Watford Observer

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 06:00:00 +0000
Riviera Travel’s latest Black Friday offer goes off with a bang
Riviera Travel’s Black Friday sale (Black Friday: Save up to 20% on Selected 2027 Holidays | Riviera Travel) has landed and right now, you can save up to 20% on selected 2027 holidays.

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 05:30:00 +0000
Plans for 700 homes and £2.5bn data centre to be decided TONIGHT
Decisions loom for two major planning applications that could bring 700 new homes and a £2.5 billion data centre to the Watford area.

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 05:30:00 +0000
Police share statement as another wave of 'X' vandalism reported in road
Herts Police have shared a statement over the X symbols being cut into cars in Chester Road, Watford amid another wave of reports.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 17:00:00 +0000
Jailed Watford pair 'hoped to make millions selling cocaine across UK'
Two criminals from Watford who "hoped to make millions selling cocaine" have been jailed after an £80 million cocaine haul was recovered by police.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 16:00:00 +0000
'Simply not good enough' - one in four trains through station cancelled or delayed
Performance data revealing a quarter of trains through Kings Langley are delayed or cancelled has been slammed as “simply not good enough”.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 15:25:00 +0000
Recycling sites to close after becoming magnets for dumping
A recycling site in Kings Langley is among 21 in Dacorum which will shut down next month after dumping around the bins.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 15:17:00 +0000
Watford house eyed for new HMO for up to six people
A Watford house could be turned into a HMO for up to six people under new plans.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 14:30:00 +0000
Herts Police officer 'sexually assaulted colleague on Watford night out'
A Herts Police officer put his hands down his colleague’s trousers and sexually assaulted him after a night out Watford, a court has heard.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:12:00 +0000
Teacher employed in Watford banned after 'racial comments and threats' made to pupils
A supply teacher who taught at schools in Watford has been banned from the classroom after making racial and threatening comments to pupils.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 12:30:00 +0000
Jailed fraudster lived 'luxurious lifestyle' on bogus investment scam victims' money
Jailed Bushey fraudster Mahendra Sarvendra funded “a luxurious lifestyle” with a £230,000 “bogus investments” scam.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 11:50:00 +0000
New operator for 'local institution' pub after 20 years under same manager
Hemel Hempstead pub Greenacres II has a new operator after more than 20 years as a “thriving local institution” under the same manager.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 11:15:00 +0000
Weekend engineering work to close Watford to London railway line
Weekend engineering works will close The Lioness Line between Watford Junction and London Euston, with no trains to run.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 10:33:54 +0000
280 homes to be built on 'crucial' green belt site after developer wins appeal
Controversial plans for 280 homes on a green belt site in Bushey have been approved on appeal.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:43:58 +0000
M1 car fire causes traffic misery near Watford as driver left 'in shock'
Traffic was brought to a "standstill" following a car fire on the Watford M1 this morning (November 4).

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:55:55 +0000
Traffic recap after Watford M1 car fire
Follow live updates amid heavy traffic on the M1 in the Watford and St Albans areas of Hertfordshire following an "accident"

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:13:43 +0000
Historic pub to reopen this month after £500k investment
A historic Hertfordshire pub is set to reopen this month after a £500,000 investment.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 06:00:00 +0000
FabFinds has cleaning bundles from £10.99 for a Christmas-ready home
Cleaning just got Christmassy.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:30:00 +0000
'Pride and excitement' as family-run restaurant celebrates 30 years
Kings Langley's Oscars Pizza Co is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 15:38:34 +0000
37,140 Watford homes to receive £100 council tax payment for energy costs
Watford homes to receive £100 energy support as Labour budget freezes fuel duty, cuts bus fares and extends help for shops, pubs and self-employed dads.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:25:34 +0000
Primary school set to close after nearly 200 years
A primary school is set to close after nearly 200 years of serving the community.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:33:06 +0000
M1 crash near Watford shuts two lanes with long delays
A crash on the M1 southbound near Watford has closed two of three lanes, with long delays and congestion stretching back towards J6A for the M25.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 17:32:00 +0000
Harlequin's JD Gyms confirms opening date and offers an inside look
JD Gyms has confirmed that its new flagship gym at Harlequin Watford will officially open on 22 December and has released photos of the new facility.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:26:32 +0000
Hemel Hempstead takeaway gets damning 1/5 food hygiene rating
A Hemel Hempstead takeaway has received a damning 1/5 food hygiene rating.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:10:41 +0000
Police 'increasingly concerned' for missing teenager last seen in Watford
Police are appealing for help to trace a missing 14-year-old boy from Maple Cross, last seen in Watford.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:24:35 +0000
Watford Monopoly board release date brought forward 'by popular demand'
The release date for Watford's Monopoly board has been brought forward to November 13.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:26:00 +0000
New Watford Town Hall café from Tasty Bean owners set to open in spring 2027
A new café offering fresh food and a community atmosphere will open at Watford Town Hall in spring 2027.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:01:49 +0000
71 Hertfordshire officers barred from policing since 2020, new figures reveal
New figures have revealed that 71 Hertfordshire Police officers have been barred from the profession since the start of the decade.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:34:17 +0000
Prominent Watford pub shut for refurb from today
Prominent Watford pub O'Neil's has closed for a two-week refurbishment and is set to reopen later this month.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:24:23 +0000
'Talented liar' jailed over Watford county lines drug dealing
A man has been jailed over a county lines operation running between Watford and Exeter.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:52:51 +0000
Hertfordshire pubs among Britain's top 100 in new list
Four Hertfordshire pubs have been named among Britain's top 100 by the Good Food Guide.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 06:00:00 +0000
Wentworth Puzzles offers 10% off for National Jigsaw Day
Today is National Jigsaw Day!

