occupied Mr White’s Steak Pizza and Gin House, which is based in a five-storey building.The restaurant was open for two years before it closed in February.

Police said the building has now been secured and there were reportedly no sign of squatters on Tuesday.

The view from inside

ONE occupier, who asked the New Journal not to use his name, said: “We are going to court to tell our side. It is not an automatic eviction and takes time, so we are staying put. We will stay here for as long as possible.”

A veteran of using empty buildings in Camden for art projects and as a solution to homelessness, he said not all landlords went through the proper procedures.

He added: “In Camden, there are many landlords who do not go through the books, which causes them problems when they try to revert to the law.

“We had one landlord set fire to his own property to force us out. Above all, it is ridiculous how many properties there are empty when there is such a crisis in housing – and it has got worse since the Covid pandemic.”

As well as making national headlines, the squatters have enjoyed support locally, with a food charity based in Parkway delivering meals and donations from neighbours.

The group member said: “We got 30 boxes of noodles delivered to us by post. At first we assumed it must be to the wrong door – but it was addressed: ‘To the squatters – good luck to you’.”

The Collective have previously squatted other buildings in Camden, including one site in Gray’s Inn Road.

He said they did not turn on any gas appliances in order to ensure the complete safety of them­selves and the building.

He added: “We have not caused any damage whatsoever, and the place is in good condition – waterproof, weatherproof, and currently unused. It is absolutely fine as a place to stay and we have paid for the electricity we have used, too.”