Hoxton Beach pair Patrick Matthews and Emma Fernandez continue to serve customers while they await a decision on whether a judicial review will be held
The people behind three North London cafés are continuing to serve customers despite their contracts being controversially awarded to other tenants.
Hoxton Beach, which runs cafes in Hampstead Heath, Queen’s Park and Highgate Wood, is preparing for a potential judicial review of the decision to award two of its leases to Daisy Green, an Aussie-inspired café chain, and the other to another operator.
In the meantime, owners Emma Fernandez and Patrick Matthews are ploughing on with running the three businesses with a decision on whether that judicial review will proceed, which they filed a request for themselves, due within days.
A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation, which manages spaces such as Hampstead Heath as a registered charity, has defended its conduct, arguing the procedure was fair and lawful.
‘People don’t like it’
An event is planned for June 20 at St Martin’s Church, Gospel Oak, to help crowdfund for Emma and Patrick’s legal bills as well as provide an update to supporters. Food, drinks and games will be provided with a set also lined up by The InCureables, a tribute act to The Cure whose members first met at the Lido.
On the support received to-date, Patrick said: “Why we think we’ve got people’s backing is because of what you might call the financialisation of public assets. People don’t like it when all the shops in the high street are branches of Gail’s or whatever, and it’s the same thing. The nice thing about these cafés is they have their own history, history of character, close relationships with people.”
The local authority put five of its North London cafés up for tender, claiming the process would help “ensure a high-quality visitor experience, offering welcoming community spaces that continue to meet the needs of local people”.
Despite a public backlash, which included thousands of users plus celebrities such as Benedict Cumberbatch signing petitions, Daisy Green was awarded four of the five sites.
These included two of Hoxton Beach’s premises, at the Parliament Hill Lido and Queen’s Park, with the third, Highgate Wood, to be taken on by the former operator of the Golders Green café.
Emma and Patrick claim there were issues over the process as well as a lack of fairness, a position which has been contested by the Corporation.
They launched their legal action in March, since when they have been awaiting a decision on whether their case will proceed to a full judicial review.
Local paper the Ham & High revealed earlier this week that a decision is expected “any day”.
Emma told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the case had been expedited, “meaning, basically, we could hear back from the court any time now as opposed to in like November or December”.
Patrick added they could potentially receive a response to their claims plus a decision in one go.
“If it goes all the way the worst thing that could happen is, it goes all the way, the City re-runs the process, they this time dot the i’s and cross the t’s, but you can always get the result that you want to, and they just get the same result,” he said.
“On the other hand, I think they would have to consult, and they would have to consult in a transparent way.”
A City of London Corporation spokesperson said: “We are vigorously contesting these legal proceedings. Our process was lawful, open, and the only fair and proper way to secure the future of all five cafés.
“Daisy Green and Cosmin Stuparu had the strongest proposals and showed the best long-term plans for these sites. They should rightfully be allowed to take up their awarded tenancies.
“Significant time and charitable resources continue to be needlessly wasted by this challenge, which could otherwise go towards caring for and enhancing our open spaces.
“As charity trustee, our focus remains on protecting these cafés, and ensuring that the successful bidders can move in as soon as possible, and deliver the best possible service for the public.”
As revealed by the LDRS another of the cafés awarded to Daisy Green, Parliament Hill Fields, is due to reopen in two to three weeks.
Previous operators the D’Auria family agreed to vacate the premises earlier this year with the hope it would be up and running by the spring.
While that deadline has been missed the Corporation confirmed it is expected to be serving customers from mid-June.
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