Watford Observer

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:27:43 +0100
ASB involving youths sparks dispersal order in Hertfordshire town centre
Antisocial behaviour involving youths has led to a dispersal order being put in place by police in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:04:06 +0100
Watford and Hertfordshire GCSE results day - live updates
Pupils across Watford and southwest Hertfordshire are collecting their A-Level results today and you can follow this blog for the latest updates.

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:04:28 +0100
Council offices evacuated over 'suspicious envelopes'
Police have confirmed that a cordon was put in place near the Hertsmere Borough Council offices in Borehamwood over two "suspicious packages".

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Save up to £400pp on Riviera's 5-star Danube Christmas market cruise
Deal of the Week: Experience the Imperial Cities and Yuletide Markets on Riviera Travel’s festive river cruise along the magical Danube.

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Israel campaign group complains over West Herts staff's 'pro-Palestinian' badges
UK Lawyers for Israel has written to West Herts College over Watford and Hemel Hempstead staff reportedly wearing “pro-Palestinian” badges and lanyards at work.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 19:23:00 +0100
Watford MP blasts firm's 'poor and shoddy service' over broken car park lifts
Watford MP Matt Turmaine has blasted CitiPark over out of order lifts at the car parks it manages in the town centre.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:55:00 +0100
Watford's most expensive school uniforms RANKED amid calls to keep costs down
Watford’s most expensive school uniforms have been ranked as headteacher are urged to keep costs down.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:20:00 +0100
Caravans plan entered after neighbours' cars blocked 'tree damage without permission'
Plans to turn a woodland clearing in Loudwater into a caravan site have been validated months after trees were reportedly torn down without permission.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:24:00 +0100
49-child nursery suddenly shuts as company enters liquidation
After receiving the lowest possible Ofsted grade, Bushey nursery Step by Step has suddenly shut down.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:12:00 +0100
Watford-based pub giant tells phone users to 'pipe down' with BAN on loud speaker
Watford-based pub giant JD Wetherspoon has announced a ban on customers playing music or taking phone calls on speaker in its boozers.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:45:00 +0100
Private hire cars dumped in residential streets for weeks as lorry loads brought in
Large numbers of private hire vehicles are reportedly being brought in by lorry and dumped on North Watford’s residential roads.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:40:00 +0100
Herts teacher accused of sex with pupils brands allegations 'total fabrication'
A Hemel Hempstead teacher accused of having sexual relationships with pupils told police allegations against her were a “total fabrication”, a court has heard.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:55:00 +0100
Best and worst Hertfordshire areas for top A-level results revealed in new data
New Ofqual data has revealed how Watford's schools compared to the rest of Hertfordshire in this year's A-levels.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:38:00 +0100
Video of 'Operation Raise the Colours' activist in Watford goes viral
A video of a prominent far-right activist with close ties to Tommy Robinson visiting Watford has gone viral.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:13:00 +0100
Hertfordshire resident ordered to pay more than £2,000 over persistent dog barking
A Stevenage, Hertfordshire, resident has been ordered to pay more than £2,000 for repeated noise breaches over persistent dog barking.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:10:00 +0100
KFC branch applies for permission to open until 3am every day
A KFC branch in St Albans Road has applied for permission to serve food until 3am seven days a week.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:59:00 +0100
New six-person HMO plan in pipeline for Watford house
A house in Vicarage Road in Watford could be turned into a six-person HMO after new plans were submitted.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:25:00 +0100
Plan to create new Watford pub 'still going ahead' despite delays
The project to create new pub The Old Station House in Watford is “definitely still going ahead” despite delays.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:24:04 +0100
CCTV appeal launched over Watford town centre affray as arrest made
Police have released images of four men following a row in Watford's Market Street that has seen an arrest made on suspicion of affray.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 07:57:25 +0100
Missing 14-year-old boy with Watford links sparks police appeal
Police have appealed for the public's help to find Watford-linked teenager Mekeal who has gone missing from Birmingham.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 07:33:04 +0100
Woman arrested over 'stealing from a car and assaulting police officer' in Watford
A woman has been arrested in Watford over several offences including theft from a motor vehicle and assaulting a police officer.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Lakeland slashes prices on ice cream makers and beer dispensers
Looking to upgrade your kitchen gadget collection without breaking the bank?

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Care home resident died and three others harmed during heatwave amid safety failings
The CQC is investigating Courtland Lodge care home in Watford after a resident died during heatwave weather.

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:38:46 +0100
MP visiting Watford fire station called out during tour of the station
Watford MP Matt Turmaine was halfway through a fact-finding visit at Watford Fire Station on August 3, when firefighters were called out mid-conversation.

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:28:40 +0100
Plans submitted for new homes on land south of Allum Lane in Elstree
Here are the latest planning applications submitted to Hertsmere Borough Council this week.

