The City of London Corporation (CLC), which owns the land, selected the Daisy Green Collection to operate the cafés at Queen’s Park, Golders Hill Park, Parliament Hill Lido and Parliament Hill Fields from spring.
Founded by an Australian, Daisy Green markets itself as bringing “relaxed and buzzing Australian food and coffee culture to London”. Its menus combine Mediterranean ingredients, Asian flavours and Australian classics such as Vegemite and lamingtons.
The cafés, previously described by locals as community hubs, were operating under tenancies at will, which the CLC said were “unsustainable short-term arrangements”. The authority decided to negotiate leases with Daisy Green, whose proposals promised refreshed menus, improved facilities and a commitment to affordability, sustainability and local community benefit.
Before the decision, a “save our cafés” petition gathered more than 20,000 signatures and support from actors Benedict Cumberbatch, James McAvoy and Stephen Campbell Moore.
Kate Orr, 56, a regular at Parliament Hill Lido, said: “There are a lot of people who come here who are struggling with their mental health, or are lonely, or don’t quite fit in in the world, or don’t have much money. This is the most tolerant and inclusive place.”
Other locals described the café at Parliament Hill Lido as “perfection” and a true community hub. One commented: “Introducing a chain, and even worse an Australian-style establishment that doesn’t reflect London at all, is an insult to the local community.”
Cumberbatch added: “We are deeply concerned by the decision to award a contract to a high-end chain. It is a massive oversight to forget the importance of family-run cafés, which are integral to the fabric of our community. We cannot let this happen.”
The outgoing operators were told on Friday that they must vacate their premises by January, leaving uncertainty over whether staff would be retained.
The Italian café at Parliament Hill Fields has been run by the D’Auria family for 45 years, while cafés at Parliament Hill Lido and Queen’s Park have been run for a decade by Patrick Matthews and Emma Fernandez, a Kentish Town couple.
Fernandez, 49, whose customers include Cumberbatch and McAvoy, said she was “devastated” by the retendering. “We created a real community hub. The City of London Corporation are just destroying the fabric holding this community together,” she said.
The couple have hosted community events, including a children’s puppet show, and allowed local artists to exhibit and sell for free. Their cafés employ around 50 staff in summer and 30 in winter.
“I have no idea what I’m going to do. It’s the one thing I love to do, that I know how to do, and I feel so rooted here,” Fernandez added, describing how her daughters Selene, 11, and Esmee, nine, help out during school holidays. “We’re not here to make money. We’re here because we love it and we work with our hearts.”
Matthews, 72, added: “It’s natural justice. We took it from nothing and made something that wasn’t there before. Now someone else will enjoy whatever financial benefit there is. We took the risk; they get the reward.”
Alderman Gregory Jones KC, chair of the CLC’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park committee, said: “Daisy Green demonstrated the strongest blend of quality, sustainability, affordability and community value, all central to our role as stewards of these wonderful places. I would like to thank all operators, past and present, for their dedication. The high standard of bids we received reflects how much these cafés are valued by their communities.”
Prue Freeman, co-founder of Daisy Green, said: “As users of these open spaces, we are delighted to be selected for these much-loved cafés. Each site has a unique character and generational roots within its community. We look forward to creating wonderful spaces for all, serving delicious, locally sourced food in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. We want these cafés to remain welcoming spaces where everyone feels included and connected.”
