Three café owners located in parks in north London have announced their intention to pursue legal action against the City of London Corporation, following its decision to replace them.

In December, the corporation revealed that Daisy Green would take over the management of four cafés situated in Hampstead Heath and Queen’s Park, three of which are currently operated by Emma Fernandez and Patrick Matthews.

The couple has now notified the corporation that they aim to initiate a judicial review of the decision, arguing that the retendering process was neither transparent nor fair.

The corporation has refuted claims that the process was illegal, asserting that it was conducted openly with over 30 applications submitted, including those from the current café operators.

As a registered charity, the corporation manages public green spaces and is responsible for cafés in Golders Hill Park, Parliament Hill Lido, Parliament Hill Fields, and Highgate Woods.

Fernandez expressed, “It’s unfortunate that it has come to this point. The anxiety has been overwhelming, especially with our two young children; this is our means of support, and the fear of losing our home has been haunting.”

With her children aged eight and eleven, Fernandez remarked on the tremendous support they’ve received from the community.

“Two swimmers who are connected to us facilitated our introduction to two outstanding barristers who are offering their services pro bono.

We are also covering solicitor fees, but the community has raised nearly £10,000, which will help cover those expenses.

We have a very strong and supportive community that rallies together when it feels threatened.”

Fernandez and Matthews were informed by the corporation to vacate the premises by Monday; however, they began the process of seeking a judicial review through their company, Hoxton Beach, last week.

“A judicial review can be a lengthy endeavor, and if we had left the cafés while the review was ongoing, we could have lost our staff, income, and equipment — it could have led us to bankruptcy,” Fernandez explained.

She added that as their legal team was preparing to file for an injunction to prevent their eviction, the corporation agreed to halt eviction proceedings and allow the couple additional time.

A spokesperson for the corporation commented, “We have adhered to a lawful and transparent process in granting the new café leases, which is currently being contested by Hoxton Beach.

We dispute any allegations that the process was anything but lawful, and the issue is now in the hands of our legal team.”

They also indicated that they might seek a possession order in county court if deemed necessary.

“We want the appointed operators to take over as soon as possible,” the statement continued.

“Our priority remains to act in the best interests of the charity and provide top-notch services for visitors to these cherished spaces.”

Recently, the corporation released a statement in the form of an “open letter to café users on Hampstead Heath,” noting that a small group of individuals seemed to have directed “hostility, intimidation, and harassment” not only towards the staff on the heath and those assisting from across the City Corporation but also towards Daisy Green.

The corporation described this behavior as “nothing less than bullying.”

“It is unjust and unacceptable, contradicting the values that the heath stands for and obstructing our ability to manage it for the benefit of the millions who cherish it. This behavior is also adversely affecting the wellbeing of those involved.”

The statement added that some individuals who signed the petition might have done so without full knowledge of the facts and emphasized that the corporation’s expenditure on legal fees “cannot be allocated to litter collection, path clearing, tree pruning, facility maintenance, or nature conservation.”

It reiterated that Daisy Green had been selected based on the strength of its proposals, which included investments in café facilities, commitments to community engagement, affordability, and equitable employee compensation.

“Sadly, these positive attributes have been continuously disregarded by a few individuals who seem intent on spreading misinformation and falsehoods,” the statement concluded.