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:16:06 +0100
Further plans submitted for redevelopment of Watford church site
Here are the latest planning applications submitted to Watford Borough Council this week.

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:08:51 +0100
Plans submitted to redevelop Hemel Hempstead’s Hillier Garden Centre site
Here are the latest planning applications submitted to Dacorum Borough Council this week.

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:01:34 +0100
Further plans submitted for major South Oxhey redevelopment site
Here are the latest planning applications validated by Three Rivers District Council in the past week.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:30:00 +0100
Hertfordshire's friendliest and unfriendliest areas - where does Watford rank?
A nationwide survey has ranked England’s friendliest and unfriendliest places and Watford is on the wrong side of things.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:45:00 +0100
Family share touching tribute to 'one of a kind' Hemel fatal crash victim
The family of a “one of a kind” father and grandad who died after being hit by a car on the A414 in Hemel Hempstead have paid tribute to him.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:00:00 +0100
Prominent Watford pub applies for refurb
O’Neill’s Watford has submitted an application for a refurbishment of its prominent home next to Watford Junction.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:20:00 +0100
Alleged test fraudster facing trial accused of impersonating Watford learner drivers
An alleged fraudster accused of impersonating learner drivers taking tests in Watford is set to face trial in London.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:04:51 +0100
Three fatal crashes in Hertfordshire that have sparked police appeals
Hertfordshire Police have appealed for information on fatal crashes in Stevenage, St Albans and Borehamwood over the last week.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:47:25 +0100
'Emergency repairs' shut key road at railway bridge
Little Oxhey Lane, South Oxhey, is closed at the bridge over the railway due to emergency repairs ongoing to the carriageway.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:56:00 +0100
Plan to demolish former swimming pool approved
Plans to knock down a vacant swimming pool site in South Oxhey have been approved.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:10:00 +0100
Flats plan would see High Street building extended to create rooftop garden
New Watford High Street flats could soon be created by extending upwards above commercial units next to Pryzm.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0100
Flasher, football fan, and Harlequin thief among Watford cases heard in court
Our weekly round-up of cases involving Watford-area residents or crimes that took place in the town.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:50:00 +0100
More than 100 five-star reviews for new family-run restaurant
More than 100 all-five-star reviews have come in for Shirin Bar & Kitchen which serves customers like it is a “second house”.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:45:34 +0100
Teenager's independent business named 'best café in East of England'
Bea's Coffee Barn in Kings Langley has been named the best coffee shop award in the East of England category at the England's Business Awards.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:14:00 +0100
Calls grow for action at 'accident blackspot' after latest crash
Fresh calls have been made for a review into a "notorious accident blackspot" in Watford following another serious crash at the junction of Park Road and Stratford Road.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0100
Pub giant granted permission for wide-ranging refurb of 17th century inn
Greene King has been granted permission for a wide-ranging refurbishment at a Grade II listed 17th century inn.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:17:17 +0100
Boats fire being treated as 'suspicious', police confirm
The Met Police have confirmed that a horror fire in Harefield is being treated as "suspicious".

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:37:05 +0100
MP vows to 'rigorously oppose' new planning rules
Hertsmere MP Sir Oliver Dowden has said he is "very worried" about how new planning laws could affect Bushey, Radlett, Potters Bar, Cuffley and Potters Bar.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Key pastel shades from Albany to brighten your space this summer
Pastels aren't going anywhere. They're an easy way to make a room feel lighter, brighter and more inviting without committing to bold colour.

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:31:00 +0100
Horror boats blaze was 'arson', claims terrified mum who is 'lucky to be alive'
A mum has said she is "relieved" and feels lucky to be alive after a horror blaze that destroyed her boat in Harefield over the weekend.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:44:00 +0100
Care home staff celebrated for 25 years of combined service
Margaret Sheeran and Michael Hall, who work at Barchester Healthcare’s Bushey House Beaumont Care Home in Bushey, have each reached major milestones.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:33:31 +0100
New day centre being built for people with disabilities and dementia
The modern centre will replace the Northwick Road Day Service in South Oxhey, which is nearing the end of its operational life.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:43:28 +0100
Watford Rotary Club launches charity tins with QR codes for child welfare
The Rotary Club of Watford has launched a new fundraising initiative to support child welfare programs for businesses around the community.

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:15:00 +0100
HBO Harry Potter actor reveals series 2 filming on set in Leavesden has begun
Filming for the second series of HBO’s Harry Potter TV show has begun, as confirmed by star Asha Soetan's social media.

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:10:00 +0100
The 5 Watford-area properties being sold for £3 million or more
Five properties in Watford, Bushey Heath, Croxley Green, and Chorleywood are currently being advertised for more than £3,000,000.

home