Campaigners swing behind the Lido cafe operators during the tendering process

IF they didn’t know it already, the City of London and the upmarket eatery chain Daisy Green spent the festive holiday being repeatedly reminded that their cafés takeover deal will not go through without a fight.

The New Journal reported on Christmas Eve how the Australian-owned company has been chosen by the authority to run four cafés around the famous open space – leaving the popular existing operators with just weeks to vacate.

The decision has led to a backlash against Daisy Green, whose management will not grant this newspaper an interview on how they see the arrangement panning out and are offering only a pre-prepared press statement.

An online petition calling on the City to listen to Heath users and reverse the decision has been signed by more than 11,000 people since Christmas Eve.

There has been talk of customers boycotting the City’s new set-up, but a more pressing response could now be a legal challenge over how the final decision was made.

Crowdfunding has begun in a bid to force it to start its tendering process all over again.

Patrick Matthews, who has run the café at the Lido for seven years but has been told his business will be replaced, said the public wanted the City to “halt the handover to Daisy Green”.

The City has insisted they are not giving the cafés to a chain, even though Daisy Green has more than 20 different outlets across London.

Mr Matthews said in the funding appeal that the incoming company would “reap the benefits” of the hard work and risks taken by them to make the cafés popular.

He said: “We do not believe the City ran a fair or transparent process. In particular they did not put out the cafés to tender but insisted this was simply a ‘leasing opportunity’, like when a council auctions off disused public toilets to become a club or bar.

“The deciding committee appears to have been denied key information – including positive public feedback about the existing operators from a 2023 user survey. The community response has been immediate and overwhelming.

“A new petition launched the same day soared past 10,000 signatures in under 10 days. People don’t want another corporate chain – they want to keep the unique, locally rooted cafés that belong to these parks.”

He said the legal challenge aimed to “force a fair, transparent process”, adding: “We are looking for a high profile top-of-the-range team.”

The Parliament Hill Fields cafe

The City cannot be surprised by the scale of the anger surrounding its decision.

All summer and through autumn, campaigners had urged the authority to keep the current businesses, including the D’Auria family, which has been running the Parliament Hill Fields café for more than four decades.

Hampstead and Highgate MP Tulip Siddiq has already condemned the City’s actions, as have some of the high-profile supporters of the campaign, such as Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch.

When the City last tried to transfer control of the cafés to a chain, public fury led to coffee shop chain Benugo walking away from the deal.

It said it had not been aware of the deep-felt support for the independent cafés.

In the statement provided by Daisy Green owner Prudence Freeman, she 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.

She added: “We want these cafés to remain welcoming spaces where everyone feels included and connected to these very special spaces.”

Alderman Gregory Jones, from the City, 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.

“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.”