Thousands of Heath users signed a petition calling for the long-standing operators to keep their businessses

HAMPSTEAD Heath managers, the City of London, stand accused of destroying Christmas after turfing out long-standing cafes to make way for a new chain operation.

The result of a behind-closed-doors meeting was finally released today (Friday) and has left the D’Auria family with little more than a month to pack up their things from the Parliament Hill Fields cafe, which it has run for 44 years. Similarly, Patrick Matthews and Emma Fernandez, who run the Lido cafe, have been told they will be replaced.

The big winners of a tendering process are the Daisy Green business, which runs a series of eateries in London, including a coffee shop in Marylebone, a cafe in Holland Park and a riverside boathouse canteen in Richmond. In its announcement today, the City of London insisted the company was not a ‘chain’, as each venue had a different “identity”.

The City made the decision in private last Monday (December 8) but only provided the outcome on the last Friday before Christmas week – a declaration which has immediately sparked fury from supporters of the independent businesses that have been told to leave.

Hampstead and Highgate MP Tulip Siddiq said she would fight to get the decision overturned.

“I am appalled that local businesses have been told in the week before Christmas they will be turfed out of their cafes,” she said. “This decision by the City of London shows a total disregard for the community and I will continue to fight it every step of the way. The City of London said that they wanted operators that reflect the unique character and community spirit of the area. Instead, they have decided to ignore a petition with more than 19,000 signatures and to evict the D’Auria family who have been on the Heath for 42 years.

“Alfonso and his family have built the unique character and community spirit of the Heath over generations. They are known and loved by the local community and visitors alike. I have written to the staff and owners to offer my support and to make clear that the campaign does not stop here.”

Daisy Green is a firm owned by Prudence Freeman and Tom Onions. The New Journal contacted the firm today but was told it was “respectfully decline” to be interviewed by the New Journal about its plans. The City added it “could not facilitate an interview at this time” with the chair of the committee that made the decision, Alderman Gregory Jones KC.

Mr D’Auria said the decision to kick them out and let them know just days before Christmas was hard to take.

“We have given them 44 years of service and they have given us a month to get out,” he said. “It felt deeply cynical to let us know today. They should have been more considerate of the 44 years we have given to our communities who use the Heath and who love what we do. This is our livelihood and at the end of the day, it just feels so disrespectful to be told we have to be out by the end of January. I am disgusted by the way we have been treated – absolutely disgusted.

“The many things we have done for the City over years – we have been part of this place as family – and they have just turned round, days before Christmas, and said you’ve got a month..”

Alberto D’Auria’s family have run the Parliament Hill Fields cafe for 44 years

The cafe employs 12 people whose jobs are now at risk.

Mr D’Auria said: “We very carefully put in a bid that would keep what we do so well and improve on it – our proposal was amazing, building on our 44 years of experience. We were going to renew the building and improve on what we know the customers love.”

Mr Matthews and Ms Fernandez at the Lido cafe said they had been left on tenterhooks for almost a fortnight before the devastating news was delivered today.

Speaking to the New Journal, Mr Matthews said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from the public since the City put our cafes on the market. Over six years we have seen the Lido café turn into a local year-round institution from almost a clean slate and Queens Park and Highgate are twice as busy as when we took them on. It’s surprising that in spite of the overwhelming local feeling that they should not go to a chain, the City has done precisely that. We have been told endlessly that the City is acting as a charity, but it is an odd sort of charity that repeatedly disregards the clearly expressed wishes of that charity’s beneficiaries.

“They have delayed telling us until three days before Christmas, and we now have to tell the people we employ that they are going to be unemployed.”

Doug Crawford was appointed to a City-organised cafe working group set up in 2016 – when the City last tried to hive off cafes to a chain and a public campaign forced coffee chain Benugo to pull out of a deal.

He told the New Journal: “The announcement that Parliament Hill, The Lido, Golders Hill and Queens Park cafes will in future be run by Daisy Green is a cause of much sadness, disappointment and anger. The City of London promised that the leases would not be granted to a chain – yet Daisy Green have 20 other outlets across London and have no historical connection with the communities which the cafes serve. It would appear that the City have yet again ignored public opinion and have decided to ‘corporatise’ yet another aspect of the Heath – further demonstrating that money comes before people as far as they are concerned.”

He said the tendering process had been flawed and badly managed, adding: “Ten days elapsed after the decision was taken before the operators were notified and they have until the end of January 2026 to wind down their business. The D’Auria brothers have been operating Parliament Hill Cafe for 44 years and Hoxton Beach have operated the Lido and Queens Park for nine years – hardly a demonstration of ‘valuing the existing operators’ – an assertion that the City have repeatedly made throughout this opaque and disingenuous tendering process.

“Even aspects of the press release distort the truth – the Cafe Working Group established by the City in 2016 with the express remit of advising on the conduct of future tenders was never disbanded as the City claim and met regularly from 2016 until COVID. However, they were prevented from providing any input to the decision-making process by the City.

“The manner in which the City have conducted themselves over this matter gives cause for concern regarding the proposed changes in Heath funding – can they really be trusted to act in our best interests?”

Stefan Simanowitz set up the Save Our Cafes campaign and gave the City a petition of over 20,000 signatories.

He said: “We are shocked and outraged by this decision and we intend to fight it. It would be tragic if our local family-run cafes, operated by people who live in the community, were replaced with Daisy Green, a high-end chain. The four months has seen an incredible outpouring of support for these much-loved existing cafes and their operators who provide a vital and valued space for the community.

“Nine years ago, in response to a massive public outcry, Benugo pulled out of a contract they had won to replace the Parliament Hill Cafe. We call on the locals to raise their voices again, and for Daisy Green to leave our cafes as they are.”

Mr Jones KC, chair of the City of London Heath management committee, said: “These cafés play an essential role in the life of our green spaces, and we are delighted to be moving forward with an independent operator that will bring energy, creativity, and investment to each site. Daisy Green demonstrated the strongest blend of quality, sustainability, affordability, and community value – all central to our role as stewards of these wonderful places. Their commitment to enhancing facilities, keeping menus fresh, and celebrating the distinctive character of each café will ensure visitors continue to enjoy warm, welcoming spaces for many years to come. I would like to thank all operators – both past and present – for their dedication and service. The standard of bids we received was incredibly high, reflecting how valued these cafés are by the communities they serve.”

Daisy Green co-founder Ms Freeman 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 and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

“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 cafés to remain welcoming spaces where everyone feels included and connected to these very special spaces.”