Squatters break in to private members club Raffles and cause ‘£25,000 worth of damage’ after holding illegal rave   

A private members club beloved by celebrities and Royals has been trashed after squatters broke in for an illegal rave.

Around 20 squatters were believed to have broken into Raffles in Chelsea, a venue once frequented by Prince Harry.

Hundreds more revellers were believed to be on their way before police arrived on Sunday afternoon.

The squatters were believed to have broken into The March Hare pub across the road which is currently being renovated.

Police arrested 11 people, shutting down the illegal rave before more people arrived.

Raffles on Kings Road has been closed for the past year, while it awaits permission for redevelopment.

The squatters are estimated to have caused £25,000 worth of damage to the nightclub.

Around 20 squatters were believed to have broken into Raffles on Kings Road in Chelsea

Prince Harry pictured leaving Raffles in 2009. The nightclub was a popular haunt for Harry as well as other Royals in previous years

Raffles director and licensee Hamish Ross, 39, told The Sun: ‘It’s the second time since we closed in January last year that we’ve had people break in, it already happened in November.’

A police inspector told him the rave could have easily drawn in hundreds more uninvited revellers to the club before it was shut down.

Richard Wynne, owner of The March Hare, said £10,000 worth of alcohol was stolen as well as a sound system.

He was alerted to the squatters on Sunday morning by builders working at his pub, who saw people entering Raffles. 

Private security arrived and managed to stop most from leaving the premises before police arrived.

The break-in came ahead of its grand opening tonight following its refurbishment.

An Instagram post from the pub wrote: ‘Our newly refurbished, small independent business, along with another, was broken into in the late hours of Saturday night/ early hours of Sunday morning. 

‘We would like to thank the police from multiple boroughs for coming to help us.

‘There has been a lot of damage, theft and vandalism that has unfortunately delayed our opening for our friends and family evening on Monday.

‘We are not going to let this put a dampener on our press night on Tuesday, or our Grand Opening night on Wednesday – and we hope we can put this behind us and celebrate in the best way.’ 

Jamie Laing and Spencer Matthews from Made in Chelsea leave Raffles night club in 2012

Raffles was named after the colonial mogul Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was largely responsible for the creation of Britain’s Far Eastern empire and founded Singapore in 1819.

The club itself was founded in 1967 by restaurateur Peter Evans. Previous Royal guests also include Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, Princess Anne, Princess Margaret.

Other famous faces have partied at the club in past years, including sprint legend Usain Bolt, actor Eddie Redmayne and various former Chelsea FC players, including Ross Barkley and Olivier Giroud.

It claims to be the second-oldest nightclub in London.   

A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Eleven people – seven men and four women – were arrested on Sunday, April 12, following reports of a break-in at a disused nightclub in King’s Road, Chelsea. 

‘It was reported that alcohol and food were stolen and consumed from the premises.

‘All 11 people were interviewed by officers and bailed pending further inquiries.’