When news broke that the City of London Corporation had awarded four of five local café contracts to upscale chain Daisy Green, community members responded with immediate and vocal opposition. The decision, announced around December 22, 2025, affected beloved establishments including the Parliament Hill Italian café, operated by the D’Auria family for 45 years, and the Parliament Hill Lido Café, which had doubled its customer base over a decade of service.
Community outrage followed as corporate chain Daisy Green replaced longstanding family cafés serving Hampstead Heath for generations.
Local residents expressed dismay at the prospect of losing these family-run businesses, which had become integral parts of the community fabric. The cafés served as more than commercial ventures, hosting community events like children’s puppet shows and providing space for local artists to exhibit their work without charge.
Celebrity support emerged for the existing operators, with actor Benedict Cumberbatch among those endorsing the current businesses. Actor James McAvoy and MP Tulip Siddiq also joined the celebrity endorsements for preserving the local operators. Campaigners urged the Corporation to communicate its decision promptly, as operators received no updates for over a week following a public support meeting.
Affordability represented a key concern among community members. The existing cafés offered meals at approximately £10.50, described as exceptional value in the area, while serving diverse economic demographics. Although Daisy Green promised affordability commitments in their proposal, including discounts for older residents, many remained skeptical.
The Corporation’s selection process involved reviewing 30 bids for five café positions, with consultant support from Davis Coffer Lyons. The Highgate Wood café decision remained pending at the time of announcement.
Current operators described themselves as “overwhelmed” by public support and expressed surprise at the Corporation’s decision given the demonstrated community backing. The takeover scheduled for spring 2026 would leave families with minimal time to adjust their livelihoods and future plans. The end-of-January departure deadline left families with children working at the establishments facing significant disruption. A petition against the corporate takeover quickly gathered an impressive 20,000 signatures showing the depth of community attachment to the local cafes.
Daisy Green’s proposals included upgraded café buildings, new seasonal menus, and improved facilities. However, for many local patrons, these promised enhancements failed to compensate for the loss of established community hubs that had served as familiar gathering places, where employees and owners had become known faces to regular customers and staff.
