Watford Observer

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Make your outdoor space pop with Farrow & Ball at Brewers
Colour doesn’t need to stop at the front door. Brewers Decorator Centres explores how you can freshen up outside spaces using Farrow & Ball exterior paints.

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Everything we know following closure of 'strip pub' near Watford
Everything we know following the sudden closure of the Prince of Wales Rickmansworth, known for operating for more than 30 years as a "strip pub".

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0100
Latest pictures as fire engulfs several buildings
Road closures are expected to remain in place for the rest of the day as fire crews battle a blaze in Hemel Hempstead.

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:04:47 +0100
All the films showing at FREE outdoor cinema in Watford this week
Today (August 10) marks the start of a free week of films at Watford's outdoor cinema, with blockbusters including Avatar: Fire and Ash, Superman, Goat, and Wicked set to be screened.

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:45:26 +0100
Police shut down property plagued by 'widespread drug activity' and ASB
Police in South Oxhey have secured a closure order at a property plagued by "widespread drug activity" and ASB,

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:41:59 +0100
Several buildings 'well alight' as fire crews battle blaze
Several buildings are "well alight" as crews battle a fire in Hemel Hempstead this afternoon (August 10).

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:13:30 +0100
Best pictures as 'biggest and best yet' carnival takes over Watford
A selection of the best pictures from this year's Watford Carnival, which was held on Radlett Road Playing Fields on Saturday (August 8).

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:25:28 +0100
Roads closed amid 'building fire' - recap
Follow live updates as road closures are in place amid an ongoing "building fire" in Hemel Hempstead.

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:40:17 +0100
Drones carrying 'significant amounts' of drugs into The Mount a 'major challenge'
A new report has found that HMP The Mount in Bovingdon faces a "major challenge" over drones carrying drugs into the prison.

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Screen-free summer fun with Freddie’s Flowers
If you’re done with slime, exhausted the colouring books but are looking for a nature-led activity this summer, Freddie’s Flowers will have you and your child undertaking some green fingered fun.

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 05:30:00 +0100
All the Hertfordshire M1, M25 and A1(M) closures set for each weeknight this week
M1, M25, and A1(M) closures in Hertfordshire have been confirmed by National Highways for this week.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 18:00:00 +0100
Ensuring a smooth transition to Watford's future
Watford mayor Peter Taylor examines the changes coming to Watford in 2028, as council reorganisation brings an end to the town's elected mayor system.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 17:30:00 +0100
Owner credits McDonald's job for business skills after eatery's strong first 6 months
A former McDonalds worker has used her skills to create a very different menu at her own restaurant Shree Krishna Bhavan in Carpenders Park.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:40:00 +0100
Hertfordshire principal on why GCSE results day will not define children's futures
West Herts College’s principal Gill Worgan has reassured anxious teenagers their futures will not be decided on results day.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:55:00 +0100
I visited a stunning two-lake aquadrome and ugly fencing can't ruin its beauty
Based on a Rickmansworth Aquadrome visit it is clear asbestos and flooding issues do not come close to ruining the natural beauty.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 12:10:45 +0100
Long M25 delays near Rickmansworth as 'crash' reported - recap
There is queuing traffic on approach to the scene of a reported crash on the M25 as a fire engine can be seen.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 11:40:00 +0100
Hemel voyeur who recorded person without consent given suspended sentence
A Hemel Hempstead man has been handed a suspended sentence for voyeurism after recording someone without their consent, at Hendon Magistrates' Court.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 10:50:00 +0100
Plan to knock down home for 'Neo-Georgian' house with 5 bedrooms and swimming pool
Knocking down a Croxley Green house for a Neo-Georgian replacement with its own swimming pool has been proposed.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 09:40:00 +0100
'Five to six masked men with machetes' break into home sparking helicopter search
“Five to six masked males” armed with machetes reportedly broke into an Elstree home and sparked helicopter search.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100
The Watford school praised for its 'broad and ambitious curriculum'
The Watford Observer shines a spotlight on the recent success of Central Primary School in Derby Road.

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:35:19 +0100
Watford museum launches pop-up stalls at summer events
Museum of Watford has launched Museum on Tour, a scheme designed to share the town’s heritage with residents through creative, interactive activities.

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:04:58 +0100
Church and Rotary Club launch fresh community initiative on the high street
Reimagined through a partnership between Watford Rotary and St Mary’s Church, the café welcomes adults from all backgrounds to St Mary’s Church.

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:47:09 +0100
When Watford welcomed Buffalo Bill
Lesley Dunlop on Buffalo Bill - One American left a very big mark in 1903. Now, a short while since the 250th United States Independence Day.

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0100
Look inside this £1.1m four-bed family home on the market in Watford
A four-bedroom detached family home in Denewood Close, Watford, has hit the market at £1.1m.

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:00:00 +0100
Use of Watford house as HMO approved
Running a Woodside, Watford, house as a six-bedroom HMO has been approved by Watford Borough Council.

