GORDON Ramsay has served papers to squatters after his multi-million pound pub was taken over and trashed by the brazen gang.
The group of unruly squatters set up home in telly chef Gordon’s swanky £13million boozer.
The Camden Art Cafe took over the celebrity chef’s former York & Albany pub in north London last week in what they claimed was a legal occupation of the building.
The gang, said to be made up of at least six “professional squatters”, used Ramsay’s own kitchen appliances to barricade themselves in and glued shut the locks.
But they have now been served papers – forcing them to ‘”cancel” their soup kitchen they said they were running from the Camden eatery.
In a post on their Instagram profile, the masked activists claim they have been served with papers and have had to cancel their opening today.
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The statement reads: “Apologies to everyone who was going to come along today. Papers served, cafe cancelled!”
Ramsay, 57, was about to sign over a multi-million pound lease to new partners when the gang broke in to the York & Albany pub and boutique hotel near Regent’s Park, central London.
Photos previously showed the swanky bar area of the venue — which had been temporarily closed for a handover — resembling a tip, with debris sprawled everywhere and a squatter crashed out on a leather sofa.
One squatter was seen sleeping barefoot on a couch in the bar area while wearing a hat, coat and trousers.
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Another slipper-clad occupier was scrolling his smartphone.
Scattered around were a pair of crutches, a Sainsbury’s bag for life, tobacco, plugs, empty water bottles and wine glasses — with a blue sleeping bag dumped on another sofa.
A cat climber and dog toy were also visible, while kitchen equipment was seen on the floor at the back of the venue.
One squatter, wearing a blue hoodie, knee compression bandage and sliders, refused to comment when approached by The Sun.
On Saturday morning, two masked squatters wearing black tracksuits and carrying backpacks and carrier bags exited the property, running away from reporters before they could be approached for comment.
TV chef Gordon — who was embroiled in a legal battle over the venue back in 2015 — called the police but has been unable to remove the squatters from the 19th-century building.
A notice taped to a door said the group had a right to occupy the venue, which they said was not a “residential building” and was therefore not subject to 2012 legislation which had created a new offence of squatting in a residential building.
The piece of paper, signed by “The Occupiers”, also said: “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.”
A source previously told The Sun: “It’s an absolute nightmare scenario for poor Gordon.
“The pub was temporarily closed whilst he was finalising a new lease, 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.
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“They’ve glued tight all the locks and are cooking up a storm in the kitchen, which is especially galling for Gordon.”
The occupation of a person’s non-residential property without their permission is not itself a crime in the UK, though police can take action if crimes are subsequently committed, including damaging the property or stealing from it.
