Squatters move into Marco Pierre White’s West End restaurant days after Gordon Ramsay occupation

Squatters occupied the site of celebrity chef Marco Pierre White’s former restaurant in the heart of Leicester Square – just days after Gordon Ramsay’s £13m London gastropub was commandeered by anarchists.

A group moved into the site of the now-closed Mr White’s Steak, Pizza and Gin House last week and “put big padlocks on the doors”, a delivery driver told the Evening Standard.

“It’s not ideal for the reputation and image of the Square,” he told the newspaper. “There were people queuing at the back alley into the building for what looked like a big party. The squatters have chosen a very nice building. They haven’t given us any trouble but it’s not ideal.”

Another local business owner told the paper: “It’s one of the best buildings on the square, they are properly barricaded in. They put the sign on the door about their legal rights. They obviously know what they are doing.”

The Metropolitan Police have now secured the five-storey building and there were no sign of squatters on Tuesday, according to the Telegraph.

The manager of a nearby restaurant said she had been told by Westminster City Council that authorities had discovered around 400 people occupying the building. The Independent has approached police and the council for further information.

Black & White Hospitality, the company set up by White with entrepreneur Nick Taplin, has also been approached for comment. It previously ran the 600-cover restaurant – formerly a Chiquito’s – before it reportedly closed its doors in February.

The temporary occupation follows the takeover of the Hell’s Kitchen star Ramsay’s former York & Albany gastropub near Regent’s Park, by a group who wanted to set up a community cafe and gallery.

They were served legal papers on Tuesday, kick-starting the process of having them evicted from the Grade II-listed building.

The occupation of a person’s non-residential property without their permission is not itself a crime in the UK, however, police can take action if crimes are subsequently committed, including damaging the property or stealing from it.

While the Metropolitan Police said last week that the occupation of Ramsay’s gastropub was “a civil matter”, the chef’s company Gordon Ramsay Holdings International Limited has now filed High Court proceedings against the squatters.

The squatters had previously announced their intention to turn the space into a community cafe and art gallery, aiming to “open our doors regularly to anyone and everyone, particularly the people of Camden who have been victims of gentrification and parasitic projects like HS2”.

“We provide free food, drinks, and a space to display their art without the ridiculous red-tape galleries that require people to jump over. We believe all of us and our art deserves dignity,” they said in a statement on Instagram.

The Independent visited the pub on Monday for a “Paint N’ Chinwag” session open to everyone, with one squatter saying: “It is so peaceful at night and you can hear the lions roar from London Zoo.”

But the following day, the squatters announced that they had closed the cafe after they had been served.

Anti-ageing activist shares his secrets to turning back biological clock – on a budget

An anti-ageing influencer who claims to have knocked 24 years off his internal age has revealed the secrets of his ultra-healthy regime.

Dave Pascoe, 61, claims to have reversed his biological clock thanks to his commitment to anti-ageing techniques – and unlike his multi-millionaire rival Bryan Johnson’s regime – they don’t cost a fortune.

In order to obtain a biological age of just 37, Pascoe takes 150 supplements a day and spends his time avoiding anything that could speed up the ageing process – such as sugar or stress.

But his regime goes beyond just what he puts into his body and he is also careful to avoid toxins in his environment in products such as personal care items and fabrics.

His approach is described as a holistic one and it has been claimed that his current ageing rate of 0.66 annually costs him $30,000 a year.

“I don’t desire my healthspan to expire before my lifespan. My aim is to make them as equal as possible,” he admitted.

“I only wish I knew and applied everything I know now, decades ago!”

Pascoe’s anti-ageing is put down to seven pillars of focus – sleep, exercise, nutrition, supplementation, limited environmental exposure to toxic substances, an infared sauna and, finally, cold exposure.

While some of these sound obvious, other more unusual focuses like the infared sauna are believed to enable Pascoe to turn back the clock.

This is because it allegedly improves “growth hormones, increase heat-shock proteins, and remove toxins and interstitial build-up.”

Cold exposure, meanwhile, reduces inflammation in his body and increases his immunity to disease.

Pascoe is, in fact, so good at anti-ageing that he is currently number six in the world Rejuvination Olympics.

This means that he is faring better than Bryan Johnson, 46, who is just behind him on the leaderboard.

