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Watford Observer

The Watford Observer is a weekly tabloid newspaper sold in the town of Watford and across much of the county of Hertfordshire, as well as adjoining parts of Middlesex, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

It was first published by Samuel Peacock as the Watford Observer, and General Advertiser for Watford, Bushey and Rickmansworth in 1863. For the first 17 years of its existence all or part of it was printed in London, until the printing operation was moved entirely to Watford in 1880. It absorbed several rivals early on: the Herts Leader in 1897; then three more in 1902 – at which point it became the West Herts and Watford Observer, Berkhamsted Times, Tring Telegraph and Chesham News. It dropped the three latter titles in 1959, and became simply the Watford Observer from 1997 onwards. It switched to tabloid format in 2004.

It’s been owned by Newsquest since they acquired Westminster Press’s newspapers from Pearson in 1996 and is published by their London division, on Fridays.

Since 1969 there’s also been a freesheet companion, founded as the Midweek Observer but now known as The Watford Free.

A small number of copies (about five per cent of the print run) are available as a free pickup.

  • Address:
  • Watford Observer
    Observer House
    Caxton Way
    WATFORD
    WD18 8RJ
  • Tel:
  • 01923 216216
  • Fax:
  • 01923 235201