The operator of three cafes in North London, known as Hoxton Beach, is facing eviction as the City of London Corporation prepares to file for possession in county court.
The corporation oversees the cafes located at Parliament Hill Lido, Highgate Wood, and Queen’s Park, and is seeking to replace Hoxton Beach with new operators, Daisy Green. This company, which operates over 20 locations across the capital, was awarded contracts to manage two of the cafes following a remarketing initiative conducted last year.
Hoxton Beach received formal notification in January that its tenancies would conclude on February 2. In response, the cafe chain initiated a judicial review last month to challenge the legality of the corporation’s decision to award the tenancies to Daisy Green.
In addition to managing the Square Mile, the City of London Corporation is responsible for maintaining green spaces, including Hampstead Heath, as a registered charity.
Concerns Over Legal Proceedings
Alderman Gregory Jones, who chairs the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, and Queen’s Park Committee, stated that Hoxton Beach had been provided with „ample notice and clear expectations“ regarding its tenancy and the remarketing process. He expressed regret over the resources spent on the ongoing legal dispute.
„It is regrettable that officer time and resources have been spent on legal action,“ Jones said.
Hoxton Beach contends that the corporation had previously agreed not to pursue possession of the cafes for three weeks following a legal letter sent in February, which expired in early March. Patrick Matthews, co-owner of Hoxton Beach alongside his wife Emma Fernandez, remarked, „Under our stewardship, the cafes have trebled in turnover, and the [Parliament Hill] Lido has transitioned from a seasonal to a year-round business. They have become affordable community hubs appreciated by tens of thousands of customers.“
Matthews criticized the corporation’s approach, suggesting that instead of pursuing „aggressive legal moves,“ it should focus on fulfilling its legal obligation to transparency by releasing documents related to its decision-making process.
Public Sentiment and Consultation Issues
He further argued that the decision to transfer the cafes to Daisy Green contradicts the preferences of park users, as demonstrated by a petition signed by 25,000 individuals. Matthews accused the corporation of neglecting its legal duty to conduct meaningful public consultation regarding the decision.
He asserted that, given the ongoing judicial review, it would have been prudent to suspend eviction proceedings to prevent unnecessary costs and the involvement of two courts in the matter.
Remarketing Process and Future Plans
The City of London Corporation maintains that the remarketing process was conducted transparently and lawfully, receiving 30 bids in total. This process included five cafe tenancies in North London, with the three operated by Hoxton Beach and additional sites at Golders Hill Park and Parliament Hill.
In December, the corporation announced that Daisy Green would take over four of the five cafes, while a different operator would manage Highgate Wood.
„[Hoxton Beach’s] decision not to cooperate and vacate the cafes by the advised date has delayed improvements for visitors and disrupted an open, lawful process, designed to secure long-term investment in these facilities,“ Jones stated.
Despite the ongoing situation, Daisy Green has reportedly continued to engage constructively with other cafe operators, retaining existing staff and committing to maintaining popular menu items.
The county court is expected to review the corporation’s case, along with Hoxton Beach’s responses, during a preliminary hearing scheduled to take place within eight weeks of the court issuing the claims.
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