Watford Observer

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:46:25 +0000
Trailer released for Leavesden-filmed Harry Potter show as release date confirmed
HBO has released the first trailer for its Harry Potter television reboot, filmed at Warner Bros, Studios Leavesden.

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:07:29 +0000
Emergency services called to Watford town centre fire
Emergency services were called to a fire in Market Street, Watford yesterday evening (March 25).

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:30:00 +0000
New hygiene ratings published for dozens of businesses ranging from 1/5 to 5/5
While the vast majority of Watford businesses have been praised for their "very good" food hygiene standards, some have been told the improve.

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:30:00 +0000
Watford-area secondary schools ranked in new School Guide league table
Watford's secondary schools have been ranked by School Guide, using a range of official data

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:31:00 +0000
Spring staples faves from the M&S 'Love That' collection
Is your wardrobe in need of a spring style update? It’s time to head to M&S.

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000
More gates among major upgrades to beat bottlenecks at Watford Junction
Plans to double the number of ticket gates, expand the concourse, and improve accessibility at Watford Junction station have been welcomed by MP Matt Turmaine.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:56:44 +0000
Watford Junction trains to be cancelled over 6 days starting next week
Watford Junction trains towards London Euston will be cancelled during wide-ranging works on the railway set to begin next week.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:13:00 +0000
'Drink driving' arrest after child on scooter, 8, injured in hit-and-run
A man has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving after a hit-and-run crash left an eight-year-old on a scooter injured in Croxley Green.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:10:00 +0000
Family 'utterly heartbroken' over 'painfully short' manslaughter sentence
David Lewis, who threw an unprovoked punch which killed a “wonderful dad and loving husband” in Hemel Hempstead, has been jailed.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000
'£6m SEND boost means more children can attend a school nearer home'
Watford MP Matt Turmaine has welcomed an additional £6 million to support SEND provision in Hertfordshire, bringing total investment to more than £17 million.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:20:00 +0000
'Unauthorised conversion' of house to HMO being investigated
Alleged unauthorised conversion of a house in Carpenders Park into a HMO is being investigated after an enforcement complaint.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:45:00 +0000
Why this 'superb' micropub was Watford's standout 'hidden gem' bar
Two Trees Micro has been named as the town’s stand out “hidden gem” by The Great British Pub Crawl.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:40:18 +0000
Herts Police's handling of sex abuse allegations against Andrew Tate investigated
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Hertfordshire Constabulary’s handling of sex abuse allegations made against influencer Andrew Tate.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:55:00 +0000
Boy, 12, knocked from bike in crash with 4x4 before driver 'shouted at him'
Herts Police are investigating after a boy was injured in a crash with a four-by-four while cycling in North Watford.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:48:00 +0000
Look back at music icon Sir Elton's Watford concerts on his birthday
To celebrate Elton John's 79th birthday, a look back at his concerts in Watford including Vicarage Road, Top Rank, Bailey's and the Town Hall.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:40:00 +0000
Watford MP raises child abuse case at PMQs as he calls on Starmer to change law
Watford's MP Matt Turmaine called for a law change at PMQs today (March 25), raising a paedophilia case in his constituency to Sir Keir Starmer.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:41:00 +0000
NO ACCESS to Watford via Bushey Arches during bridge works starting tomorrow
There will be no access to Watford High Street via Bushey Arches starting tomorrow.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:21:07 +0000
Fly-tippers sentenced over huge dumps at swimming pool and football club
Two men - including one from Watford - have been sentenced over fly-tipping at a swimming pool and football club in South Oxhey.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:27:49 +0000
One killed and one fighting for life as man arrested over 'drug driving' after crash
Herts Police arrested a man over drug driving after a crash killed one woman and left another fighting for life.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:11:24 +0000
Former Hertfordshire councillor admits having 500 indecent images of children
A former Labour councillor in Hertfordshire and aide to Stevenage’s MP has pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000
The 'insanely good' Italian restaurant that's among Watford's most popular
Find out what makes L'artista in Watford High Street one of the towns favourite restaurants

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:23:00 +0000
Major supermarket appears to be eyeing new Watford store
A licensing application suggests a new Sainsbury’s store is coming to Clarendon Road, Watford.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:38:24 +0000
Fault on train forces suspension of Watford Junction line for hours
Trains have been cancelled for hours due to a fault on an Abbey Line train between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey 👇

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:08:08 +0000
Man suffers 'stab wounds' in Watford as police appeal launched
A man suffered suspected stab wounds following a row in Watford, sparking a police appeal for information.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:10:58 +0000
New town centre bar set to open THIS FRIDAY
Watford's newest food and drink venue is now just days away from opening, with one of the town's biggest vacant units finally being filled.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000
Watford community summit brings local services together
Local health, care, and community organisations came together for a community summit hosted by Watford & Three Rivers Trust.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:30:00 +0000
M1, M25 and A1(M) closures in Hertfordshire scheduled this week
Closures on the M25, A1(M), and M1 are coming up later this week, on the latest list of motorway closures for Hertfordshire.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:30:00 +0000
Save £10 on Just Go’s flower show overnight packages
Spring has sprung and if you’re looking for some floral inspiration, Just Go Holidays has plenty of choice.

