Hoxton Beach wins High Court challenge over café contracts

Hoxton Beach has been granted permission to pursue a legal challenge at the High Court concerning the City of London Corporation's decision to award contracts for three of its North London cafés to different operators. The company had contested the awarding of these contracts to alternative tenants.

The cafés in question are located at Parliament Hill Fields Lido, Queen’s Park, and Highgate Wood. Hoxton Beach was issued a notice to vacate these premises by 2 February by the City of London Corporation, which manages public green spaces as a registered charity. This notice followed a procurement exercise conducted last year for five café sites, including Golders Hill Park and Parliament Hill.

Contract Awards and Legal Action

In December, the Corporation announced that Daisy Green would operate four of the five sites, including Parliament Hill Lido and Queen’s Park. Cosmin Stuparu was awarded the contract for Highgate Wood. Hoxton Beach subsequently raised concerns about the fairness of the tender process and sought a judicial review to determine if the Corporation had acted unlawfully.

The situation escalated in March when the Corporation initiated possession proceedings at the County Court, alleging that Hoxton Beach had continued to occupy the cafés unlawfully despite being required to leave. However, a Co-Owner of Hoxton Beach, Patrick Matthews, revealed earlier this month that the County Court had allocated the Corporation’s possession claim to the Multi-Track procedure, indicating a complex case likely to require more time to resolve.

The High Court's recent decision allows Hoxton Beach's request for a judicial review to proceed to a full hearing. Mr Matthews expressed delight that the Court recognised a case to answer regarding the process's fairness. He also thanked the 25,000 signatories of a supporting petition and those who contributed to the legal fund.

A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation stated that the organisation notes the Court's decision and intends to defend the claim vigorously. The Corporation maintains that its procurement process was lawful, open, and the appropriate method for securing the future of the cafés. It added that Daisy Green and Cosmin Stuparu submitted the strongest proposals with the best long-term plans for the sites.

The Corporation also commented that the ongoing legal proceedings divert charitable resources that could otherwise be used for improving and maintaining open spaces. As a charity trustee, its focus remains on protecting these assets and providing the best service for visitors.

Next Steps

The High Court will now hear the full judicial review into the contract awards. The City of London Corporation has stated it will continue to defend its procurement process. The timeline for the full hearing has not yet been established.