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:25:00 +0100
I visited a hidden gem Hertfordshire taproom and it was a beer drinker's paradise
Hertfordshire has a real hidden gem in Wishful Drinking which turns stopping for a pint or two into a true experience.

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0100
Forget Glastonbury, I'm headlining Hay-feverbury
Teacher and columnist Brett Ellis explains why severe hay fever has ended his Glastonbury dream, despite trying everything from acupuncture to antihistamines in his annual battle with pollen

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:25:00 +0100
Flooding and asbestos leaves walking route shut for 2 years - when will it reopen?
Asbestos and flooding has left Rickmansworth Aquadrome's Woodland Walk shut for years and reopening still looks some way off.

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:20:00 +0100
Inside look as immersive gaming experience launches today at Harlequin Watford
Harlequin Watford’s newest business Activate has shared an inside look as it opens its immersive gaming rooms for the first time today.

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:35:00 +0100
'Unknown group of youths' trash area outside train station
Herts Police are investigating after “an unknown group of youths” trashed the area outside Apsley Station.

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100
The traditional pub with an 'amazing' new beer garden
The Watford Observer shines a spotlight on The Villiers Arms pub in Oxhey Road.

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 07:30:00 +0100
'Best fish and chips ever' at 'exceptional' shop - is this Hertfordshire's best?
Visitors have described The Sea Tree in Ware as "delicious" and "exceptional".

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 06:30:00 +0100
The historic Hertfordshire site that had a starring role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Spider-Man: Brand New Day, starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, features one historic Hertfordshire venue.

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0100
How Hertfordshire pioneered the pub guide - before the internet was even invented
CAMRA’s lesser-known foray into digital services began in the early 1980s on Prestel, the UK’s first public viewdata platform.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:15:00 +0100
Man jailed for sexually assaulting boy under the age of 10
An Oxhey man has been jailed and banned from contact with children for sexually assaulting a young boy.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:30:00 +0100
Sullivan Buses explains why it will NOT offer Government's 'kids ride free' deal
Sullivan Buses has explained why it will not join the government’s kids ride free offer this month.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:35:00 +0100
Drug dealers who ran line supplying cocaine in Watford jailed for 13-year total
Drug dealers who ran a line supplying the Watford area with more than 1kg of cocaine have been jailed at St Albans Crown Court.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:30:00 +0100
Paedophile Watford chef 'Shy Chris' said he wanted to warm up girl, 13, with cuddles
Watford chef Christopher Quigley has been jailed for online child sex offences for a second time.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:20:00 +0100
Missing teen not seen since leaving Watford home two months ago
Herts Police have launched an appeal to help find a Watford 17-year-old not seen since leaving home more than two months ago.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:50:00 +0100
Long delays after vans crash on Hertfordshire M1 motorway
Two vans have crashed on the M1 motorway in Hertfordshire, blocking traffic and causing 40-minute queues.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:23:32 +0100
'All lanes stopped' on Hertfordshire M1 after crash - recap
M1 traffic was stopped at 12pm this afternoon after a crash, with traffic continuing to build on the approach.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:15:00 +0100
Watford family left terrified as beloved pet suddenly started vomiting blood
A Watford family have been left feeling “lost” as their beloved French bulldog suddenly started vomiting blood and now needs life-saving surgery.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:08:42 +0100
Luxury hotel on edge of Watford to host golf event featuring Solheim Cup star
The Grove is hosting a golf event at the luxury hotel on the edge of Watford featuring former Solheim Cup Europe captain Suzann Pettersen.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:10:00 +0100
Historic England to visit Odhams Press Hall to assess national listing bid
Historic England will visit Odhams Press Hall to assess whether it should be protected as a nationally listed building.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:24:48 +0100
Engineering work to cancel all trains on Watford line this weekend
Planned engineering works mean that no Lioness Line trains will run between Watford Junction and London Euston this weekend (August 8 and 9).

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:05:00 +0100
M&S looking for another location to open Bushey store after plans withdrawn
M&S has confirmed it will look for a new location to open a Bushey store after development plans i Bushey Heath were unsuccessful.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:51:01 +0100
Business 'offering something completely different' opens at Harlequin TOMORROW
Activate Games has shared new details of its Watford location ahead of opening tomorrow (August 8).

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 08:28:27 +0100
Stables to be turned into flats as plans approved
Plans to turn former stables in Bushey into five flats have been approved at the second time of asking.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:12:01 +0100
'Legendary' BBC DJ to perform Watford set at unique venue TONIGHT
BBC radio star DJ Spoony is set to perform a unique summer set at Topgolf Watford tonight (August 7).

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Save £18 on stunning Agapanthus that will transform your garden
They’re a popular and much-loved summer bulb, we’re talking about Agapanthus and they’re the stars of this week’s You Garden’s offers.

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