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:25:00 +0000
Man who graffitied crosses on church becoming mosque cleared due to mental health
Watford man Danny Manning was cleared of criminal damage but pleaded guilty to possessing a knife and axe in public.

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:35:00 +0000
Man 'exposed himself' in Watford this morning - suspect description shared
Herts Police have shared a description after a man reportedly exposed himself in Watford today.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:49:48 +0000
'Serious' crash closes road by hospital as air ambulance called
A “serious” crash has blocked a road in Rickmansworth, near Mount Vernon Hospital.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:42:46 +0000
RECAP after 'air ambulance called to bad crash'
Herts Police have warned motorists to avoid White Hill, Rickmansworth, which is near Mount Vernon, Northwood, after a crash.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:15:00 +0000
Three Watford town centre parking spaces up for auction starting at £9k
Three parking spaces behind Market Street in Watford town centre are going up for auction with a guide price of £9,000.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:06:00 +0000
Nineteen community projects receiving funding boost in Watford
Watford Borough Council has awarded £32,420 to 19 community projects through the Mayor’s Small Grant Fund, supporting initiatives that promote wellbeing.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +0000
When Terry and June star Terry Scott watched Watford face West Ham
A look back to when Terry and June star Terry Scott watched Watford take on West Ham United at Vicarage Road in 1981.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:32:43 +0000
New house could soon be built on gap between homes in road
A new house could soon be built on a gap between homes in Louvain Way, North Watford.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:29:00 +0000
Firefighters rescue two from fire at three-storey block of flats
Two people had to be rescued from a fire at a block of flats in South Oxhey by firefighters using ladders.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:10:00 +0000
Men arrested over Bushey burglaries after police chase ended with car rammed
Two men were arrested over burglaries in Bushey and St Albans after a chase which ended with police ramming a car by the M25 and A1(M).

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:28:13 +0000
Body found in vehicle in Hemel Hempstead during search for missing man
A body has been found in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, amid a Bedfordshire Police search for a missing man.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:44:48 +0000
Man dies in Hertfordshire crash - appeal for witnesses and footage
A man in his 60s died in a fatal crash on the A602 in Hertfordshire – sparking an appeal for information from witnesses and footage.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:25:26 +0000
'Shameful' video shows fly-tippers sneaking at night to dump mattress in alley
A "shameful" video shows fly tippers carrying a mattress to dump in a Meriden, Watford, alley at night.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:10:56 +0000
'Moderate' risk of fire at Watford General car park that could cripple the site
The chance of a vehicle fire in Watford Hospital’s multi-storey car park is an ongoing risk at the site, according to a hospital trust report.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:55:00 +0000
Date set as housing associations to merge their 13,500 Hertfordshire homes
Watford Community Housing and Thrive Homes will merge and bring together their 13,500 homes on June 1.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:30:00 +0000
Watford great-grandfather 'failed at every stage' before brain bleed death
The family of a Watford man who died after his St Mary's Hospital transfer was classed “non-urgent” despite a bleed on the brain say he was “failed".

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:30:00 +0000
Art exhibition celebrating River Colne opens at Watford café
A new art exhibition at Watford’s Pump House Arts Centre celebrates the River Colne through painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:29:00 +0000
New Egg-venture at Go Ape this Easter
The Easter holidays are just around the corner so if you’re looking for different ways to keep your child and their friends entertained, check out the adventure of all adventures.

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:28:00 +0000
Watford Grammar School for Girls begins construction of new eco-friendly building
Watford Grammar School for Girls to open eco-friendly new teaching block Grace Fergie House.

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:35:00 +0000
Watford fans told they can no longer use sports club's car park on matchdays
Hornets fans have been banned from a busy Watford car park which has become an “accident waiting to happen” on matchdays.

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +0000
Classic pictures inside beloved village pub nearly 50 years ago
A look back at how the Rose & Crown pub in Kings Langley looked inside and out 45 years ago in 1981.

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000
'Deteriorating' 18th century house on verge of flats conversion approval
A grand 18th century Grade II listed house in Croxley Green is on the verge of conversion into six homes.

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