Hundreds of squatters took over Marco Pierre White's now-shuttered London restaurant just days after it was reported that a separate group of squatters had invaded Gordon Ramsey's pub.
At least 400 squatters moved into White's Steak, Pizza, and Gin House in Leicester Square since last week. The squatters, who reportedly threw parties at the celebrity chef's building, had put "big padlocks" on the door of the building and a sign claiming they could not be removed from the property without a court order, per The Evening Standard, citing a deliver driver.
Joe Waller, the manager of a restaurant next door, told the outlet that people were lined up in the back, waiting for a chance to get into White's building. Ellen Layco, the manager of another restaurant next door, alerted the local council about the incident after heaps of garbage began piling up by the back entrance.
London's Metropolitan Police have since removed the squatters and secured the building, according to The Telegraph.
What Happened to White's Restaurant?
White's restaurant, which was run by Black & White Hospitality, opened its doors in 2021, serving $24 steak, $18 plates of paste, and $10 bowls of Caesar salads. The restaurant had room for 300 customers across its two floors.
The restaurant closed in early February for temporary maintenance work expected to last two weeks. It has yet to reopen.
Gordon Ramsey's Pub
News of squatters taking over White's restaurant comes days after a separate group of squatters invaded the York & Albany pub and hotel in Camden belonging to Ramsay, White's former protege.
In Ramsey's case, six squatters took over and resided in the York & Albany pub, which is temporarily closed while the celebrity chef is finding a new buyer. Furthermore, the squatters who took over the property turned the pub into a "free cafe for the community" named the Camden Art Cafe. The squatters also held a press conference where they said they planned to use the building to run a soup kitchen for the homeless.
Since the incident had been reported, the squatters at Ramsey's York & Albany pub announced that they had closed the "Camden art collective" after being served papers. However, they also wished "those left in the building" the "best of luck." It is unclear who is left in the building.
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