![\"Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_BLR_121125_ParliamentHillCafe.jpg\")
Alberto D’Auria (right), who started running the Parliament Hill Caf\u00e9 around 45 years ago, has said he has faith his family will retain the lease(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\nThe City of London Corporation is yet to communicate the outcome to the operators following a remarketing process that began over the summerAlberto D’Auria (right), who started running the Parliament Hill Caf\u00e9 around 45 years ago, has said he has faith his family will retain the lease(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n
Campaigners have called for the futures of caf\u00e9 operators on Hampstead Heath and other green spaces to be clarified as a “matter of urgency” more than a week after a decision was reportedly made.<\/p>\n
Five North London caf\u00e9s managed by the City of London Corporation<\/a> were put up for tender in July with other potential operators invited to bid.<\/p>\n The caf\u00e9s, which include facilities at Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath,<\/a> Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park, have received support from celebrities Benedict Cumberbatch<\/a> and James McAvoy, plus local MP Tulip Siddiq.<\/p>\n Residents and other visitors to the green spaces have also voiced their backing of the current operators, with fears they will be replaced by larger, less-community-minded organisations or a chain.<\/p>\n The Local Democracy Reporting Service<\/a> (LDRS) previously revealed how a decision was expected to be made at a Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee meeting on December 8. The issue was discussed in private, though more than a week on, operators are yet to know their fate.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the Real Caf\u00e9s Campaign said D’Auria Brothers, which runs Parliament Hill Caf\u00e9, and Hoxton Beach, which has three sites including in Queen’s Park, await further information on the outcome of the remarketing process.<\/p>\n They said: “Repeated emails and calls to City officials have gone unanswered and staff are becoming understandably anxious as to what the future holds for them. The decisions that the City makes impacts on the livelihoods of dozens of people and the persistent lack of communication from the City causes unnecessary suffering in the run up to Christmas.<\/p>\n “We call on the City to demonstrate that it really does value the contribution of the current operators and staff (as they have so often maintained in the past) and clarify the position as a matter of urgency.”<\/p>\n The LDRS has also spoken directly to Patrick Matthews, Director at Hoxton Beach.<\/p>\n![\"Benedict](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_Power-Of-The-Dog-Red-Carpet-Reception.jpg\")
Benedict Cumberbatch has voiced his support for the local businesses(Image: Getty Images for Netflix)<\/p>\n![\"Parliament](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_BLR_121125_ParliamentHillCafe2.jpg\")
The Parliament Hill Caf\u00e9 on Hampstead Heath was one of five included in the remarketing process(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n