A Kentish Town couple who operate two of the four independent cafes on Hampstead Heath have said they are “devastated” after learning the sites are to be handed to a single operator. The City of London Corporation cafe takeover will see the venues transferred to Australian-inspired chain Daisy Green from spring 2026.
The City of London Corporation, which owns the land, has selected Daisy Green to run cafes at Queen’s Park, Golders Hill Park, Parliament Hill Lido and Parliament Hill Fields. The decision has prompted strong reactions locally, with campaigners describing widespread “outrage” and pointing to opposition from regular customers including actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
Patrick Matthews and Emma Fernandez currently run the cafes at Parliament Hill Lido and Queen’s Park, alongside another site in Highgate Wood that may also be affected. They have managed the Hampstead Heath Lido cafe for a decade, serving a customer base that includes Cumberbatch and actor James McAvoy.
Ms Fernandez, 49, said she is “devastated” by the outcome. “We created a real community hub. The City of London Corporation are just destroying this fabric which is holding together the community.” She said the cafe has functioned as more than a commercial venture, hosting community events such as children’s puppet shows and providing free exhibition space for local artists.
The City of London Corporation cafe takeover has also raised concerns about employment. Across their three cafes, the couple employ around 50 staff during the summer months and about 30 in winter. Ms Fernandez said: “Honestly, I have no idea what I’m going to do. It’s the one thing that I love to do, that I know how to do, and I feel so rooted here.”
Their children, Selene, 11, and Esmee, nine, are regular presences at the cafe, particularly during school holidays. “It’s horrible for them,” Ms Fernandez said. “They were born here, they were brought up here. It’s like a family here, they know the customers, they know the (lido) staff. When I ask them what they want to do later in life, they always say ‘I want to work at the lido with you’. Now it’s all shattered.”
She added: “We’re not here trying to make money. We’re here because we love it and we work with our hearts.”
Mr Matthews, 72, said he had assumed they would retain the Lido Cafe. “I thought it was inconceivable that we wouldn’t get the Lido Cafe. It’s natural justice – we took it from nothing, and we made something that wasn’t there beforehand. We feel that we’ve created something and now someone else is going to enjoy whatever financial benefit there is from it. We took the risk, they’ve got the reward.”
Regular visitors have echoed those concerns. Kate Orr, 56, from Camden, said: “There are a lot of people who come here who are really struggling with their mental health or are lonely, or who don’t quite fit in in the world, or who don’t have much money. This is the most tolerant and inclusive place … This is the strongest sense of community I’ve had in my 56 years by a long way. The cafe is genuinely part of that community.”
Affordability has also been highlighted. “You need a cafe that’s affordable,” said Imogen West, 56, from Hampstead Heath. “You can get a really good meal for £10.50, where else can you get that? This area is a real mix of people who do have money and people who don’t. This place serves all of those people. It’s more than a job (for Mr Williams and Ms Fernandez) – it’s a way of life.”
On Friday, all current operators were informed they would need to vacate their premises by the end of January. This includes the Italian cafe at Parliament Hill Fields, run by the D’Auria family for 45 years. The City of London Corporation cafe takeover will therefore bring an end to several long-standing family-run businesses.
The City of London Corporation said Daisy Green will deliver “upgraded menus, improved facilities and welcoming spaces”, while committing to affordability, sustainability and working with local suppliers.
Journalist Stefan Simanowitz, 49, said he remains outraged by the decision and intends to continue campaigning. He led a “save our cafes” campaign that gathered more than 20,000 petition signatures and received backing from Cumberbatch, McAvoy and actor Stephen Campbell Moore.
Following Friday’s announcement, Cumberbatch said: “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 cafes who are integral to the fabric of our community. We cannot let this happen.”
A previous attempt to retender the Parliament Hill Cafe in 2016 was abandoned after protests, when coffee chain Benugo withdrew amid opposition supported by Sir Keir Starmer, then MP for Holborn and St Pancras and now Prime Minister. Mr Simanowitz said he hopes Daisy Green might take a similar step.
Prue Freeman, co-founder of Daisy Green, said the company is “delighted” to have been selected. “As an independent London-based business, we are proud of our long-standing support of local suppliers and charities, providing family-friendly activities, and running environmentally responsible operations. We want these cafes to remain welcoming spaces where everyone feels included and connected to these very special spaces.”
