This issue was published on . The events in it were for that week, so dates may have passed and some event links may no longer work. For what's on now, see what's on in Watford or the latest issue.
Issue 6: Jonathan Pie, Jimeoin and an extra hour
Jonathan Pie on Friday, Jimeoin on Saturday, and the clocks go back on Sunday.
Met Office yellow wind warning Friday 10am to 9pm, gusts up to 47mph, so hold on to your hat.
Hi. Welcome back to The Watford Brew. Issue 6.
It’s the last weekend before half term. There’s Jonathan Pie on Friday and Jimeoin on Saturday at the Colosseum, the Hornets away at Wolves, and a Sunday with Watford FC Women at the Vic and wrestling on Clarendon Road. The clocks go back early on Sunday too, so you get an extra hour for all of it.
FRIDAY
Jonathan Pie: The End of the World According to Jonathan Pie
Fri 23 Oct · doors 6.30pm · Watford Colosseum
The UK's angriest news reporter is back with a new show about Starmer, Reform, AI and the end of days, roughly in that order. One thing to know before you go: the Colosseum says there's zero tolerance for using phones at this show, not just for photos or filming.
SATURDAY
Jimeoin: Ballyhoo
Sat 24 Oct · doors 6.30pm · Watford Colosseum
The Irishman from Australia brings his new tour to Watford. If you've seen him on Live at the Apollo you'll know the drill: no gimmicks, just very good observational stand-up.
Halloween Floating Market
Sat 24 and Sun 25 Oct · from 10am Saturday until 4pm Sunday · Grand Union Canal towpath, Cassiobury Park · free to browse
The Roving Canal Traders Association's Halloween market moors up along the canal through Cassiobury Park. Traders sell from their boats, so it's a good excuse for a weekend walk down to the water.
Also Saturday: Cassiobury parkrun · Sat 24 Oct · 9am · free, timed 5k · meet at the finish line by the bandstand · register once online before your first run.
Also Saturday: Wolves v Watford · Sat 24 Oct · 3pm · Molineux · Championship. The Hornets are away this week, so there's no home game at the Vic.
SUNDAY
The clocks go back an hour at 2am on Sunday 25 Oct, so you get an extra hour in bed. Phones sort themselves out, but the oven, the car and the bathroom scales won’t. We’re on GMT until the end of March.
Watford FC Women v Durham
Sun 25 Oct · 12pm kick-off · Vicarage Road · Barclays Women's Super League 2
Watford FC Women take Durham on at the Vic. With the Hornets away on Saturday, this is the only football at Vicarage Road this weekend.
GrandSlam Wrestling
Sun 25 Oct · 3pm · Watford Palace Theatre · from £18 (£15 concessions, front row £25)
Live, family-friendly pro wrestling at the Palace, all ages and about two hours including the interval. Former WWE star Heath Slater is on the bill, and there's a separate VIP meet and greet you book through GrandSlam. You need a show ticket for that too.
Halloween Trail at Cassiobury Park
Sun 25 Oct · 12pm to 2pm · Cassiobury Park · child tickets online, adults go free
A self-led trail run by the Cassiobury Park Hub team. Find the hidden spooky photos around the park, then collect a treat at the end. It takes families about an hour, and dressing up is encouraged.
WHAT'S NEW
Half term starts Monday
Hertfordshire schools on the county calendar finish on Friday 23 Oct and are off from Mon 26 to Fri 30 Oct. Academies and free schools can set their own dates, so check with your school. What's on that week is in Plan Ahead below.
The Museum of Watford is moving to the Town Hall
The museum's building on the High Street is closed while it moves into Watford Town Hall, with the new museum due in 2027. You can still explore the collections and get involved in the meantime.
Sophie Cordery at the Pump House
Sophie Cordery's paintings and prints are up in the Charles Room as the latest Art@ the Pump House show. It's free and open whenever Tina Lake's café is open (see below).
EAT & DRINK
Tina Lake's Coffee and Cakes, the Pump House
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 1pm to 5pm · Tue 2pm to 9pm · Sat 2pm to 6pm · closed Sun · Local Board Road
The volunteer-run café in the Charles Room, so you can have a coffee and cake with the Sophie Cordery show around you. It's named after Tina Lake, the drag persona of Bryan Timberlake, who at 92 is the UK's longest-serving drag performer.
DID YOU KNOW?
Watford was once Europe's biggest printing town
According to the Museum of Watford, printing and brewing were the town's two main industries, and in its heyday Watford was the largest centre for printing in Europe, home to firms like Sun and Odhams. On the brewing side, Benskins became the biggest brewery in the area. Joseph Benskin bought the brewery and its mansion in 1867, and that mansion went on to become Watford Museum. A fitting one for a newsletter called the Brew.
PLAN AHEAD
Trick or Treat Trail
Mon 26 to Fri 30 Oct · 10am to 4pm daily · High Street and The Parade · free
Ten big inflatable ghosts in ten shop windows. Spot one, go in, say "trick or treat" and get a sweet. Send a team selfie with a ghost for a draw to win a £100 Watford Gift Card. It's only on the High Street and The Parade, not in Harlequin or the side roads.
Half term crafts at Harlequin
Mon 26 to Fri 30 Oct · 11am to 4pm · Charter Place, Harlequin Watford · free
A different Halloween make each day, from gingerbread mummies on Tuesday to monster slime on Wednesday. No booking, just walk in, though Harlequin warns there may be queues.
Dinosaur Adventure Live
Tue 27 Oct · 2pm · Watford Palace Theatre · from £21
An hour of puppets, dino facts and a T-Rex finale, with plenty of stomping and roaring from the audience. A good half term afternoon for small dinosaur fans.
Diwali Celebrations
Sun 1 Nov · 11am to 7.30pm · Harlequin Charter Place, High Street, Pondside and the Palace · free daytime events
Diwali crafts at Charter Place from 11am, cultural performances from 4pm, then the Festival of Light Parade at 5pm from Charter Place to Pondside for the rangoli lighting at 5.30pm. There's also a ticketed evening show at the Palace from 8pm.
Cassiobury Fireworks
Sat 7 Nov · from 6pm, fireworks at 7.30pm · Cassiobury Park · free
The council's free display, billed as Hertfordshire's largest. Vibe 107.6FM and local band The Nevers are on stage from 6pm, plus food stalls and funfair rides, so bring cash. There's no general parking at Gade Avenue from 3pm and restrictions on the surrounding roads all day, so walk, get the bus or use a town centre car park.
The Gruffalo
Sat 7 and Sun 8 Nov · Sat 1.30pm and 4.30pm, Sun 10.30am and 1.30pm · Watford Palace Theatre · from £18
Tall Stories' musical version of the Julia Donaldson book is back for its 25th anniversary. One hour, no interval, for ages 3 and up. The Saturday 4.30pm show is a relaxed performance. Pair it with the fireworks for a very full Saturday.
Know something brewing? Reply and tell us. If this helped you plan even one evening, forward it to a Watford mate. That's how the Brew grows.
Join the Brew: one Thursday email, no noise.
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Thanks for reading. See you next Thursday.
The Watford Brew
Keep exploring Watford
- What’s on in Watford this weekend
- Watford fireworks: the 2026 timetable and what to know for next year
- Watford Christmas lights switch-on 2026
- Christmas in Watford 2026
- Things to do in Watford with kids
- Cafés in Watford
- Family & kids in Watford
- Arts, leisure & events in Watford
- Community & charities in Watford
- Watford business directory
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