An adventure playground company is believed to have won a controversial bid to take over a café in Trent Park despite local opposition.

The Enfield Independent understands Go Ape, which runs the nearby tree-top adventure park that opened last month, has won the right to run the café following a tender process run by Enfield Council. The company said last week it would run the facility under the name Forest Café if its bid is successful.

Campaign group True Friends of Trent Park handed a petition signed by 2,400 people to the council last month calling for couple Rosa and Dennis Marzocchi, who had run the building for 30 years, to be left in charge.

The couple were told to leave the premises when their lease ran out at the end of March.

Taking the decision, council officers said the winning bidder “provided the highest rent offered that was supported by a robust business case that demonstrated the ability to deliver the rent offered”.

The company also offered “substantial capital investment” to refurbish the interior and catering equipment.

The Enfield Independent understands Go Ape offered approximately £35,000 a year to run the café, beating more than 20 bidders for the lease.

Enfield Council said it could not confirm if Go Ape had won the bid as the decision was still eligible to be challenged by councilors until April 16. The company said it was waiting for a final decision.