• Cafés at Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park are not closing and will remain affordable, community-focused spaces
• All retained café staff will be paid at least the London Living Wage, alongside significant investment in buildings and facilities
• The Daisy Green decision followed a fair, open and independently supported process, with local engagement throughout 

Cafés run by Daisy Green across Hampstead Heath and Queen’s Park will continue to be community havens, with significant investment planned for their buildings and all retained staff set to receive the London Living Wage.

The City of London Corporation, which manages Hampstead Heath and Queen’s Park as registered charities, says the decision to award leases to Daisy Green will secure the long-term future of the cafés across both open spaces following a fair, competitive, and open remarketing process.

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee, Alderman Gregory Jones KC, said:

“There have been several misleading and inaccurate claims since we awarded the leases to Daisy Green and it’s important to be clear about the facts.

“These cafés are not closing. They are much-loved parts of Hampstead Heath and Queen’s Park, and this process was about ensuring they can continue to operate and invest for the long term.

“Previously, the cafés were operating on short-term arrangements that made it difficult to invest in their buildings and facilities. Moving to longer-term leases under Daisy Green allows that community investment to happen and secures the cafes’ future.

“As trustee of the charities that manage these open spaces at no expense to the taxpayer, the City Corporation has a duty to act in the best interest of those charities. We are simply seeking to ensure that services are properly run, leases are market-tested, and facilities are sustainable for the long term, which is reflective of good governance.

“Daisy Green is an independent, London-based business, not a national or multinational chain. And while it operates more than one site, each café will retain its own identity, shaped by its setting and with input from the local community. This approach is not dissimilar to that taken by some of the existing independent café operators who run multiple outlets and business ventures across London.

“Campaigners have overlooked the merits of Daisy Green’s proposal, which include significant investment in café buildings, continuation and development of community programmes, and a promise to keeping menus affordable.

“Importantly, staff in all cafés across the Heath and in Queen’s Park will be paid at least the London Living Wage – demonstrating a real commitment to supporting those who live and work in the local area.”

Community engagement has been central to the process, with the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee – representing local groups and stakeholders – involved throughout. Ongoing community involvement will continue as the new arrangements are put in place.

The leasing process was open, widely advertised and independently supported. All existing café operators were invited to take part and were informed about the process ahead of the public announcement in July 2025.

In total, 30 bids were received and assessed individually against a range of criteria, including affordability, environmental standards, community benefit, experience and business plans. Each café was considered separately, and combined bids covering multiple sites were not accepted.

In the last financial year, the City Corporation spent almost £12 million in the upkeep and maintenance of Hampstead Heath, with no contribution from local council tax and alongside its management of 11,000 acres of other open spaces across London and the south-east.

Recent City Corporation investment includes a £2.3 million upgrade to Hampstead Heath’s Parliament Hill Athletics Track – one of only seven tracks in England to hold TrackMark accreditation, demonstrating a level of investment only possible through the City Corporation’s long-term stewardship of the Heath.

A separate announcement on the remarketing of the café at Highgate Wood will be made in due course.

Notes to editors 

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why hasn’t a decision about the café at Highgate Wood been made yet?

We wanted to provide an update as soon as possible, which means that we can only share information relating to the facilities across Hampstead Heath and Queen’s Park. Subject to further discussions and due diligence procedures, we will announce the outcome of the Highgate Wood site in due course.

What happened to the Café Working Party? 

A working party consisting of City Corporation officers, Members and local representatives was formed after a café remarketing exercise in 2016 to provide feedback on its outcomes. Its work finished at that time, but its input has helped shape the current process. This group no longer exists as an advisory body and does not have an ongoing or formal role in the 2025 exercise.

When will the new Daisy Green cafes open?

We expect all Daisy Green cafes across Hampstead Heath and Queen’s Park to be open by spring this year.

Will there be a pause in service during the transition?

Any pause in service will be minimised wherever possible. The City Corporation and the incoming operators are working together to ensure that cafés reopen quickly following any necessary improvements or re-fits, so the impact on visitors is kept to a minimum.

How long will the re-fits take?

The length of any refurbishment will vary depending on the site. The operators have committed to completing any upgrades efficiently while maintaining safe and welcoming environments.