All nine boozers we visited had traces of the powder on lids, cisterns or roll dispensers – fuelling fears that local consumption is out of control.

Using wipes that turn blue after contact with cocaine, our probe found the class A drug on lids in the Slug and Lettuce, Walkabout and The One Crown, as well as a roll dispenser in The Moon Under Water. 

Positive results also came back in The Estcourt Arms and the Wellington Arms, from a lid and cistern respectively, as well as a roll dispenser in O’Neill’s and a cistern in the Southern Cross. 

There is no suggestion any of the venues condone drug use on their premises.

Nicholas Conn, a former drug runner who later launched Help4Addiction, told the Watford Observer that local cocaine use was “rife”.

“I still go to Watford regularly and to be honest I haven’t used in 13 years and I can assure you I can still get a gram quicker than a pizza,” he said.

Overall eight of the nine venues we checked had clear positive results while the other, Columbia Press, also turned blue but far less categorically. 

Pub after pub confirmed the same pattern: every toilet that had lids or flat cisterns had traces of cocaine. Both pubs without them produced positive results from their roll dispensers. 

The pubs and their responses

Walkabout and the Slug and Lettuce

Walkabout (left) and Slug and Lettuce (right).

A spokesperson for both said: "We take the issue of substance misuse very seriously and have a zero tolerance policy, any guest who has concerns should report this to a member of our team immediately.”

Southern Cross

Southern Cross.

A spokesperson said: “We operate a zero-tolerance drugs policy and anyone suspected of any such activity in our pub would be barred. We conduct regular checks of our toilet areas and would like to reassure people we will be taking further steps as a result of these findings.”

The Moon Under Water and Columbia Press

The Moon Under Water (left) and Columbia Press (right)

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Wetherspoon has a zero-tolerance approach to illegal drug use in its pubs and any customer found in possession of drugs will be asked immediately to leave the premises and the police will be informed. Staff conduct hourly toilet checks in all pubs.”

O’Neill’s

O'Neill's.

A Mitchells & Butlers spokesperson said: “We take our responsibility as a licence holder very seriously and operate a zero-tolerance policy to drugs.”

The Estcourt Arms

The Estcourt Arms.

The pub has been contacted for comment.

The One Crown

The One Crown.

The pub has been contacted for comment.

Wellington Arms

Wellington Arms.

The pub has been contacted for comment.

'Unsolvable'

Mr Conn believes the problem is “unsolvable” but thinks measures can be taken to help – such as all venues removing toilets’ flat surfaces and installing doors where shins are visible.

“If everyone sings from the same hymn sheet I think that would start to make a big difference in the area,” he added.

Despite cocaine use appearing common in pubs, we found no traces when checking in Atria Watford, Cineworld, Paddy Power, McDonald’s and Nando’s. 

Drug struggles are not confined to Watford, with a major study by charity With You previously concluding the UK has a “secret cocaine addiction and the drug is used everywhere”. 

Britain also reportedly had the highest number of young cocaine users in Europe in 2018, according to the EU drugs agency. 

What did police say?

A Herts Police spokesperson said: "Tackling the supply and use of recreational class A drugs in Watford remains a priority for the constabulary.

"I’d like to reassure the public that there is a significant countywide focus on prevention and enforcement against this criminal activity.

"We have numerous teams working to proactively disrupt and dismantle county lines and organised crime networks that bring illegal substances into the borough."

They added the 'Scannet' system operates in many Watford premises meaning those found with drugs are banned from all venues.

Watford's PubWatch also enables information to be shared on suspected criminal activity and police work with venues to ensure they respond appropriately. 

For information on Help4Addiction, a helpline for alcohol and drug addiction, visit its website.

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