Watford Observer

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:58:17 +0100
'Huge' fire as 65 firefighters called to scrapyard blaze - live updates
Fire engines have been called to a 'huge' fire at a scrapyard near Rickmansworth Aquadrome.

Tue, 05 May 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Savings to be had on hundreds of items at FabFinds
Whether you’re cleaning or giving your home and garden a new lease of life this spring, you will be wanting to save money on the much-needed essentials. And, if you want a one stop shop for all of your favourite brands for less, then head to FabFin...

Tue, 05 May 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Plan for 28-home new road recommended for approval despite objections
Controversial plans for 28 new homes in Bushey have been recommended for approval despite more than 100 objections.

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:21:42 +0100
Hertfordshire private schools included in new top 100 list
Several Hertfordshire private schools have been included in a new list of the UK's top 100 independent schools published by Think Academy.

Mon, 04 May 2026 15:07:23 +0100
Why this award-winning restaurant is one of Watford's best
The Watford Observer has shone a spotlight on Tarboush, one of the town's most popular restaurants.

Mon, 04 May 2026 13:35:07 +0100
Fears that Hertfordshire data centres will 'destroy' green belt
Hertfordshire's CPRE branch has argued that the building of data centres will "destroy" the county's green belt.

Mon, 04 May 2026 11:50:32 +0100
Three Watford-area schools celebrating new positive Ofsted reports
Three schools in and around Watford are celebrating after recently receiving positive reports from Ofsted.

Mon, 04 May 2026 10:42:53 +0100
Polls predict Watford local elections ahead of this week's vote
New polling has projected that the Liberal Democrats will win 11 of the 12 seats that are up for grabs in this week's Watford Borough Council elections.

Mon, 04 May 2026 10:15:39 +0100
The Hertfordshire hidden gem hailed as a 'pure magic'
Bayfordbury Observatotory in Hertfordshire has been hailed as a "hidden gem".

Mon, 04 May 2026 09:16:18 +0100
Social media influencer visits 'beautiful but boring' Watford
Watford has been branded "boring" by a social media influencer, although he did have praise for some of the town's "beautiful" houses.

Mon, 04 May 2026 05:30:00 +0100
High-flying school hailed as among nation's best
After praise from the Sunday Times and Think Academy, the Watford Observer shines a spotlight on St Clement Danes School in Chorleywood.

Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Plans submitted to extend two listed buildings in village
Here are the latest planning applications to be registered with Three Rivers District Council this week.

Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Meet the four friends reunited 63 years after leaving their Watford school
Four schoolmates returned to Parkgate Infant and Junior Schools in Watford for a reunion, 63 years after they left.

Sun, 03 May 2026 15:46:45 +0100
Hertfordshire village named among the prettiest near London
Condé Nast has included Ashwell in Hertfordshire in a new list of the prettiest villages near London.

Sun, 03 May 2026 15:14:01 +0100
Pub's kitchen to close for 'exciting' refurb
The kitchen of The Gate pub in Bricket Wood is set to temporarily close for an "exciting" refurb.

Sun, 03 May 2026 12:15:19 +0100
Watford has Hertfordshire's second highest crime rate - new Home Office figures
Watford has Hertfordshire's second highest crime rate according to new Home Office figures.

Sun, 03 May 2026 11:23:01 +0100
Top school provides update on future after closure avoided
Immanuel College in Bushey has provided an update after taking a "significant and positive step" towards securing its future.

Sun, 03 May 2026 10:19:11 +0100
Meet the Watford social media star set to appear on Celebrity Traitors
Watford-born content creator and YouTuber King Kenny is among the star-studded cast of Celebrity Traitors 2026

Sun, 03 May 2026 09:20:20 +0100
Partial closure orders at two properties plagued by drug use and ASB
Partial closure orders have been secured at two addresses in Hemel Hempstead after reports of drug use and antisocial behaviour.

Sun, 03 May 2026 08:00:00 +0100
Victorian house with bags of character still on sale with price reduced
This characterful four-bedroom, semi-detached Victorian house in Chequers Lane, Leavesden, near Watford, is for sale at £1m.

Sun, 03 May 2026 05:36:00 +0100
The 'must-try' café with delicious food that doubles as a modern art gallery
Combining a modern art gallery with a delicious coffee shop, it isn’t hard to see why Brass Monkey, Radlett, has become such a popular café.

Sun, 03 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100
All the latest planning applications submitted to Dacorum Borough Council
Here are the latest planning applications submitted to Dacorum Borough Council.

Sun, 03 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Luther Blissett given Rotary's 'highest honour' for charity work
Watford FC legend Luther Blissett was awarded the highest honour the Watford Rotary Club could bestow for his charity work.

Sun, 03 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100
The beautiful NHS partnership that enabled more patients to die at home
West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was recognised in the ‘Working in Partnership’ category at the NHS Excellence Awards.

Sat, 02 May 2026 17:14:29 +0100
Local elections - Watford parties explain why they deserve your vote
Political parties in Watford explain why they deserve your vote ahead of this week's local elections.

