Watford Observer
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 +0100The 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.
Sun, 09 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0100Look 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 +0100Use 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 +0100I 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 +0100Forget 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 +0100Flooding 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 +0100Inside 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 +0100The 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 +0100The 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 +0100How 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 +0100Man 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 +0100Sullivan 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 +0100Drug 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 +0100Paedophile 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 +0100Missing 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 +0100Long 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 +0100Watford 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 +0100Luxury 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 +0100Historic 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 +0100Engineering 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 +0100M&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 +0100Business '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 +0100Stables 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 +0100Save £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.
Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:30:00 +0100Watford bungalow to be demolished for two-storey houses on the land
One North Watford bungalow is set to be demolished for two houses on the same land.
Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:28:00 +0100Watford man 'became amateurish drug dealer' after falling into debt
Hadrian Follett turned to drug dealing after getting into financial difficulties, St Albans Magistrates' Court heard.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:40:00 +0100Historic high street 'on the up' - but empty units cast a shadow
Shoppers in Rickmansworth town centre feel their high street is making a recovery – despite the empty units.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:45:00 +0100Bus to Watford General Hospital to have frequency cut in half from September
The 635 bus service to Watford General Hospital is set to have its frequency cut in half in another change to Hertfordshire transport coming this month.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0100Four-day public inquiry to decide 600-home plan for land opposite ancient woodland
The date for a public inquiry over 600 homes opposite Whippendell Wood in Croxley Green has been set.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:55:00 +0100Plan to build M&S Foodhall and flats suddenly withdrawn
Plans for a new M&S store with 25-flats above it in Bushey Heath have been suddenly withdrawn.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:21:00 +0100Speeding teen driver hit 60mph on quiet Watford road before horror crash
Mohammed Khan crashed his VW Golf into Peter Jeffree’s stationary car at the junction of Stratford Way and Cassiobury Drive
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:30:00 +0100House prices data reveals areas that sell for up to £20k lower than listed prices
Houses in and around Watford are selling for up to £20,000 less than listed prices, with Kings Langley seeing the widest gaps.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:39:00 +0100Dozens of 'eyesore' boulders to be removed from village green - but 92 will remain
The removal of 71 controversial boulders from The Green in Croxley Green is finally set to begin – but another 92 will remain for now.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:05:00 +0100Police release image over 'egging' after child and house hit
Herts Police have released an image of two youths after a child was hit as a South Oxhey home was egged.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0100Save £300pp on 5-star 8-day Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg cruise
Riviera Travel Deal: Explore some of France and Germany’s most charming regions on a scenic cruise of wonderful contrasts, from refined and historic Heidelberg to quaint Boppard and the old-world charm of medieval Strasbourg plus the enduring allur...
Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:02:31 +0100Bus routes to be diverted in Leavesden after road closure in Watford
Haines Way in Leavesden will be shut from 7.30am to 5pm on August 10, as part of planned engineering works diverting Arriva Bus route 20.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:00:06 +0100Permission sought for single-storey rear extension at Wandsworth property
Here is a summary of the latest planning applications submitted to Wandsworth Council this week.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:59:32 +0100Road closures planned for parts of Carpenders Park, Watford and Abbots Langley
Roadworks are set to cause temporary closures in parts of Carpenders Park, Watford, and Abbots Langley from August 10 for five days.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:30:00 +0100Stunning and modern five-bed detached house put on sale for 1.9m - look inside
A five-bedroom detached house on Hampermill Lane in Watford has hit the market at £1.085m.
Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:30:00 +0100UK's 'largest slip and slide' opens in Hertfordshire with visitors calling it 'epic'
The UK's "largest slip and slide" Cool down in the heatwave at a giant slip and slide which has opened just in time for summer at Graveley Fruit Farm in Herts.
Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:26:00 +0100The Horns has plenty in the pipeline as new management looks to revitalise pub
One half of the team behind The Horns in Watford has reflected on their first three months and looked ahead to the future.
Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0100Herts man appears in court over £1 million street lamp and lantern thefts
A Hertfordshire man has appeared in court accused of stealing £1 million worth of street lamps and lanterns.
Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:45:00 +0100Most dramatic solar eclipse in 27 YEARS visible in Hertfordshire next week
A rare solar eclipse covering over 90 per cent of the sun will be visible in Hertfordshire next week. Here is everything you need to know.
Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:58:07 +0100Second series of hit BBC drama filmed near Watford to air this month
The second series of BBC series Ludwig starring David Mitchell will air later this month following filming in Rickmansworth.
Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:58:00 +0100280-home plan slammed as 'entirely inappropriate' in new document ahead of appeal
A new document has been submitted ahead of an appeal over plans for 280 homes in Bushey.