Watford Observer

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 09:18:44 +0000
Investigation launched after three-hour blaze blocked Watford to London trains
An investigation has been launched after a fire ripped through Primrose Hill station and blocked Watford Junction trains.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000
The best winter weather photos from our Watford Observer Camera Club
The final selection of photos on the theme of 'winter weather' taken by Watford Observer Camera Club members.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000
The 'dangerous' Watford road with 'dinosaur footprint' potholes
“Dangerous” potholes in Harwoods Road, Watford, cause vehicles to rattle as residents fear someone could be seriously hurt.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000
‘Perfect countryside escape’ - inside Hertfordshire's 100-year-old farm shop
Foxholes Farm Shop & Butchery in Hertfordshire has been described as the “perfect countryside escape.”

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Hertfordshire's best countryside pub known for ‘fantastic’ roasts
The Bricklayers Arms in Flaunden has been described as “excellent” and is loved for its “fantastic” Sunday roasts.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:25:00 +0000
'Stabbing' confirmed as reason '12 police cars' called to road
A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing GBH level injuries after a stabbing in Lytham Way, South Oxhey.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000
Move to shut 'beating heart of the community' school passes by single vote
The closure of St Nicholas C of E School has been confirmed by one vote.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:20:00 +0000
Church brings community together to clean-up its green space
St Mary’s Church Watford hosts ‘Green Heart’ clean-up and RSPB Big Birdwatch, uniting locals to restore green spaces and support UK wildlife conservation.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000
Memories of when a pool bar opened at a former Watford pub
A look back to when a Mr Qs pool bar opened at the former Verulam Arms pub in St Albans Road, Watford, in 1993.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:45:00 +0000
One of Watford's top-rated pubs shutting permanently
One of Watford’s top-rated pubs, The Southern Cross in Langley Road, will permanently close down.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:23:00 +0000
Herts synagogues agree merger to create one of UK's biggest Jewish communities
Elstree Liberal and Radlett Reform synagogues have voted to merge, creating one of the UK's largest Jewish communities.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:20:17 +0000
Day nursery to open in part of former TGI Fridays unit
Planning documents have revealed that a new day nursery is set to open alongside Tesco at the former TGI Fridays unit in North Watford.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:13:00 +0000
Potential victims of historical abuse at church urged to come forward
The Diocese of St Albans has urged potential victims to come forward with information about possible abuse at a Chorleywood church in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:00:11 +0000
70 firefighters at scene of lineside blaze blocking Watford trains
A fire near the railway line in Chalk Farm, Camden, London has caused travel chaos from Watford Junction, with mass cancellations.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:30:49 +0000
'Lineside fire' causes mass disruption to Watford Junction trains - recap
A "lineside fire" has caused mass disruption for Watford Junction to Euston trains, with cancellations expected to last for hours.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:57:00 +0000
Big-name retailer on brink of collapse with Watford store at risk
GAME has filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators, putting its remaining stores - including in Watford - at risk.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:12:50 +0000
Inquest begins into death of Herts man after plane crashed into reservoir
An inquest has begun into the death of a Hertfordshire man after a fatal plane crash at Hanningfield Reservoir between Chelmsford and Billericay.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:35:00 +0000
Trains to be cancelled over six days during 'huge' works
A “huge programme of improvement work” will cancel West Coast Main Line trains through Watford Junction over six days.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:18:00 +0000
Pub closure confirmed with new owners 'taking over in due course'
New owners are set to take over at Rickmansworth's Rose and Crown pub after it temporarily closed.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000
In memoriam: Death notices in the Watford Observer
The Watford Observer has published four death notices in the last seven days.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:23:41 +0000
Police at scene of motorway slip road crash - recap
Herts Police are at the scene of a motorway slip road crash near Watford.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:48:10 +0000
Popular paddling pools undergoing maintenance work
Maintenance work is currently taking place at the popular Cassiobury paddling pools in Watford.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:14:39 +0000
Plan for extra house in Watford road submitted
Plans have been submitted for an extra house to be built in a Watford road following the demolition of an existing cycle store.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 07:31:54 +0000
Emotional Joshua opens up on loss of 'brothers' in crash
Watford-born boxer Anthony Joshua has insisted he knows what he has got to do after the death of close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele last month.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000
Family home with green views and garden studio on market for £500,000
A north Watford family home with a "peaceful outlook" across green space is up for sale at £500,000. In North Western Avenue, it features a garden studio, off-street EV charging and parking, and peaceful green views.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000
Rejected mosque plan to be 'scaled back and resubmitted'
The applicant behind a rejected plan for a mosque in Leavesden Road, Watford, says he will submit a revised proposal for the former church.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:55:00 +0000
Save 10% on European tour breaks with Riviera Travel
Setting off to some of the world’s most fascinating destinations, Riviera Travel, the UK’s leading river cruise and escorted tour operator, should be your first port of call if you’re looking for curated tours just for you.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:28:00 +0000
Mosque to church plan in Watford recommended for approval
Turning the former St Thomas United Reformed Church into a mosque has been recommended for approval days after a similar scheme was thrown out.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:45:00 +0000
The village near Watford which 'could be destroyed' by developers
Sarratt residents fear developments could "destroy" their village as they seek to fight twin plans