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 05:30:00 +0000
Six people added to Herts Police wanted list in October
These six men were all added to the Herts Police wanted list in October 2026.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 10:32:47 +0000
Carpenders Park, Highfield School and the Scriveners
Discover Watford’s Carpenders Park history, Highfield School and Arthur Scrivener, the acclaimed florist, seedsman and nurseryman behind a leading nursery.

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:55:19 +0000
Bushey care home worker celebrates 20 years after rising from hostess to chef
Bushey care home Bushey House Beaumont celebrates Mimoza Velsula’s 20 years of service as she becomes a chef after Barchester apprenticeship in December 2025.

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:33:00 +0000
KliKs Dance Academy dancers win nine national titles at major competition
Leavesden’s KliKs Dance Academy celebrates nine national titles and 23 podium finishes at the ISTD National Grand Finals at Guildford Spectrum.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:28:34 +0000
Rush hour M25 delays amid 'accident' - recap
Rush hour traffic is delayed in Hertfordshire following an "accident" on the M25 near Watford.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:56:08 +0000
New eatery 'coming soon' to Watford High Street
Mr Bull Noodle Bar is set to open in the former TUI unit in Watford High Street.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:08:24 +0000
Grammy-winning superstar's Watford gig rearranged after illness
Grammy-winning star Art Garfunkel has announced a new date for his Watford Colosseum show after illness forced him to postpone.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:18:00 +0000
Man jailed after sexually abusing 15-year-old girl in Hertfordshire
A man has been jailed for more than three years after sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:30:00 +0000
'Substance' thrown in woman's face during late-night attack outside property
An "unidentified substance" was thrown in a woman's face outside a Watford property in the early hours of Sunday morning (November 1).

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:39:00 +0000
Closure of key Hertfordshire roundabout begins tonight
Drivers face three nights of disruption around the Park Street Roundabout in Hertfordshire from tonight (November 2).

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:28:00 +0000
Baby born at 22 weeks defies odds to survive after amazing Watford neonatal team care
A mum has praised Watford’s neonatal team for saving her son’s life after he was born at just 22 weeks.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:14:57 +0000
Filming takes over church, café and car park TODAY
Filming is taking over a Chipperfield church and car park today (November 2).

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 09:36:44 +0000
Watford High Street store to close next week
Watford High Street store Well Home is to shut next week (November 10)

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 06:00:00 +0000
Get ready to keeep dancing at Strictly Come Dancing Live in Birmingham
Dust off your dancing shoes, don your diamantes and let Just Go Holidays waltz you away to the unforgettable Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour in Birmingham.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 05:30:00 +0000
Teen due in crown court over 'machete possession in public and affray'
An 18-year-old is due to appear in crown court accused of possessing a machete and committing affray in New Street, Watford town centre.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:03:50 +0000
Why the UK government must act to protect trusted local journalism
Journalism Matters highlights Andy Burnham’s call to protect independent and local news, fair digital markets, and journalism’s role in democracy.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:03:41 +0000
Andy Burnham - 'Journalism is a vital part of our national infrastructure'
Prime Minister Andy Burnham explains that with greater local power must come local accountability. And that is why local journalism matters.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:03:31 +0000
Andy Burnham hails local news as 'critical' as PM backs Journalism Matters campaign
Andy Burnham backs Journalism Matters, calling journalism a vital national infrastructure and local news essential for democracy and accountability.

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 09:53:13 +0000
Centrepoint resident welcomes minister to mark new changes to Housing Benefit
Centrepoint welcomed the new changes by hosting a visit from Department for Work and Pensions Minister Stephen Timms MP

home