Watford Observer

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:14:20 +0100
13-year-old girl seriously injured after being hit by motorbike
A 13-year-old girl has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a motorbike in Hemel Hempstead.

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Inside the Hertfordshire garden centre with its own lake and miniature railway
Vanstone Park Garden Centre in Hitchin has its own lake with ducks and a miniature railway.

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0100
'Impressive family home' in Watford’s Cassiobury Estate put on sale for £1.18m
A four-bedroom detached house on Woodland Drive, in Watford’s Cassiobury Estate, is being marketed at £1.175m.

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 06:28:00 +0100
Changes to bar opening hours among latest Watford-area public notices
Late opening hours at bar, a new licence bid for a leisure centre, and an online wine subscription venture in latest public notices in and around Watford.

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 17:30:00 +0100
Hertfordshire-filmed Spider-Man film hits cinemas
Tom Holland and Zendaya's Spider-Man: Brand New Day features Hertfordshire County Hall in Hertford.

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:40:53 +0100
Herts charity writes to Angela Rayner over green belt housing fears
Hertfordshire's CPRE branch has written to housing secretary Angela Rayner over the future of the county's green belt.

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:49:05 +0100
The 'fantastic' Watford pub twice voted readers' favourite
The Watford Observer shines a spotlight on the White Lion, which has twice been voted Watford's favourite pub.

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:22:49 +0100
Highly rated Hertfordshire pub reopens TODAY under new name
Highly rated Hertfordshire pub The Akeman in Tring is reopening today as The Tufted Duck after a five-week closure for a refurb.

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:18:19 +0100
'Urban explorers' share video from inside former Watford hotel eyed for data centre
A new TikTok video has shown the inside of an "abandoned" former hotel in Watford that has been eyed for a data centre.

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:52:35 +0100
Hertfordshire could be set for FIFTH heatwave of summer
Hertfordshire could be set for its fifth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures potentially hit to hit 35C this month.

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:13:01 +0100
'Lovely' village pub announces plans to close for refurb
The Windmill Chipperfield has announced plans for a refurb which will give it a fresh "sparkle".

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0100
Scores ranging from 1/5 to 5/5 among latest Hertfordshire food hygiene ratings
Businesses across Hertfordshire have been handed new food hygiene ratings in recent weeks, with scores ranging from 1/5 to 5/5.

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100
Six Hertfordshire criminals jailed in July
These six Hertfordshire men have all been jailed over the course of July 2026.

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0100
The 'exceptional' tea room with 'delicious' homemade cakes in a lovely Herts village
Westmill Tea Room in Westmill has been described as exceptional and serving delicious homemade cakes.

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 05:30:00 +0100
'Gorgeous' National Trust site with 'magnificent' gardens just 1 hour from Herts
Ham House is just one hour from Hertfordshire and is a National Trust property described as "magnificent" and "gorgeous".

