The former sites of some major businesses are currently up for sale or lease in Watford High Street.

Some of the biggest commercial properties in the country can be found on websites many would usually associate with house hunting like Rightmove or Zoopla.

Who the future occupiers of these five in the centre of Watford may be of particular interest to Watford Observer readers.

See the list below (names of most recent occupiers given):

Shoezone

Watford Observer: Watford High Street Shoezone.Watford High Street Shoezone. (Image: Contribution)

Having closed on Friday (January 5), Shoezone is on the market for a new business to take it over.

Located between Pret A Manger and Greggs, it is currently up for lease at £6,250 per calendar month.

The unit measures 1,539-square-feet and spans two levels (ground and first floor).

McDonalds

Watford Observer: McDonalds in Watford High Street (in 2018 while it was open).McDonalds in Watford High Street (in 2018 while it was open). (Image: Google Street View)

The former McDonalds branch opposite Watford Market is available for a new leaseholder to take over at a £5,833 rent each month, or £70,000 per year.

It shut in 2019 and has remained closed ever since.

Poundland

Watford Observer: Poundland in Watford High Street.Poundland in Watford High Street. (Image: Google Street View)

Poundland moved its Watford offering from the High Street to the former John Lewis unit in atria Watford at the end of November.

This left the 6,250-square-foot High Street unit it occupied empty and it remains on the market at £15,000 per year.

Pryzm

Watford Observer: Pryzm Watford.Pryzm Watford. (Image: George Kirk/Watford Observer Camera Club)

The largest unit on the list by some distance, the former Pryzm Watford nightclub spans 57,271-square-feet.

Rather than for lease, it is on the market for sale and commands a £6million price tag.

Pryzm clubbers enjoyed their final night on New Year’s Eve after the nightclub was unable to reach an agreement with its landlord on a new lease.

Canvas

Watford Observer: Canvas.Canvas. (Image: Warren Anthony)

Canvas Bar & Nightclub, next to Oxfam in The Parade, is up for lease via estate agents Warren Anthony, but the Watford Observer understands it is not in danger of closing as a venue.

Canvas’ current operators are not leaving, and the decision is apparently not due to financial circumstances.

According to Warren Anthony, it has a licence to open Monday through to Sunday but currently only opens to partygoers on Friday and Saturday.

The owners have other business commitments and so have decided to lease out the venue to new operators who can take better advantage of the existing licence and open for more nights.