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Squatters with a £20m view of the red carpet
Peter Dominiczak27.10.09
An art collective known for squatting in mansions and embassies has taken over a £20million building in Leicester Square.
The 50-room property - next door to the Odeon cinema - has been taken over by the group known as The Oubliette, which dedicates itself to finding large work spaces for struggling artists.
The eight squatters today told the Standard they enjoyed front row seats from their first-floor window to see stars such as George Clooney walking the red carpet for the Fantastic Mr Fox premiere.
They have also been holding life drawing classes since taking over the six-storey property a fortnight ago.
The squatters claim they gained access to the building legally through an open window in the top-floor loft, but said they expected to be evicted within the next two weeks. Last night they unfurled banners to draw attention to their artistic project.
Last month the squatters took over the former Mexican embassy in Mayfair and the former Tanzanian high commission next door, together valued at £50million.
Click here to see a gallery of the Art squatters in Leicester Square
Recently, another group targeted two properties in Chester Square, Belgravia, where Margaret Thatcher and billionaire Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich's family live.
Oubliette spokesman Dan Simon, 31, a graphic designer, said the group were looking for the owner of an empty building in central London who would allow them to stay long-term in exchange for "protecting the property".
"We will continue to squat in the hope we can eventually come to an agreement with a proprietor. Empty buildings attract crime. All we want to do is utilise a space for our art project." He said of the Leicester Square squat: "We have another property that we will move into when we are evicted. This place is incredible. There are four flats as well as a two-storey business centre. Parts of it have been empty for around 20 years."
Fashion designer Talita Rossi, 24, from Sao Paulo, said: "It's crazy living on Leicester Square. We are probably the only people who actually live here."
Reader views (12)
Good to see art and culture back in the West End after having it squeezed out over the last 20 yrs. Just a shame they have to squat to get it. Its time that culture and creativity came back into our city - considering the huge role it has had in shaping it over the last 5 centuries or so
- Paul, London
I happen to know - for a fact - that some of them are. But it doesn't matter anyway. Good when you're young.
- Rufus, London
It looks like this is just a bunch of lazy lot that likes to live for free and not really want to work to pay the bills like the rest of us do. shame on them, what example is that for the kids of tomorrow?
- Petalo, london
So many people are suffering because they don't have a decent house for their kids and this lot think they deserve more then all the family's who are waiting for the council to help them. GET A JOB !!!!!
- Petalo, london
Um, Richard it would be lovely if the world was so simple but unfortunately, it isn't. Squatting has not and will not ever be a like for like replacement for owning and occupying/renting a property. Generally any abondoned building needs a whole raft of repairs and time, blood, sweat and tears to make it liveable, plus there is much less stability as you could be legally evited soon after occupying meaning you will have to start all over again when you find somewhere new - all this makes it effectively a full time occupation and thus a lifestyle choice. Work to pay bills or work to make a place to live. A doddle it aint, if it was so easy and such a bludge everyone would be doing it.
At least the place is not a crack den or something equally seedy, these people are simply harnessing a fairly untapped resource and enriching peoples lives in the process. If the owners can afford to have a £20m building stand empty then they can afford to pay lawyers to evict the squatters should they choose to do so. No-one is losing out here, everybody wins.
Chapeau to the Oubliette.
- G, London UK
I don't think we should assume anything about these people & they are not accused of doing anything more wrong than 'occupying an empty space' to be creative. Creativity is much undervalued in our society, whilst being a 'cog in the wheel' (ie go to school, work, pay mortgage, work, die) is, I feel, much overvalued.
- Veronica, Hampstead
Please spare us your stupid prejudice, Richard. I happen to know that none of them are on benefits.
- Steve, London
so basically what were seeing, is if your a first time buyer - dont - squat instead and wait for months until your evicted, hhmmm " one day travel card please ! "
- Jim, not there, here
Why the hostility Todd and Tony? It seems to me this group are making good use of empty buildings, giving a space for artists and showing central London needn't just be about money. Good on them I say!
- Steve, London
I would like to bet this lot are on job seakers allowance of some sort
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh UK
Spoilt middle-class art brats have it soooo tough
- Todd Swift, London
Get rid of these lot. Get a job and pay rent/mortgage like the rest of us. Squatters have far too many rights. The power should be on the Landlord to eject unauthorised people like this.
- Tony, Barnet
