The decision by the City of London Corporation to award the management contracts for four cherished independent cafes on Hampstead Heath to the Australian-inspired Daisy Green group has provoked fury and dismay among local residents and campaigners.
Beloved Community Hubs Face Closure
On Friday, the current operators of the cafes at Queen’s Park, Golders Hill Park, Parliament Hill Lido, and Parliament Hill Fields were informed they must vacate by the end of January 2026. The City of London Corporation (CLC), which owns the land, has selected the Daisy Green group to take over from next spring.
The cafes at Parliament Hill Lido and Queen’s Park are run by Kentish Town couple Patrick Matthews, 72, and Emma Fernandez, 49. They also operate a cafe in Highgate Wood, which may also change hands. Meanwhile, the Italian cafe at Parliament Hill Fields has been operated by the D’Auria family for an impressive 45 years.
For Ms Fernandez and Mr Matthews, the Parliament Hill Lido Cafe—frequented by actors like Benedict Cumberbatch and James McAvoy—has been their livelihood and passion for a decade. "We are devastated," Ms Fernandez stated. "We created a real community hub. The City of London Corporation are just destroying this fabric which is holding together the community."
More Than a Business: A Way of Life Under Threat
The couple have transformed their cafe into a vital local resource, hosting children's puppet shows, displaying and selling local artists' work for free, and fostering a profound sense of belonging. They employ around 50 staff in summer and 30 in winter, with jobs now at risk.
"Honestly, I have no idea what I’m going to do. It’s the one thing that I love to do, that I know how to do, and I feel so rooted here," Ms Fernandez added. The impact extends to their children, Selene, 11, and Esmee, nine, who are familiar faces and had envisioned working there in future. "Now it’s all shattered," their mother said.
Mr Matthews expressed a sense of injustice: "I thought it was inconceivable that we wouldn’t get the Lido Cafe. We took it from nothing, and we made something that wasn’t there beforehand... We took the risk, they’ve got the reward."
Community Backlash and Celebrity Support
Regular patrons have voiced strong opposition, highlighting the cafe's role as an affordable, inclusive sanctuary. Kate Orr, 56, from Camden, described it as "the most tolerant and inclusive place" and the strongest community she's known. Imogen West, 56, from Hampstead Heath, emphasised its vital affordability, offering a good meal for £10.50.
Journalist Stefan Simanowitz, 49, is spearheading a "save our cafes" campaign, which has gathered a petition of over 20,000 signatures. It is backed by Benedict Cumberbatch, James McAvoy, and Stephen Campbell Moore. In August, Cumberbatch told the Camden New Journal: "This is about people and not profit. It’s vital that we stand up for people who run businesses that serve the community."
Campaigners draw hope from a similar 2016 retendering attempt at Parliament Hill Cafe, where coffee chain Benugo withdrew after protests supported by the then-local MP, now Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.
The City of London Corporation defended its choice, stating Daisy Green will bring "upgraded menus, improved facilities and welcoming spaces", with commitments to affordability, sustainability, and local suppliers. Prue Freeman, co-founder of Daisy Green, said they were "delighted" and promised to maintain welcoming, inclusive spaces.
However, for the tight-knit community of Hampstead Heath, the fight to preserve their unique local fabric is far from over.
