Ex-Marco Pierre White venue secured from squatters

Police have secured the site of a former restaurant operated by chef Marco Pierre White in central London which was being used by squatters.

Westminster City Council said the Met "responded and dealt with the incident" at the premises in Leicester Square, despite the issue normally being a civil matter.

Graffiti could be seen on the exterior of the building, which previously housed White's steak and pizza restaurant, and some of its doors were padlocked shut on Wednesday.

The restaurant, which was run by Black & White Hospitality, closed earlier this year after two years in operation.

A manager at the Jollibee restaurant next door told the PA news agency he had recently seen "homeless people" at the back of the premises "doing drugs".

It comes after squatters took over the pub of another celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay, near Regent's Park last week.

The group locked themselves inside the Grade II-listed York & Albany hotel and gastropub and set up an "autonomous cafe" inside.

They later said in a social media post they had been served legal papers to vacate the building.

Squatters continued to emerge from the former pub on Wednesday despite the order, including to pick up deliveries and have a drink outside whilst covering their head with a bag.

According to government guidance, squatters can apply to become the registered owners of a property if they have occupied it continuously for 10 years, acted as owners for the whole of that time and had not previously been given permission to live there by the owner.

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