\n The Sherlock and The Hobbit star is among musicians and performers turning out tomorrow (Thurs) for a campaign to save community caf\u00e9s at Parliament Hill, Queen\u2019s Park and Highgate Wood.\n<\/p>\n
\n The City of London Corporation, which manages the open spaces, is putting five caf\u00e9s out to tender, including three on Hampstead Heath that could go to corporate larger chains.\n<\/p>\n
\n They are staging an impromptu half-day free festival outside the caf\u00e9 at Parliament Fields Lido in Gospel Oak from 10.30am to 2pm.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThis is about people and not profit,\u201d Cumberbatch insists. \u201cIt\u2019s vital that we stand up for people who run businesses that serve the community, to preserve the livelihoods of individuals who have been crafting relationships with their customers.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n The performances coincide with viewings of the Lido caf\u00e9 by potential franchise companies to highlight the groundswell of opposition to the sell-offs.\n<\/p>\n
\n Campaign organiser Doug Crawford said: \u201cThere is overwhelming public demand for these caf\u00e9s to be run by local operators, fulfilling a community function.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Tendering was last attempted in 2016, which was challenged with support of\u00a0Holborn and St Pancras MP\u00a0Sir Kier Starmer! The decision was overturned.\n<\/p>\n
\n A written #SaveTheLidoCafe petition\u00a0 demanding that CoLC halts its plans and allows the existing operators to continue has more than 2,000 signatures and an online petition another 17,000.\n<\/p>\n
\n The cafes at Parliament Hill, Queen\u2019s Park, the Lido at Gospel Oak and Highgate Woods are run by local operators who campaigners say know their customers and are rooted in the community.\n<\/p>\n