Sat, 02 May 2026 15:27:36 +0100
Four brilliant car boot sales running this Bank Holiday weekend
The Watford Observer rounds up four upcoming car boot sales in the Watford area over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Sat, 02 May 2026 14:58:53 +0100
Former professional footballer charged over Hertfordshire armed robbery
Former EFL footballer Myles Judd has been charged over an alleged armed robbery in St Albans.

Sat, 02 May 2026 11:10:48 +0100
Controlled explosion after child finds suspected bomb while playing with magnet
The bomb squad were called to Hemel Hempstead last night after a boy found what police believe was a "smoke bomb".

Sat, 02 May 2026 10:11:24 +0100
'Rowdy behaviour' sparks dispersal order in Hertfordshire town centre
Reports of "rowdy behaviour" in Welwyn Garden City have led to a dispersal order being put in place by police.

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:49:19 +0100
Watford underground trains face disruption over Bank Holiday weekend
Watford passengers are set to face disruption on the Metropolitan Line this weekend, as well as on Southern trains between Watford Junction and London Euston.

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:10:33 +0100
Antisemitic graffiti appears in high street as police probe launched
Police have confirmed that antisemitic graffiti has appeared in several locations in Rickmansworth High Street.

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0100
Picturesque medieval village 2 hours from Hertfordshire that featured in Harry Potter
The village of Lavenham in Suffolk is two hours away from Hertfordshire and was featured in Harry Potter.

Sat, 02 May 2026 08:00:00 +0100
Popular Watford pub hailed as 'the king of Sunday roasts'
The Watford Observer shines a spotlight on why The Prince George is one the town's most popular pubs.

Sat, 02 May 2026 07:30:00 +0100
Discover the tucked away 'lovely old' Hertfordshire pub with 'excellent' service
The Old Manor pub in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, has been described as "lovely" and offering "excellent" service.

Sat, 02 May 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Harlequin store 'waving goodbye' as 'doors closed permanently'
The L'Occitane en Provence store in Harlequin Watford has said “goodbye for now” after leaving the shopping centre.

Sat, 02 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Watford FC youth mental health project secures funding
The Watford FC Community Sport and Education Trust has secured funding from the Watford Health Trust to extend its Youth Link scheme, which helps young people living with mental health concerns, for another year

Sat, 02 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100
'I ran the London Marathon for the cancer centre that helped save my Tino's life'
Describing herself as "not a runner" did not stop Jenny Morris from raising £5,500 in the London Marathon for the Paul Strickland Scanner Centre.

Sat, 02 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Trees in conservation areas could be felled and altered over 'structural issues'
Here are the latest planning applications submitted to Watford Borough Council this week.

Sat, 02 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Rotary quiz raises thousands for Watford good causes
More than 100 people gathered to raise thousands of pounds at Watford Rotary’s Super Super Quiz, at Watford Holiday Inn, in aid of good causes in the town.

Fri, 01 May 2026 20:45:37 +0100
'Suspicious device' sees police cordon installed - recap
A "suspicious device" has seen police called to Hemel Hempstead - with the force urging people to avoid the area.

Fri, 01 May 2026 19:39:00 +0100
New management at The Horns 'determined to make it work'
The new management at The Horns, Hempstead Road, Watford, face a lot of work to get it firing again but are "determined" to make the venue a success.

Fri, 01 May 2026 17:10:00 +0100
Which of Watford's new speciality supermarkets is the best? Our verdict
We visited La Mart, Alli Bhavan, and Wing Yip to find out which is best.

Fri, 01 May 2026 13:40:15 +0100
Boris Johnson visits 'charming' pub near Watford with dad Stanley
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson made an appearance at a pub near Watford this morning (May 1) to celebrate the launch of his father's new book.

Fri, 01 May 2026 14:30:00 +0100
Harlequin store closure confirmed as sale launched
The Klass. store inside Harlequin Watford is running a closing down sale as it prepares to close in June.

Fri, 01 May 2026 13:00:00 +0100
Fundraiser for 'beloved' husband killed in Hertfordshire crash raises £36,000
A fundraiser has hit £36,000 following the death of a "beloved" husband who was killed in a crash in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

Fri, 01 May 2026 11:32:21 +0100
Best school in Hertfordshire named as several in Watford area make UK top 100 list
A recently published school league table has been topped by a Hertfordshire school, with several in the Watford area making the top 100.

Fri, 01 May 2026 11:03:37 +0100
Man stabbed in Watford row last night - police appeal launched
A man required hospital treatment after a row in Watford last night (April 30) that saw him suffer a stab wound.

Fri, 01 May 2026 11:00:00 +0100
Pizza Hut branch 'temporarily closed' - what we know so far
Pizza Hut has confirmed that its Croxley Green branch is "temporarily closed" after its franchisee ran into "financial difficulties".

Fri, 01 May 2026 10:00:00 +0100
One Stop Healthcare: Preserve your peace of mind with GP memberships
One Stop Healthcare: Preserve your peace of mind with GP memberships.

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:46:42 +0100
Hospitality giant to axe 197 restaurants including Watford location
Hospitality giant Whitbread has announced plans to close its remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites, including the Watford Brewers Fayre location

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