Johnson recently went viral after sharing a tweet that he believes shows him ageing backwards. The multi-millionaire, unlike Pascoe, is spending a whopping $2m a year on his bid to live forever.

This money is being spent on a plan known as Project Blueprint, and it’s as futuristic as it sounds – involving a whopping 30 doctors, who are helping Johnson achieve his aim of becoming 18 again.

“This really is an impassioned approach to achieve age 18 everywhere,” he explained.

Johnson is able to afford the mammoth costs incurred by his quest for immortality after selling his company Braintree Venmo to PayPal for $800m in 2013.

Like Pascoe, his regime involves taking a lot of supplements – two dozen to be precise – as well as some unusual techniques like microdosing lithium for his “brain health”.

Bryan also keeps a very close eye on what his body is up to and regularly has his blood tested as well as more invasive procedures like MRIs, ultrasounds and colonoscopies.

He’s also not opposed to cosmetic surgery either and regularly has procedures like face peels to help keep his skin looking fresh.

But while Johnson’s plan sounds extreme in many ways, he told The Independent that its “core” is simple – he tries to get a good sleep at night, exercise regularly and eat healthy foods.

Police force apologises over failures investigating 1986 schoolgirl murders

A police force has apologised for failings in its initial investigations into the 1986 Babes in the Wood murders of two nine-year-old girls and the wrongful arrest of one of their fathers.

Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway were sexually assaulted and strangled in woodland in Brighton, East Sussex, by paedophile Russell Bishop.

On Wednesday, Chief Constable of Sussex Police Jo Shiner said there were failings in the original investigation into their deaths in 1986, and that Nicola’s father Barrie should not have been arrested as part of a connected investigation in 2009.

Bishop was acquitted at the end of his first trial in December 1987 due to weaknesses in the case presented by police and prosecutors, and lies told by his ex-girlfriend, who was later jailed for perjury.

After his acquittal he was left free to kidnap, molest and throttle a seven-year-old girl, leaving her for dead at Devil’s Dyke in February 1990.

Nicola and Karen’s families battled for more than 30 years to finally see Bishop jailed in 2018 after a retrial based on fresh forensic evidence as part of a prosecution made possible under reformed double jeopardy laws.

During his second trial, Bishop tried to cast suspicion on Nicola’s devastated father Barrie.

Mr Fellows was also arrested by SussexPolice on suspicion of sharing indecent images in 2009, but the force confirmed on Wednesday that there was no evidence he had done anything wrong.

The officers who arrested him were not aware that the allegations had already been investigated and dismissed in 1988.

The families issued a statement through Sussex Police following the apology to say: “This two-fold apology from Sussex Police is very much welcomed by both our families. It will help with our reconciliation of aspects that we had never fully understood, things that we always suspected but had never been addressed.

“There are still more answers to be sought in relation to the 1987 failures, but the part that Sussex Police had to play in the initial miscarriages of justice has now been answered and we appreciate the open and authentic way our apologies have been delivered.

“We are particularly relieved that Nicola’s father, Barrie Fellows, has also been fully vindicated of any wrongdoing. Barrie was made a public scapegoat whilst his life and that of his family, was already in pieces.

“This apology from Sussex Police for his wrongful arrest will help him to finally move forward with his life. His name has rightfully and properly been cleared. It doesn’t reverse all the hardships and terrible pain that he has endured, but it is a step that is absolutely necessary to allow him and his family to heal.”

Ms Shiner, who led an internal review following complaints made by the families in the wake of Bishop’s 2018 conviction, has met with them to apologise.

Details of the review have not been released at their request, according to Sussex Police.

The force said that it had apologised for failings in the 1987 prosecution in terms of the preparedness of the case, and its over-reliance on some witnesses, as well as wrongly arresting Mr Fellows.

She said: “The murders of Karen and Nicola were horrific crimes which rocked the local community, and still resonate today.

“The impact on the community, however, pales into insignificance against the lifelong impact these crimes had on Karen and Nicola’s parents and families.

“Not only did they have to cope with the loss of two children in the worst possible circumstances; following Bishop’s acquittal in 1987, they campaigned tirelessly to ensure that their children received some justice, and Bishop was finally convicted in 2018.

