Patrick Matthews and Emma Fernandez

THE café operators at the centre of a storm over the management of Hampstead Heath are still serving coffees – despite being told they had to vacate their businesses at the start of the week.

Lido Café owners Patrick Matthews and Emma Fernandez were told to quit after the City of London gave a tender to coffee chain Daisy Green.

But lawyers for Mr Matthews and Ms Fernandez have sent a letter to the City threatening to take the issue to court and sought an injunction stopping them being booted out.

The City told the couple this week they could remain in place for the time being, while they respond to the lawyer’s letter.

Mr Matthews said: “We are in limbo – it’s not great, but it’s better than the alternative.”

The City says it ran a fair and open tendering process.