Your weekend in Watford: Lenny Friday, Gazza Saturday, antiques Sunday

Hi. Welcome back to The Watford Brew. Issue 2.

Happy Thursday. This weekend's got a clear shape: Sir Lenny Henry at the Colosseum on Friday (doors 6.30pm), Paul Gascoigne telling football stories at the Palace on Saturday, and a big indoor antique and vintage fair at Woodside on Sunday. No Hornets home game this weekend, so the diary is all nights out and a proper browse. Early October is already filling up if you want to look ahead.

Scroll on and pick your plans. The Brew

FRIDAY

Lenny Henry: Still At Large, Watford Colosseum
Fri 25 Sep · doors 6.30pm · tickets via Colosseum / AXS

Five decades of stories from stand-up, screen and everything in between. Part comedy, part storytelling, part Lenny talking to himself (and to you). Doors are the time the venue prints; check booking for the exact start and prices.

Info: https://www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk/events/lenny-henry/

SATURDAY

An Evening with Paul Gascoigne, Watford Palace Theatre
Sat 26 Sep · about 2 hours including interval · tickets from £38 · VIP meet-and-greet from 6pm

Gazza looking back on England, the clubs, the highs and the lows. Humour, honesty, nostalgia. Venue flags some swearing and advises parental guidance. VIP (Stalls A–E) includes pre-show meet-and-greet and photo. Curtain time is not on the event page; call the Palace (01923 225 671) or check when you book.

Info: https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/an-evening-with-paul-gascoigne/

Also Saturday (if Gazza's not your night): Disco For Grown Ups at the Colosseum, doors 6.30pm. 70s/80s/90s, glow sticks and retro sweets according to the venue.
https://www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk/events/disco-for-grown-ups/

SUNDAY

Big Herts Antique & Vintage Fair, Woodside Leisure Centre, Garston
Sun 27 Sep · 10am–4pm · adults £4 · 65+ £3 · students £2 · accompanied children free

Indoor arena, up to around 150 stalls, free on-site parking, cafe on site. Horseshoe Lane, Garston, WD25 7HH (handy for M1 / A405). Cash still useful; organiser says many dealers take cards but venues often have no cash machine. Early trade 9–10am if you're buying to sell.

Info: https://www.haddonevents.co.uk/20262027-dates.html

Also Sunday (different crowd): Don Broco at the Colosseum, doors 6pm, with Unpeople and Ando San.
https://www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk/events/don-broco/

WHAT'S NEW

Honestly, it's a quiet week for brand-new shop openings. A few civic notes worth knowing:

Veolia Orchard applications are open for schools and community groups in Watford (council news, 23 Sep). If your school or group wants fruit trees and a biodiversity project, that's the door to knock on.
https://www.watford.gov.uk/news

Community solar share offer is being explored by Grand Union Community Energy with the council (listed as "coming soon" on 15 Sep). Watch that space; not live yet.

Harlequin reminder: late-night shopping Thu–Sat until 8pm. Superdrug has committed to a bigger store (trade press, Aug), but that is Coming Soon, not a new opening this week.
https://harlequinwatford.com

EAT & DRINK

Tina Lakes Coffee and Cakes, Pump House
Volunteer-run cafe in the Charles Room (Pump House + Proud Watford), set up with a council community grant. Hours: Mon / Wed / Thu / Fri 1–5pm · Tue 2–9pm · Sat 2–6pm · closed Sundays. Gallery exhibition on while you're there. Good Local Board Road excuse midweek or Saturday.

https://pumphouse.info/tina-lakes-cafe-now-open-daily/

Unit VII, Tolpits Lane
Coffee, smashraps, dog-friendly. No car meet this Sunday (meets are every 2nd Sunday; 27 Sep is the 4th). Next on the pattern: Sun 11 Oct, 9am–3pm, no booking. Midweek: Wed–Fri coffee from 7am / kitchen from 8am to 3pm; weekends coffee from 8am / kitchen from 9am to 3pm; closed Mon–Tue. Hours disagree elsewhere on their site sometimes; phone 01923 545 139 if you're making a special trip.

https://www.unitvii.com/events/

COMING SOON

• Thu 1–Sat 3 Oct: The Picture of Dorian Gray · Palace · about 2h10 · 12+ · from £13. https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/the-picture-of-dorian-gray/

• Sat 3 Oct: Charity Raas Garba · Holywell Community Centre · 1–5pm · advance tickets · proceeds to West Herts Hospitals Charity and Royal Brompton & Harefield. https://watfordtowncentre.com/event/watford-charity-raas-garba-2026/

• Sun 4 Oct: Taylor Trek · start/finish Vicarage Road · family / medium / challenge routes. Book: https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/TheTaylorTrek2026

• Wed 7 Oct: Steve Bruce & Gary Pallister · Palace. https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/an-evening-with-manchester-united-legends-steve-bruce-gary-palister/

• Thu 8 Oct: Fastlove (George Michael tribute) · Palace. https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/fastlove/

• Sat 10 Oct: Gary Delaney · Palace · 16+. https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/gary-delaney-gary-on-laughing/

• Sat 10 Oct: Hornets home vs Burnley (listed 3pm on Burnley's match centre; re-check http://watfordfc.com / TV nearer the time).

• Sun 11 Oct: Unit VII car meet · 9am–3pm.

• Thu 15 Oct: Barry From Watford · Palace · 16+. https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/barry-from-watford-shooting-from-the-new-hip/

• Fri 30 Oct: Halloween Market Lates · Watford Market · 6–10pm · free entry. https://watfordtowncentre.com/event/market-lates-halloween/

DID YOU KNOW?

Tina Lakes Cafe at the Pump House is named for Tina Lake, the drag persona of Bryan Timberlake, who at 92 is described by the venue as the UK's longest-serving drag performer. The cafe sits in a building that spent a previous life as a pumping station before becoming a theatre and arts centre. Quiet local double life, if you like that sort of thing.

https://pumphouse.info/tina-lakes-cafe-now-open-daily

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.

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https://www.watfordbrew.co.uk

Thanks for reading — see you next Thursday.
— The Watford Brew