In a surprising turn of events, a group of squatters has taken control of a pub in London that was leased by renowned chef Gordon Ramsay. The Grade II-listed York and Albany hotel and gastropub, located near Regent's Park, is currently up for sale with a guide price of £13m.

According to reports from The Sun, at least six individuals barricaded themselves inside the property, boarding up the windows and displaying a "legal warning" defending their occupation. A notice attached to one of the doors explained that since the venue is not classified as a residential building, it is not subjected to the 2012 squatting legislation in England and Wales that criminalizes squatting in residential properties.

Signed by "the occupiers," the notice declared the group's right to occupy the premises at all times, warning that any attempt to enter without permission would be considered a criminal offense. It also stated that acts of violence would be prosecuted and could result in imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.

Although Ramsay alerted the police regarding the situation on Wednesday, it is understood that they were unable to remove the squatters due to the legal grey area surrounding non-residential property occupation without permission. Onlookers near the pub were even asked for donations of food, clothes, or any other items they no longer needed.

English law does not consider occupying a non-residential property without permission as a criminal offense. However, the police can intervene if crimes like property damage or theft are committed by the squatters. In response to the situation, the Metropolitan police released a statement explaining that, as a civil matter, they did not attend the property.

Ramsay had previously leased the pub on a 25-year term, agreeing to an annual rent of £640,000. The decision to put the venue up for sale was made late last year, with a guide price of £13m.

Government guidance states that squatters can potentially claim ownership of a property if they continuously occupy it for 10 years, act as owners throughout that time, and haven't been granted permission to live there by the actual owner.

It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold, but for now, the squatters maintain their controversial presence in Gordon Ramsay's leased London pub, making their intentions clear through their legal warning and occupation of the premises.