“Throughout the years, the families have continued to engage constructively with Sussex Police and I pay tribute to their strength, their determination and their dignity.

“When I was Deputy Chief Constable I made a commitment to ensure that all their outstanding complaints were answered, and that Sussex Police would take full responsibility for any past mistakes no matter the passage of time.

“It is clear that, despite the successful prosecution in 2018, mistakes were made in those earlier investigations in 1986 and 2009.

“On behalf of Sussex Police, I have met in person with both families to formally and personally apologise for those failings in the initial investigation.

“I have further apologised to Nicola’s father, Barrie Fellows, for his unjustified arrest in 2009 and for the distress and the long-lasting impact this had on him and his family.

“I make it clear now. Barrie should not have been arrested. There was, and remains, no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part.

“It is evident that Nicola and Karen’s families were let down by Sussex Police in the past and it is right that we own and learn from these mistakes.

“My thoughts remain with Karen and Nicola’s parents and families and it is my sincere hope that our apologies today will help them finally have some form of closure.”

Has Barcelona gone loco in its battle against tourists?

There’s something about Parc Güell that makes locals go loco – or boig, as they prefer we say when in Catalonia. Barcelonans are rightly proud and protective of their green lung, a vast, forested wonderland on a ridge overlooking the city that’s full of mind-bending, mosaic-tiled design touches, all inspired by nature: a giant, snaking bench, a colonnade shaped to look like tree trunks, a grand flight of steps in the form of a salamander…

Kitted out in spectacular Catalan art nouveau by Antoni Gaudí, the renowned architect who gave art-loving Barcelona its most recognisable landmarks, Parc Güell has in recent years become a flashpoint for concerns about overtourism – and what exactly can be done to limit it.

Alarmed by the 40-acre public spacehaving hit nine million visitors a year, wardens of the city’s second most visited attraction have tried introducing increasingly draconian measures to limit that number, and the damage they can do to a fragile and unimprovable Unesco world heritage site.

Rishi Sunak rules out Rwanda concessions as MPs reject changes – live

Downing Street has ruled out making concessions on its Safety of Rwanda Bill as MPs rejected a series of amendments by peers, in fresh parliamentary “ping pong”.

MPs have voted against several efforts by Lords to change the legislation intended to clear the way for asylum-seekers who cross the Channel in small boats to be deported to Rwanda.

Peers on Tuesday voted to amend the legislation for a third time.

The government had been reportedly considering concessions, including exemptions for Afghans who assisted British forces, but the prime minister’s official spokesman ruled out any such move.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer accused “billionaires” Rishi Sunak and Tory peer Lord Ashcroft of “smearing a working class woman”, his deputy, Angela Rayner.

The pair have criticised Ms Rayner over the sale of her former council house, suggesting she may have failed to pay capital gains tax or given false information.

Earlier it was reported that the police probe was looking at several allegations including tax relating to the sale.

Also at Prime Minister’s Questions, Rishi Sunak refused to rule out cuts to the NHS and state pensions to fund a £46bn national insurance giveaway.

From reefs to rainforests: A nature-lover’s guide to Queensland

From the oldest tropical rainforest on the planet to iridescent everglades, striking marine life and dramatic mountain peaks, Queensland is a paradise for anyone into nature and wildlife. We’ve put together a guide to the best natural spots to visit in each region, with help from the experts at Travelbag, who are on hand to make your dream holiday happen.

Queensland’s vibrant capital, Brisbane offers plenty to lure urbanites with its galleries, museums and restaurants, and it doesn’t fall short on the nature front either.

For an especially tranquil spot, head to the city’s Botanic Gardens, set just outside the centre and home to the biggest collection of Australian native rainforest trees in the world (entry is free). If you fancy getting up close and personal with the local wildlife, swing by the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – home to a koala research centre alongside various experiences, from wildlife encounters to a Nocturnal Twilight Tour.

Beyond the city itself, you’ll find plenty more to explore; for one of the most jaw-dropping spots, head to the Scenic Rim, a dramatic caldera landscape scattered with soaring peaks, lush valleys and scenic bushwalking trails.

