Watford Observer

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:32:34 +0100
Police confirm 'incident' which closed Hertfordshire M25 for three hours this morning
A woman being spotted on a bridge over the M25 in Hertfordshire forced the motorway’s closure for hours this morning.

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:58:00 +0100
Missing boy, 14, 'now believed to have travelled into Watford'
A missing 14-year-old boy is believed to have travelled to Watford, prompting a Herts Police appeal for residents to look out for him.

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:35:00 +0100
Watford business' unit goes on market following closure after almost 50 years
The unit for a well-loved Watford business has gone on the market following its closure after almost 50 years.

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:45:00 +0100
Hertfordshire M25 shut for hours amid 'police incident' - what we know so far
Drivers were trapped on the M25 motorway near Watford in Hertfordshire for hours as a “police incident” shut the motorway.

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Pair of holly trees and festive planters under £50 from You Garden
This week You Garden is getting you ready for the festive season and saving you money too.

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:30:00 +0100
'Speculative' bid for 40 homes on green belt slammed by objectors
"Speculative" plans for 40 homes on the green belt in Bedmond have been slammed by residents and a councillor for the area.

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Second suspect arrested over Watford shop break-in as burglar sentenced
Herts Police have arrested a second suspect as the first has been sentenced over a Watford shop burglary.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:34:00 +0100
'Heartbreaking' closure of beloved shop confirmed as housing plan approved
Bushey is set to greengrocer Andrew's after its "incredibly disappointed" owner confirmed it will be forced to shut.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:31:41 +0100
Closed pub restaurant NOT on list of reopening sites in rescue deal
Recently closed Watford pub restaurant Rising Sun Brewers Fayre looks to have been left out of a 110-location deal to save its chain.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:34:00 +0100
The Grove nominated for prestigious Condé Nast excellence award
The Grove hotel on the edge of Watford has been nominated for a prestigious Condé Nast award.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:25:00 +0100
Policewoman assaulted fellow cops at temple and was 'reckless' at Watford General
A former Metropolitan Police officer has been barred after assaulting colleagues at a Bushey temple and behaving in a "reckless and unsafe" way at Watford General Hospital.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:39:00 +0100
Two teens and 20-year-old arrested over Watford burglary
Two teenagers and a 20-year-old have been arrested over a burglary in Park ward, Watford.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:50:00 +0100
HERT trackless trams to revive Watford to Croxley branch as full strategy revealed
HERT plans to reopen the Watford to Croxley rail route and transform transport across Hertfordshire have been revealed.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:17:20 +0100
Refurb begins as popular pub closes for two weeks
A popular pub has closed for a two-week refurb aimed at giving it a fresh "sparkle".

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:35:00 +0100
Resurfacing in busy Watford road expected to cause traffic issues
Road resurfacing at a busy junction is set to cause traffic issues for the Meriden, Watford, area.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0100
Warner Bros allowed to use 11 new soundstages without M25 improvements
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, home to Harry Potter filming, has had the condition requiring M25 junction improvements before its expansion removed.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Save £400pp on Riviera Travel's 11-night Classic China tour
Riviera Travel’s Deal of the Week: Embark on a remarkable journey of discovery across China, one of the world's largest and most captivating countries, steeped in ancient history.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Damning Ofsted at former 'outstanding' school exposes 'racism and poor behaviour'
Watford's Parkgate Junior School has received a damning Ofsted report that highlights pupils' frequent poor behaviour and racist language.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:30:00 +0100
HMO use granted upon appeal for former bungalow transformed by 28 applications
A once-quaint Kings Langley bungalow expanded through 28 planning applications and 12 appeals can now be used as an HMO.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:00:09 +0100
A Golden Age! Bushey Greengrocers in the 1960s and 70s
Andrew’s Fruiterer’s in Bushey Heath was rescued by RossCo Greengrocers on March 8, but plans to convert the traditional shop into homes threaten its future.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:05:00 +0100
Watford-area curry houses featured in new national top 100 list
Two curry houses near Watford have been named among the UK's best.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:34:00 +0100
70-home plan returns with approval advised amid 'slam dunk' appeal fears
Rejected plans for 70 homes are back on the table and have been recommended for approval ahead of a crucial vote.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:02:06 +0100
Watford town centre eatery confirms permanent closure
Ramen Hozan in Watford town centre will be closing for good this weekend (October 18).

