Five cherished cafés on some of North London's most popular green spaces are stuck in a state of agonising uncertainty, not knowing if they will be allowed to continue trading. The City of London Corporation, which manages the sites, has yet to inform the current operators of its decision following a competitive tender process that began in the summer, leaving staff and supporters in the dark.
A Campaign for Clarity
Campaigners are now calling for the futures of the café operators on Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, and Queen's Park to be clarified as a "matter of urgency." This demand comes more than a week after a key committee meeting was held to decide their fate. The cafés, which have become community hubs, have garnered high-profile support from celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch and James McAvoy, as well as local MP Tulip Siddiq.
The Real Cafés Campaign, which supports the incumbent businesses, has expressed deep frustration at the lack of communication. A spokesperson stated that repeated attempts to contact City officials have gone unanswered, causing understandable anxiety among staff about their livelihoods in the run-up to Christmas. "The persistent lack of communication from the City causes unnecessary suffering," the campaign said.
Operators in the Dark
The tender process, or 'remarketing', was launched in July 2025, inviting other potential operators to bid for the leases. The affected businesses include the iconic Parliament Hill Café on Hampstead Heath, run by the D'Auria family for around 45 years, and three sites operated by Hoxton Beach, including one in Queen's Park.
Patrick Matthews, Director at Hoxton Beach, highlighted the added strain of the prolonged uncertainty, which began when the remarketing was announced in February. "Running cafés isn't easy because you never know what the weather will throw at you. This period of uncertainty is another challenge," he said. "Like any business we welcome certainty so we can plan and also offer security to our colleagues."
Council Cites Commercial Sensitivity
The City of London Corporation, which manages the green spaces as registered charities, confirmed that its Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen's Park Committee met on December 8 to consider officers' recommendations. However, the matter was discussed in private session.
A Corporation spokesperson defended the delay, stating: "While that meeting marked an important stage in the process, it was never the point at which outcomes would be publicly announced. This remains a live and commercially sensitive process." They added that a formal announcement would be made "in due course," once all legal and contractual steps are finalised.
For the dedicated café operators, their staff, and the thousands of regular visitors who frequent these community fixtures, the wait for a definitive answer continues, casting a shadow over the future of these much-loved local institutions.
