The future of five cafés on City of London Corporation land is set to be determined next month after their leases were opened for tender.
Bids were invited to operate Parliament Hill Fields Café, Parliament Hill Fields Lido Café, Golders Hill Park Café, Highgate Wood Café and Queen’s Park Café. The corporation stated that the process aimed to “ensure a high-quality visitor experience”.
More than 19,000 people have signed a petition supporting the current operators, with backing from celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch and James McAvoy.
Doug Crawford from the Café Working Group criticised the process, saying there had been “no transparency at all about the process”.
He added, “The tender process has been shrouded in secrecy. The City have systematically refused to engage with the local community and have steadfastly avoided any public scrutiny. A decision to award the leases to the existing operators will go some way towards restoring public trust in the City. The ball is in the City’s court. We sincerely hope that they come to the right decision.”
The corporation revealed it began remarketing the sites in July. Similar circumstances arose in 2016 when leases were initially awarded to Benugo, which later withdrew its bid after a local campaign supported by Sir Keir Starmer, then MP for Holborn and St Pancras.
Alberto D’Auria, who has run the Parliament Hill Café for around 45 years, said: “I think we are going to win again. We have got so many supporters.”
A decision on the preferred bidders is expected at the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee meeting on 8 December, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
A spokesperson for the corporation explained that all five café operators were currently trading under short-term tenancies at will. They added, “A competitive remarketing process will help us ensure a high-quality visitor experience, offering welcoming community spaces that continue to meet the needs of local people. We deeply appreciate the long-standing contributions of our café operators. Their experience and dedication are valued, and they have been encouraged to take part in this opportunity. No leases have been awarded at this stage, and all applicants and operators will be notified directly of the outcome before any public announcement is made.