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:03:37 +0100
Hertfordshire disruption after person hit by train between St Albans and London
A person has been hit by a train between St Albans City and London St Pancras International, causing disruption in Hertfordshire.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:35:00 +0100
Watford pub to shut for more than two weeks during refurb
Watford pub O'Neill's is set to shut for more than two weeks while refurbishment is underway.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:05:00 +0100
Pub giant with large Watford presence could sell 300 sites to rival
The UK's biggest pub company is reportedly considering selling 300 of its locations to a rival in a move which could have implications for its Watford venues.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:05:00 +0100
Lidl delays opening BOTH new Watford supermarkets in fresh blow
The launch of two new Lidl stores for Watford and Hunton Bridge has been pushed back to next year.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:00:13 +0100
Key road set for 10-day closure starting next week
A key road connecting two Hertfordshire villages is set to close for 10 days.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:53:00 +0100
Newest flags WILL be removed from lampposts, council confirms
Hertfordshire County Council has confirmed that English and Union flags will be removed from lampposts in South Oxhey.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:35:00 +0100
'Early care has transformed my daughter's world - now she’s happy and confident'
Early eye care at Watford General Hospital has transformed a Watford girl’s world.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 08:45:00 +0100
Police U-turn on moving cops out of local stations for start of shifts
Police have U-turned on moving officers out of local stations in Abbots Langley and South Oxhey at the start of shifts.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:40:00 +0100
Drunk driver swerved along M25, sped and mounted pavement before crash
A drunk driver who swerved along the M25 in Hertfordshire and mounted the pavement during a police chase has been jailed.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0100
15% off orders over £75 at Scream Pretty
Whether you’re buying for a friend or loved one, searching a birthday or Christmas gift, Scream Pretty has unique jewellery gifts suited for everyone.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 05:30:00 +0100
'Appalling' bins at office block converted into controversial flats spark outcry
“Utterly appalling” bins at a controversial converted office block in Kings Langley now housing 74 flats have sparked outcry in a village.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:37:47 +0100
Watford Edwardian home on sale for £1.375m with summerhouse and large garden
Edwardian four-bedroom house in Watford listed at £1.375m, with a summerhouse, 2,100 sq ft of space, large garden and parking for several cars.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:25:25 +0100
Watford house listed for £1.1m with principal bedroom spanning the entire first floor
Four-bedroom detached house in Watford listed for £1.1m, with a renovated interior, underfloor heating, EV charging and a principal suite with balcony.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:55:02 +0100
Borehamwood bingo hall could become immersive visitor and leisure venue
Hertsmere planning applications include a Borehamwood bingo hall conversion, new homes in Potters Bar and Radlett, extensions and tree works in the area.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:45:30 +0100
Heathrow West consultation among this week's planning applications
Planning applications include Heathrow West consultation, urgent tree works in Moor Park, a Croxley Green rear extension and Watford medical facility plans.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:32:10 +0100
Dacorum planning applications include 17 parking bays and four-caravan site
Dacorum Council validates latest planning applications, including new homes, a four-caravan Gypsy and Traveller site, parking bays, extensions and tree works.

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:21:30 +0100
Watford plans submitted for five new apartments and home extensions
Latest Watford planning applications include rear and side extensions at 101 Sussex Road and an extra storey at Eclipse House creating five new apartments.

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:40:00 +0100
Watford mayor Peter Taylor confirmed as MP candidate for Lib Dems
Watford mayor Peter Taylor will stand to become the town’s next MP as the Liberal Democrat candidate.

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:00:00 +0100
Man charged with burglary over Watford shop break-in
A man has been arrested after two people reportedly forced their way into a North Watford shop and stole cash from the till.

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 14:35:00 +0100
Three men charged after police chase down M1 in Hertfordshire
Three men have been charged after a Herts Police chase down the M1 in Hertfordshire following a reported theft in Hemel Hempstead.

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:45:00 +0100
Handyman 'accidentally created mustard gas' at Uni of Hertfordshire, tribunal finds
A handyman who “inadvertently” created mustard gas, leading to a university gym being evacuated, was fairly dismissed, a tribunal has found.

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:55:00 +0100
Chiropractor who 'pulled down woman's underwear' guilty of unacceptable conduct
A St Albans Road, Watford chiropractor who pulled down a patient’s underwear without informed consent has been found guilty of unacceptable conduct.

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:56:00 +0100
Cyclist suffers 'life-changing' injuries in crash - police appeal launched
A “serious” crash has left a cyclist with life-changing injuries and sparked a police appeal for information.

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:01:13 +0100
1,000 free burgers up for grabs NOW as Burger King reopens after refurb
There are 1,000 free burgers up for grabs as Burger King has reopened with a new look in High Street, Watford this morning.

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Countdown to Christmas 2026… the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar is here
The time has come… the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 2026 has landed!

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Filming to take over road today with traffic to be held
Filming will get underway in Bushey Grove Road, Bushey, later today as traffic restrictions have been prepared.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:47:35 +0100
Seven-year-old Watford dancer crowned national champion after less than a year
Seven-year-old Henley Wright from Carpenders Park wins ISTD National Champion title in under-8 street dance, impressing Shirley Ballas at Guildford finals.

home