While Watford has enjoyed a strong crop of business openings this year there are also those it has loved and lost.

These six popular businesses will be missed from the town after shutting down in the past 12 months.

See the 2023 list below -

Sweet Time:

Watford Observer: Sweet TimeSweet Time (Image: Newsquest)
After being in business since 1985, family-run off licence Sweet Time in Watford High Street closed on June 29.

The owners would have had to look for another location if they wanted to keep running it after that date, but ultimately decided it was the right time to retire.

A planning application for flats to be built above the unit is pending consideration.

Ebb Tide:

Watford locals were sad to see news of a favourite Market Street chip shop’s closure when it was confirmed in July.

Former customers said they had “never had a disappointing meal” and remembered “lovely food, lovely people”.

The shop floor and the flat above it were put on the market for £695,000 “with vacant possession” and was empty by the end of July.

Wilko:

Watford Observer: Wilko in Watford.Wilko in Watford. (Image: Newsquest)

One of Watford High Street’s major stores, Wilko, closed on September 26 along with 36 other Wilko stores on the same day.

The brand collapsed into insolvency in the face of growing debts and weak consumer demand.

The Watford unit came under the control of administrators PWC.

Iceland:

Watford’s Iceland store, in The Parade, shut down permanently from October 14.

Around 20 Iceland branches across the country closed in 2023, but the brand has said that this is normal business practice.

There have been hints that a “major retailer” had shown interest in taking over the unit but this has not been confirmed.

Estcourt Arms:

Watford Observer: The Estcourt Arms.The Estcourt Arms. (Image: Stephen Danzig)
The Estcourt Arms, in St Johns Road, shut down when its landlords left on November 19 and it was subsequently boarded up.

Heineken subsidiary Star Pubs and Bars, which owns the building, has told the Watford Observer that repairs will be underway in January. Once these are complete, it will seek a new landlord to take over and reopen the pub.

Daisy's in the Park:

At the start of this month Daisy’s in the Park, in Cassiobury Park, closed.

The café’s owners also own Café in the Park, which opened a location in the Tea Pavilion (formerly Cha Café) on the other side of the park earlier this year.

Watford Borough Council has already lined up EMA Catering as its replacement, set to open in spring 2024.