'Dozens at Watford Colosseum lost their jobs on Christmas Eve'

Watford Borough Council announced in the New Year it had taken over the Watford Colosseum from previous operator HQ Theatres – pledging to "guarantee" the future of the "iconic" Grade II listed building with £5 million investment.

But neither Watford Council nor HQ Theatres mentioned job losses in publicity at the time.

A Colosseum worker who lost their job has since come forward claiming 20 permanent members of staff were laid off as part of the takeover, along with "close to 100 casual team members and volunteers".

The employee, who does not want to be named, said staff were officially made redundant on Christmas Eve – a decision they described as "cruel and unnecessary", particularly because they claim staff were led to believe their jobs were safe just a month earlier.

Watford Colosseum

HQ Theatres said in its public statement after the takeover that plans to close the Colosseum from mid-March in 2021 for refurbishment, and allow the council to progress with its Town Hall Quarter, had been made in 2019.

But due to the impact of the pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Colosseum, HQ theatres said it "mutually agreed" with the council to terminate its contract on December 24.

The employee said Colosseum staff first became aware of a takeover in mid-November 2020, and were told HQ Theatre’s contract would end on December 31.

The employee said HQ told its permanent staff a TUPE process would take place as part of the takeover, with staff believing their jobs were protected.

But an "emergency" meeting between staff and HQ Theatres in early December revealed just four members of staff were being retained and that workers, many of whom had been furloughed since March, would be out of a job on Christmas Eve.

Watford Colosseum

The worker blamed Watford Council for the decision not to keep workers on.

They said: “The staff feel heartbroken.

"HQ had to make us redundant because we were their employees but it was due to the actions of the council. As employees, we wanted to talk about the situation but we kept being told it is 'confidential'.

"We are all now seeking jobs in an already difficult market, particularly the hospitality staff who face searching for a job in an industry which is completely shut down.

"Now to see future plans for the venue (£5m investment), it is difficult to comprehend."

Read more: Council to spend £5m refurbishing Watford Colosseum

These allegations were put to the council but a spokesperson declined to comment beyond its original statement released in the New Year.

HQ Theatres, which had been running the Colosseum since 2010, also declined to comment beyond its original statement.