The future of five cafés located on land owned by the City of London Corporation is set to be determined next month as their leases are up for tender.
The corporation has solicited proposals from prospective operators for the Parliament Hill Fields Café, the Parliament Hill Fields Lido Café, the Golders Hill Park Café, the Highgate Wood Café, and the Queen’s Park Café. This initiative is intended to “guarantee a superior visitor experience.”
Over 19,000 individuals have signed a petition in support of the current operators, with notable figures such as Benedict Cumberbatch and James McAvoy lending their voices to the cause.
Doug Crawford from the Café Working Group expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in the selection process, stating, “The tendering procedure has been surrounded by secrecy.”
He added, “The City has consistently refused to engage with the local community and has avoided any form of public scrutiny.”
Crawford noted, “Granting the leases back to the existing operators would help restore public confidence in the City. The decision rests with the City, and we sincerely hope they make a sound choice.”
The corporation had announced the reopening of the lease bidding process in July.
This move echoes the situation from 2016, when the leases were initially awarded to Benugo, but their bid was retracted following a local campaign that gained traction, including backing from Sir Keir Starmer during his tenure as MP for Holborn and St Pancras.
Alberto D’Auria, who has managed the Parliament Hill Café for roughly 45 years, expressed optimism, stating, “I believe we will prevail once more. We have a significant number of supporters.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service indicates that a decision regarding the preferred bidders is anticipated at the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, and Queen’s Park Committee meeting on December 8.
A spokesperson for the corporation confirmed that all five café operators are currently working under tenancies at will, which are temporary arrangements.
“The competitive process for remarketing will help us achieve a quality visitor experience and provide welcoming community spaces that cater to the needs of local residents,” they stated.
“We greatly appreciate the ongoing contributions of our café operators. Their commitment and expertise are highly valued, and they have been encouraged to participate in this opportunity.
At this stage, no leases have been awarded, and all applicants will be informed of the outcome directly before any public announcement is made.”
