The decision to transfer management of four independently operated cafes to a coffee chain from London has sparked significant “outrage” among locals, according to campaigners.
The City of London Corporation (CLC), the landowner, has selected Daisy Green to oversee the cafes located at Queen’s Park, Golders Hill Park, Parliament Hill Lido, and Parliament Hill Fields, starting in spring 2026, following a public bidding process.
Emma Fernandez, who co-manages three of these locations, expressed that the CLC is “tearing apart” the essential fabric of the community.
In their defense, the corporation stated that Daisy Green would inject new investment into these venues and emphasized that the tendering process was executed in an “open, inclusive, and well-publicized manner.”
Current operators were informed on Friday that they must vacate the premises by January 31.
The CLC also noted that the existing operators had been functioning under short-term tenancies that were unsustainable.
Patrick Matthews and Emma Fernandez, a couple from Kentish Town, manage the cafes at Parliament Hill Lido, Queen’s Park, and Highgate Wood.
Among the cafe’s patrons are notable actors Benedict Cumberbatch and James McAvoy, who have been supporters for the past decade.
A distraught Ms. Fernandez, 49, lamented the situation: “We have built a genuine community hub. The City of London Corporation is dismantling the very foundation that connects us.”
“We aren’t in this for profit; we are here because of our passion and dedication to the community,” she emphasized.
The couple fears that this transition could jeopardize jobs, as their three cafes employ around 50 staff during the summer and about 30 in winter months.
Regular patrons like Kate Orr, 56, from Camden, and Imogen West, 56, from Hampstead Heath, affirmed the cafe’s role in the community, highlighting its diverse customer base that includes both affluent individuals and those with fewer resources.
The Italian cafe at Parliament Hill Fields has been managed by the D’Auria family for 45 years.
Journalist Stefan Simanowitz, 49, voiced his outrage over the CLC’s decision and pledged to continue opposing it. He spearheaded a “save our cafes” campaign that garnered over 20,000 petition signatures, supported by Cumberbatch, McAvoy, and fellow actor Stephen Campbell Moore.
In 2016, a similar re-tendering attempt for Parliament Hill Cafe was made, but coffee chain Benugo withdrew amidst protests endorsed by then-MP Sir Keir Starmer, who is now the Prime Minister.
Daisy Green operates cafes and restaurants influenced by Australian coffee culture and has over 20 locations in London.
Co-founder Prue Freeman expressed her excitement about being selected, stating, “As an independent business in London, we take pride in supporting local suppliers and charities, offering family-friendly activities, and pursuing environmentally responsible practices. We aim to ensure these cafes continue as welcoming spaces for all, fostering connections within these unique environments.”
Alderman Gregory Jones KC, chair of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, and Queen’s Park Committee, remarked that the new operator would introduce “energy, creativity, and investment” to each venue.
“Daisy Green exhibited the finest combination of quality, sustainability, affordability, and community benefit—all pivotal to our stewardship of these remarkable locations.”
He expressed gratitude to all previous and current operators for their service and commitment, noting that the caliber of the bids received was “exceptionally high.”
