Watford High Street look ahead: changes on the way

The struggles of high street businesses everywhere is well-documented as they are forced to adapt to changing consumer habits and the cost of living crisis. 

Watford town centre is always under the spotlight, and while several businesses have been lost, new ones have consistently been popping up to take their place.

Take a look ahead at eight changes to the main High Street, Lower High Street, The Parade, and atria that are either being floated or confirmed to be in the pipeline.

Changes in the pipeline

The first change shoppers will see is bakery chain Gail’s opening in the former Diva and Moss Bros unit today (October 24), while Oliver Bonas is hot on its heels - coming to the former Jack Wills space in atria Watford on November 23.

The atria Watford shop will feature all of Oliver Bonas' homeware, fashion, jewellery and gift item ranges. (Image: Oliver Bonas) Although it is not yet clear when it will open, Subway is also confirmed to be launching a new store in the former McDonald’s unit by the Exchange Road flyover. It will join the existing Kings Road unit in the town centre, which will not be closing.

Flip Out is remodelling the 33,000-square-foot basement of atria Watford’s former John Lewis ahead of a planned adventure park opening later this year. Again, it is not confirmed exactly when, but the business applied for a permit to operate gaming machines last week so it may not be far off.

While it will not be a new business for the high street, as it is only moving from an existing unit next door, Merkur Slots is also looking to open “adult gaming centre” in the former Choice unit after the clothing store moved to atria Watford earlier this year.

The former Choice and existing Merkur (set to close) units in 2021. (Image: Google Street View) It is not just shops that may be shaking-up the feel of the high street, however. Watford Borough Council has revealed it is getting ready to begin a project to improve St Mary’s Churchyard, with work set to kick-off in January 2025.

Play spaces will be created in the High Street courtyard, as well as new paths.

Meanwhile, Focus Public Networks Ltd has applied for permission to put five “multifunction hub units” in the high street and display advertising videos on the back of them.

CGI showing how the multifunction hubs would look in Watford High Street. (Image: Watford Borough Council planning portal/JCDecaux) Each would serve as a phone box but also offer free wi-fi for shoppers, a point to charge devices, direct access to local webpages, and a publicly accessible defibrillator.

• Watford town centre revamp could see pyramid demolition
• Flip Out, Nando's and B&M among businesses coming to Watford
• 'Vibrant green space' to be created at St Mary's Churchyard

One area that could see a raft of changes is Lower High Street, by The Pyramid site (currently Cotswold Outdoor shop). The iconic building itself could be replaced with a new “sustainable transport hub".

There could then be more bus stops, segregated cycle lanes in both directions and extra bike hire facilities.

Whether this will go ahead is less certain. A consultation ran from July until August, and Watford Borough Council is considering the feedback as well as its next steps.

The Pyramid could be knocked down under improvements to the High Street. (Image: Watford Borough Council)