Watford Observer
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:05:36 +0000Children's play area reopens after being plagued by 'dozens of rats'
A children's play area in Abbots Langley has reopened after "dozens of rats" forced its closure earlier this month.
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:29:40 +0000Land near two 'outstanding' schools 'under offer' after failed homes plans
A "prominent" parcel of lane near two "outstanding" schools with housebuilding potential is now "under offer"
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000Padel tennis courts coming to Watford as part of leisure centre upgrades
Five new padel tennis courts are being built at Woodside Leisure Centre and Playing Fields in Watford, with two open‑air and three covered, floodlit courts.
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:32:00 +0000Everything you need to know ahead of Space NK opening in the Harlequin
Space NK is set to open in Watford on April 10 - here is everything you need to know.
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:30:00 +0000Stunning £1.85m luxury home with showstopping features put on sale
A stunning five-bedroom detached house Cassiobury Drive, Watford, is on the market for £1.85m.
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:32:00 +0000Sweet pea collection will reward you and your garden all summer
Imagine your garden filled with colour, your home filled with perfume, and friends asking how you did it… get the Ultimate Sweet Pea Collection from You Garden and the collection will reward all summer long.
Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:41:00 +0000NO ACCESS to Watford via Bushey Arches during bridge works starting TODAY
There will be no access to Watford High Street via Bushey Arches starting tomorrow.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:14:40 +0000Daughter dies in hospital after being airlifted from crash which killed mother
A second woman has died after being airlifted to hospital following a crash near Mount Vernon Hospital which killed her mother and saw one man arrested.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:08:31 +0000Girl dies in Herts horror crash as two others seriously injured and driver arrested
A “bright and beautiful” girl has died in a horror crash in Hertfordshire, police have confirmed, as two others were seriously hurt and the driver arrested.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:45:00 +0000Grade II listed former pub on Grand Union Canal could become five flats
Batchworth Lock House, on the Grand Union Canal in Rickmansworth, could be turned into five flats under newly unveiled plans.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +0000Look back at town centre street before Watford ring road built
A look back at a view of King Street from Granville Road in the 1960s before the ring road was built in Watford.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:35:00 +0000Watford bus disruption warning amid Hertfordshire strike ballot
Watford buses 602 and 635 could soon face disruption amid a strike balloting at an operator in Hertfordshire.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000The school creating its own wellbeing garden to make pupils more creative
York House School near Croxley Green is launching a new wellbeing garden designed to help pupils connect with nature, improve focus and creativity.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:45:00 +0000Balaclava-clad youths on motorbikes target drivers again as police probe launched
Balaclava wearing youths on motorbikes have reportedly surrounded more vehicles in Bushey after a car was smashed up.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:17:00 +0000Popular classic car show confirms return after four-year absence
Popular car show Classics on the Green in Croxley Green is set to return this year after four years away.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:10:00 +0000Highly rated restaurant 'closed until further notice over gas pipes issue'
Highly rated restaurant Osteria Chipperfield has closed suddenly and “until further notice”.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000CCTV shows fatal punch which killed 'warm family man' in Hemel Hempstead
CCTV footage showing the final moments of a “warm” family man killed by an unprovoked punch at Hemel Hempstead Football Club has been shared.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:15:00 +0000Fire cause confirmed after blaze at town centre restaurant
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed that a fire in Market Street, Watford, was an accidental blaze with no injuries reported.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:57:00 +0000The areas being 'blighted' by fly-tipping as residents 'fed up'
Residents in Carpenders Park and South Oxhey, which have been blighted by fly tipping, are “fed up” with repeat dumping.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:20:00 +0000A-list comedian set to perform at Watford Colosseum
One of Britain's best-known comedians Lenny Henry has announced he will be performing at the Watford Colosseum later this year, with tickets on sale tomorrow (March 27).
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:13:46 +0000Gyms in Watford offering free sessions for young people this Easter
Young people in Watford can enjoy free gym and swimming sessions at Everyone Active’s Central and Woodside leisure centres from March 30 to April 10.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:46:25 +0000Trailer 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 +0000Emergency 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 +0000New 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 +0000Watford-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 +0000Spring 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 +0000More 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.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:48:12 +0000Former police officer spat at and headbutted colleagues, misconduct panel finds
A former police officer who spat at and headbutted colleagues while off duty committed gross misconduct, a disciplinary panel has concluded.
Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:56:44 +0000Watford 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 +0000Family '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 +0000Why 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 +0000Herts 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 +0000Boy, 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 +0000Look 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 +0000Watford 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 12:21:07 +0000Fly-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 +0000One 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 +0000Former 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 +0000The '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 +0000Major 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 +0000Fault 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 +0000Man 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 +0000New 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 +0000Watford 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 +0000M1, 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 +0000Save £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 +0000Man 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.