10 businesses confirmed or rumoured to be opening in Watford

Launching a new location is a big commitment even for the world’s biggest brands.

With so much going into the process it is not always certain whether a chain really is coming to town or just considering it. Some of the companies below are nailed on for a Watford launch but others may just have dropped a few hints.

See the list below and why the Watford Observer thinks they could be on their way.

Confirmed: Hobbs

Hobbs London, a luxury British womenswear brand, will move into the town’s shopping centre “soon”, according to a social media post from atria Watford.

While there is no fixed date, atria would be in a position to know so this one seems a certainty.

Rumoured: Home Bargains

Bearing in mind how Home Bargains is always a popular potential replacement when a Watford store closes it would be great to put it down as a lock.

Although it said it was “definitely interested” in joining the town’s retail line-up in both 2022 and 2023, there has been no movement beyond these hints. Therefore, it remains just a possibility.

Confirmed: Wagamama

Recently moving from a possibility to a confirmed opening, Wagamama is set to move into Woodside Leisure Park as part of a 10-branch expansion plan.

No opening date has been confirmed yet but plans for how it will look have been submitted to Watford Borough Council.

Rumoured: Wingers

Wingers' Tajinder Choongh and Amran Sunner. (Image: Wingers)

In December 2023, chicken wing company Wingers announced it had agreed a 30-store development deal for an area around West London and the Thames Valley.

It highlighted Watford as one of the locations it is looking at — alongside Windsor, Maidenhead, Chiswick, Ealing, and Slough.

Confirmed: Nando’s

Nando’s fans will soon be spoiled in Watford as the chain has confirmed it will be opening a third branch in the town sometime this year.

It will also be battling for diners’ businesses with Nando’s as it will join it by taking another Woodside Leisure Park unit.

Rumoured: Lidl

Last year, the budget supermarket released a list of “areas of interest to Lidl which are desirable for new stores”.

With 78 locations across the “London North West” region alone, they are likely just to encourage landowners with suitable sites to come forward.

However, it included Watford (Garston), Watford (North), and Watford (West/Croxley Green) as potential sites — so it is clearly interested in the town.

Confirmed: Jardin, Mexican Concina and Tequilla Bar

The former Colombia Press unit last week (February 2). (Image: Newsquest)

Last year, SOBE Restaurant Management Group Limited said it plans to open a business, called Jardin, Mexican Concina and Tequilla Bar, in The Colombia Press's former unit in The Parade.

It was initially set to open at the end of last year or early this year but work preparing the space does not seem to have started and there have been no recent updates from the business.

Rumoured: Wingstop

Fans of chicken restaurants will be delighted with current rumours as American chicken chain Wingstop is also eyeing Watford.

It has said it is planning 15 new sites across the UK in 2024, and Watford is apparently one of the targeted locations.

Confirmed: Starbucks

Woodside Leisure Park. (Image: Google Street View)

After Watford Borough Council approved plans for the shopfront of a new Starbucks store at Woodside Leisure Centre, the franchisee set to run the location confirmed it is targeting an opening date in late summer this year.

Rumoured: Greggs

After the £25million Watford Business Park in Faraday Close, near the West Watford Morrisons, was completed last month, a planning application suggests a Greggs will likely open there.

Designs for a shop unit within the site bear the business’ name and logo.