The Gold Coast might be best-known for its beaches, nightlife and family-friendly fun, but as the gateway to several national parks, it’s also a dream for nature-lovers. It’s here you’ll find Lamington National Park and Springbrook National Park – both part of the Unesco-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, the biggest subtropical rainforest on the planet. Hiking trails lace these tree-carpeted landscapes, with waterfalls, mountains and lush flora for scenery.

Elsewhere, venture to Burleigh Heads National Park to amble between scenic coastline and emerald rainforest, and come between July and October to spot migrating whales as they pass the famous ‘Humpback Highway’.

Just north of Brisbane sits the Sunshine Coast – an idyllic stretch lined with sugary beaches and cerulean sea, and the home of laid-back surf town Noosa.

Among the myriad natural charms here you’ll find the Noosa Everglades – one of only two everglades systems in the world, tucked within a sprawling UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Nicknamed the ‘river of mirrors’, this network of waterways, tea tree forests and wetlands is home to 40% of Australia’s bird species, with canoe and kayak tours available if you want to see its wildlife from the water.

It’s not just the everglades worth a visit here, though. In the wider Great Sandy National Park, you’ll find hidden-away beaches, tumbling sand dunes and sprawling rainforests – best explored by 4×4 – while elsewhere in the hinterlands lie the Glass House Mountains, a cluster of volcanic, craggy peaks offering excellent hiking and exceptional views.

Much of Queensland’s charm lies beneath the surface, of course, and if you’re looking to explore the region’s colourful marine life, the Whitsunday Islands should be high on your list.

There are plenty of options for sailing trips here, with key spots including the talcum-sand Whitehaven Beach and paradise-worthy Hamilton Island. Book a Whitehaven Camira Sailing Adventure to explore the first, or if you fancy getting properly back to nature, opt for the two-day Reeflseep, which combines snorkelling and optional diving with dinner and a night sleeping under the stars.

There’s more in the way of world-class snorkelling and diving in Cairns – the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, where dwarf minke whales, manta rays, turtles and groupers inhabit the surrounding waters.

But it’s not only about the marine life here – two hours away sits the Daintree Rainforest; the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, believed to date back around 180 million years. Saltwater crocodiles, kaleidoscopic butterflies and an array of tropical birds inhabit this ancient landscape, with waterfalls, creeks and swimming holes hidden among the trees.

Head out on a riverboat cruise to take it all in, or book an indigenous-led tour to learn more about the Daintree’s Aboriginal people; this vast, heritage-filled wilderness is Australia at its most quintessential, and a perfect symbol of Queensland’s striking diversity.

Book it: Combine Queensland’s natural highlights on Travelbag’s Queensland Ocean & Rainforest Experience, or get in touch with Travelbag’s experts for a private, tailor-made trip to suit.

Smoking ban: On balance, this illiberal measure deserves to fail

The Independent is supportive of the aim of Rishi Sunak’s policy of a gradual ban on the sale of tobacco. If young people can be dissuaded from ever taking up smoking, they and their wider society will be better off.

The government’s plan to raise the age at which people are permitted to buy cigarettes by one year every year – so that those approaching 18, the current minimum age, will never reach it – is ingenious. It means that tobacco will eventually be banned, at around the turn of the next century, without existing smokers being criminalised.

And yet, in the end, we come down against it. We believe it to be wrong in principle that adults should be prevented by law from engaging in activities that are not harmful to others. Given that the direct harms to non-smokers have been minimised by legislation against smoking in enclosed public spaces, the defenders of the legislation are driven to argue that smoking imposes costs on the country as a whole through the National Health Service.

What does the Michaela court ruling mean for religion in schools?

A Muslim student has lost a High Court challenge against her school’s ban on prayer rituals. Michaela Community School in Brent was taken to court by the girl over the policy, which she argued interfered with her right to practise her religion and amounted to discrimination against Muslims.

The non-faith state secondary school argued that its “team ethos” means that the interests of the school community take precedence over the needs of the individual. According to Katharine Birbalsingh, the headteacher, it also involves “aggressively” promoting integration between pupils from different faiths, cultures and ethnic backgrounds while they are at school, as well as minimising the social distinctions between them.

The school has 700 pupils from a diverse range of backgrounds, about half of whom are Muslim. The pupil who brought the case against the school has her anonymity protected because she is under 18.