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000
Why Watford High Street view has vanished
This view of Watford High Street has mostly vanished even though most of the buildings are still standing.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000
K-Pop shows announced for Palace Theatre after similar Colosseum events axed
Watford Palace Theatre has announced a K-Pop Demon Hunters themed show for April after a similar event at the Watford Colosseum was cancelled.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:53:29 +0000
'Traffic stopped' after M25 'vehicle fire' - recap
All lanes of the anticlockwise M25 have been stopped after a vehicle fire at junction 22 in Hertfordshire.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:17:43 +0000
Three charged over catalytic converter thefts in Watford
Police have charged three men over catalytic converter thefts in Watford and other areas of Hertfordshire.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:50:00 +0000
'Fight not over' as refused 600-home plan appeal expected
Neighbours have celebrated 600 homes near Whippendell Wood being blocked as a victory for the green belt – but many fear an appeal.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:20:00 +0000
New Greggs store 'coming soon' at petrol station
Greggs looks set to open a new store in Uxbridge Road, Rickmansworth.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:56:37 +0000
'Bank card scammer targeting elderly' at parking machines
A credit card scammer is believed to have targeted an elderly woman in Radlett and two others in Radlett and Bushey yesterday.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:47:14 +0000
Faster diagnoses as cutting edge technique rolled out at Watford General
Watford General Hospital now offers Spyglass endoscopy, enabling faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatment of liver and pancreatic diseases.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:21:00 +0000
Removal of all 170 controversial boulders from village green recommended
Removal of all 170 controversial boulders on The Green, Croxley Green, has been recommended.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:24:21 +0000
Three lanes closed amid Herts M25 crash - recap
Three lanes were reportedly closed on the M25 in Hertfordshire after a crash this morning (January 29

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 07:46:57 +0000
Work begins on huge industrial development near M25
Work has begun on Trade City Maple Cross, an 88,000 sq ft industrial and warehousing hub near the M25.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000
Look inside popular restaurant near Watford 30 years ago
A look back at how the popular Long Island Exchange, in Rickmansworth, looked inside in 1993.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000
Notorious width restriction going nowhere despite ANPR success
Hertfordshire County Council has no plans to remove the Woodmere Avenue width restriction, despite ANPR initially proposed as a replacement being introduced.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 07:54:00 +0000
Beautiful Begonias on offer from You Garden
Begonias are renowned for the vibrant colours and foliage and they’re taking the spotlight in this week’s offers from You Garden.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
MP pays tribute to 'unsung heroes' Citizens Advice during Westminster visit
Watford MP Matt Turmaine hosted Citizens Advice Watford staff at Parliament and presented departing chief officer Emma Burgham with a bottle of wine signed by the Prime Minister.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:01:52 +0000
Santander to close 44 bank branches in the UK this year - see the full list
It comes less than a year after Santander announced the closure of 95 branches last March, in a round of cuts which hit 750 workers.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:58:49 +0000
New Royal Mint £5 coin challenge that could win entrants £29k - can you solve it?
The Royal Mint has launched a new £5 coin, which forms part of a nationwide code-breaker challenge inspired by Sir Isaac Newton.

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:30:00 +0000
Police rammed 'drug driver fleeing chase on wrong side of motorway'
Herts Police had to ram an alleged drug driver who fled a chase the wrong way up the M25.

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:50:00 +0000
Watford 'brothel' attack: no new arrests as probe continues
Police have confirmed that no new arrests have been made after a knife attack at a suspected brothel in Watford.

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:23:00 +0000
Family business launched to replace long-running restaurant
Family business Olive Hill has been launched to replace a Derwish restaurant in St Albans Road, which operated for more than eight years.

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:09:00 +0000
MP visits exhibition honouring victims of Holocaust
Watford MP Matt Turmaine attended Parliament’s “In Their Footsteps” Holocaust Memorial Day exhibition, honouring victims of the Nazi genocide.

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