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:23:18 +0100
Six homes to be built behind road - despite 96 objections - after appeal
Six homes can be built on “verdant” Radlett land behind a row of houses despite 96 objections after refusal was overturned at appeal.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:16:03 +0100
Watford named Hertfordshire's second-worst area for crime in new data
New government data has revealed which Hertfordshire areas have the highest and lowest crime rates.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:35:00 +0100
Care home told it must improve as breach of legal regulations found by CQC
The CQC told St Anthony's Residential Care Homes it must improve after an inspection found a breach of legal regulations.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:25:00 +0100
Why Watford General is NOT among hospital rebuilds taking 'great step' forward
Watford General Hospital is not among those to have taken a step forward as part of this week's announcement relating to the New Hospitals Programme.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 13:20:00 +0100
'Five-foot sinkhole' discovery closes Watford road
Highways reportedly believe a five-foot void could have developed under Cecil Street, Watford which has been closed.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:50:00 +0100
Bushey man to face trial over 'indecent child images and extreme pornography'
A Bushey man is set to face a St Albans Crown Court trial over alleged possession of indecent child images and "extreme" pornography.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 10:24:24 +0100
Watford family leads calls for Burnham to meet bereaved over helicopter crash inquiry
A Watford man whose father was killed in a helicopter crash is calling for a meeting with new prime minister Andy Burnham.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:49:42 +0100
'Urban explorer' visits 'abandoned' former Watford police station and court
A TikTok video Watford's "abandoned" former police station has been viewed more than 9,000 times.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:31:04 +0100
Police name 6 people arrested in town centre shoplifting crackdown
Herts Police have named six people charged in a “crackdown” on Watford High Street shoplifting.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:46:03 +0100
School given go-ahead to build padel facility on-site
The Royal Masonic School for Girls has been given the go-ahead to build three padel courts on its site.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:20:00 +0100
High Street's newest bar aims to bring Watford nightlife 'back to its best'
Watford High Street’s newest bar Timmy's at The Old Bank is looking to “bring Watford back to its best” with a return to thriving nightlife.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Bring the Med to your garden and save £40 on You Garden's olive trees
You Garden's Olive tree – add a touch of Mediterranean magic to your garden.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Nine people added to the Herts Police wanted list this month
These nine people have all been added to the Herts Police wanted list in July 2026.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 05:34:00 +0100
'Exceptional' four-bed home boasting beautiful garden near Cassiobury Park on sale
A four-bedroom detached house on Cassiobury Drive in Watford has come to market at £1.25m.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:25:00 +0100
5 major fires that threatened homes and businesses in the Watford area during July
A hot and dry July has brought five dangerous fires for the Watford, Bushey, Chenies, and Croxley Green homes and businesses have been threatened.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0100
Reason 'strip pub' near Watford forced to close revealed
A "strip pub" near Watford closed after its application for a new licence was rejected by the council.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:00:00 +0100
Watford pub regulars who attended '66 World Cup final say sport 'less fun now'
Nascot Arms pub regulars who attended the World Cup final in 1966 say football is “less fun now” as they mark the 60th anniversary of the game.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:50:00 +0100
'Profitable' takeaway with 'loyal customer base' put up for sale
“Profitable” takeaway with a “loyal and established customer base”, Chicken Cottage, has been placed on the market.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:15:00 +0100
Aldi names 3 Hertfordshire locations where it is looking to open new stores
Aldi has named three Hertfordshire locations - Hitchin, Ware, and St Albans - where it is looking for sites to open new stores after a recent Watford launch.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:15:00 +0100
Watford man in court over 'young offender prison drug smuggling'
A Watford man has appeared in court over alleged drug smuggling at HMP Feltham Young Offenders.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:15:00 +0100
Series of closures from M25 junction to village start tonight - 6 mile diversion
A series of overnight closures from the M25 to Kings Langley, with a 6-mile diversion route, begins tonight.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:13:41 +0100
New plan for 'high-quality' home in road with average house price of £1.2m
Plans have been submitted for a "high-quality" new house in Chorleywood Road, Rickmansworth, where the average house price is around £1.2 million.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0100
Harlequin moviegoers 'trapped in car park' as fire alarm sounded
A Harlequin Watford customer who became trapped in the car park says she was told she could be stuck for hours due to an ongoing fire.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:52:54 +0100
August Competitions Are Here: Win Big This Summer
Step into August with three fantastic competitions offering something for everyone, from a memorable seaside escape to matchday treats and a helpful shopping boost.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:07:23 +0100
Applicant breaks silence amid row over caravan site plan with 229 objections
The applicant behind a controversial caravan site plan in Kings Langley has submitted new documents amid more than 200 objections.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:03:52 +0100
Barns and fields burn as eight fire engines tackle 'large fire' at farm
Two barns and two fields burned as eight fire engines battled a farm blaze until 3am.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:45:00 +0100
Plan 'in principle' submitted for housebuilding on field between village homes
Plans for nine homes on a Chipperfield field which would fill in the space between houses in a village have been submitted.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:34:32 +0100
Men wanted for 'major TV series' filming in Leavesden
An "urgent" casting call has been launched for filming of a "major returning TV series" at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0100
Woodlands Park celebrates national recognition for everyday care
Forest Healthcare Buckinghamshire centre shares pride in national award win.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:40:14 +0100
'Immersive' new Harlequin business confirms opening date
Activate Games has confirmed that it will be opening its new Watford location at the Harlequin on Friday, August 7.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:58:30 +0100
Firm behind controversial rail freight 'minded to accept' £14bn takeover bid
Segro, the firm behind the controversial Radlett rail freight, looks set to be taken over by US rival Prologis in a deal worth £14 billion.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:27:31 +0100
New ONS data reveals how much Watford's population has grown in the last year
New Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has revealed how much Watford's population has grown in the last year.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Save £200 on Riviera Travel's 7-day trip to France...now £1,029pp
Riviera Travel Deal: Explore picturesque France from as little as £1,029pp*.

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 05:30:00 +0100
New images of huge data centre scheme released amid over 1,100 objections
New CGI images have been released of a proposed data centre at the former Mercure Hotel off the A41 in Watford.

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 17:16:04 +0100
Harlequin Watford launches ‘Club HQ’ summer activity hub
Harlequin Watford has launched Club HQ, a new month-long programme running throughout August that aims to transform the centre into a hub of activity.

home