The City of London took us to court -- and this is what the court said ...

Back in the spring—on April 1st—the City of London Corporation issued a press release announcing legal action against Hoxton Beach. They sought an eviction order to stop them operating the cafés at Parliament Hill Fields Lido, Queen's Park Pavilion, and Highgate Wood Pavilion, intending to hand the tenancies over to their preferred operators (Daisy Green for the first two, and Cosmin Stuparu—who currently runs the Golders Hill Park café—for Highgate Wood).

The position of Hoxton Beach's legal team has been clear: an eviction prior to a judicial review would be wrong, as it would preempt the High Court's decision on whether the Corporation’s procurement process was lawful and fair.

What happened in court? On 21 September, the case finally went before a County Court judge. He formally allocated the possession claim (the eviction request) to the Multi-Track. This is a key development—it formally acknowledges that this is not a standard eviction, but a high-value, complex dispute with significant legal issues.

The next fixed date on the County Court calendar is 19 May 2027 for a Costs Management Conference at the Royal Courts of Justice.

What does this mean for the cafes right now? This does not guarantee the cafes will remain in their present hands until 2027. The High Court has yet to rule on whether Hoxton Beach’s judicial review claim is "arguable" and allowed to proceed. A decision on permission could come at any time. If permission is initially refused, Hoxton Beach still retains the right to an in-person appeal hearing.

The bottom line: The immediate eviction requested by the City Corporation is not happening any time soon, giving the community and the campaign vital breathing room while the High Court considers the lawfulness of the tender process.

Thank you for your continued support!