5 days ago
Squatters take over iconic Mayfair club were A-listers Lindsay Lohan, Pippa Middleton and Jodie Kidd once partied
Squatters have taken over a former Michelin-starred restaurant and club, frequented by A-listers such as Pippa Middleton and Lindsay Lohan.
Originally built as the private home of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 1820s, Morton's was a private member's club which hosted VIP events attended by celebrities and socialites.
Pippa Middleton was a regular visitor to the club and model Jodie Kidd was pictured at the club in the past.
During the pandemic, the club went into administration and the Grade II listed building has remained vacant ever since.
However, the historic building at 28 Berkeley Square now has new occupants - squatters.
It has been described as a magnet for cannabis-smoking yobs who are using the basement as a refuge to hide various items.
A security guard for a neighbouring business told Metro: 'It's been a nightmare. There were squatters actually in the building but now they were forced to leave. But what they are doing now is using the basement area as their refuge. There are piles of stuff down there it's becoming like a slum. It's a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
'There are people smoking weed and the place is an eyesore. The police came recently but said there was nothing they could do. When the club was there it was very high end but now it's just bringing down the square.'
Next door is the world-renowned auction house Phillips, which is currently putting the works of Damien Hirst under the hammer.
One inhabitant of the property said they had 'nowhere else' to go and asked, 'what can I do?'
Police have been called to the property in the past month, but were unable to act as the squatters were not inside the building when they arrived.
Removing squatters from non-residential buildings is more challenging for officials as it often requires a civil court order.
It is not the only well-known London building which has been targeted by unwanted inhabitants.
Last year, a group of squatters recently moved in to Gordon Ramsay's York and Albany pub near Regent's Park in 2024 before they were forced to leave by a court order.
A raid was also conducted on Marco Pierre White's former steak and pizza restaurant to remove a group last year.
Courts also ordered uninvited occupants who were living inside Princess Diana's former favourite restaurant, San Lorenzo, to vacate the premises.
RSM UK, administrators for Morton's, said they sold the lease in August 2021. CF Commercial is currently marketing it as a business premises.
A statement from Westminster Council said: 'Our city inspectors visited the site last night. They found no evidence of people sleeping rough in the basement but there are a number of items belonging to rough sleepers being stored there.
'This is ultimately a matter for the landlord to secure the property and the council will notify them urgently about the issue.'
