THE MAIN STORY GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS ASYLUM HOTEL TO CLOSE
NOT JUST ANY SHOP... M&S ANNOUNCES NEW FOOD & FASHION STORE
THRILL AT THE DRILL MUSIC LEGENDS COMING TO WARE’S DRILL HALL
IT’S MOVIE TIME THE BEST NEW FILMS TO SEE THIS MONTH
A PROPER PUB CAMRA GOLD AWARD FOR OLD CROSS TAVERN April 2026
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The Home Office has told Broxbourne Council and MP Lewis Cocking that it will be ending the use of the Delta Marriott hotel in Cheshunt to house asylum seekers in June this year.
The site has been used by the government to house asylum seekers since December 2022 and had become the focus of repeated protests, which became more high profile late last year when the issue became national news due to protests in nearby Epping.
Both Conservative-led Broxbourne Council and Broxbourne’s Tory MP Lewis Cocking had repeatedly asked the government to end the use of the hotel to house migrants. Both had opposed the use from the start, highlighting the loss of a local community asset and the additional strain on already stretched public services.
The council sought legal advice, delivered a letter from the leader of the council directly to Downing Street and served planning contravention notices on the hotel owners in advance of intended enforcement action against them for an unauthorised change of use.
MP Lewis Cocking meanwhile wrote numerous letters and spoke up in Parliament several times on the issue, even tackling the Home Secretary herself in the House of Commons on one occasion.
The council says that in July last year it was told that the Delta Marriott would be one of the last hotels to close, but on Wednesday 12th March it was informed that this had changed and that the hotel will cease to be used for asylum seeker
accommodation from the middle of June 2026.
Council leader Cllr Corina Gander said: “I am delighted at this outcome. We have pushed at every level of government to ensure our residents’ concerns were highlighted. I am pleased that the Home Office has finally listened and has now confirmed the end of the hotel’s inappropriate use as asylum accommodation, allowing the hotel to return to its intended purpose.
As leader of this council, Broxbourne’s residents will always be my priority.”
Lewis Cocking MP also welcomed the news, saying: “Securing this closure has been one of my most pressing priorities since the General Election, and I have worked closely with Broxbourne Council to take every possible step to secure the closure of the hotel.”
l See Lewis Cocking’s column on page 11 for more on this issue.
A new children’s care centre is to be built at Lister Hospital after the East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust secured an investment of £27million from NHS England to improve a range of facilities.
The hospital in Stevenage is where most patients in East Herts, including those living in Hertford and Ware, go for acute care.
The new paediatric unit will cost £11million and building work is due to begin this year. It will involve relocating and reconfiguring inpatient and outpatient children’s wards.
The new paediatric centre will be built at Lister Hospital in Stevenage
The remainder of the new funding will be spent on a variety of projects, beginning with improved renal (kidney) services, including upgrading facilities and developing its life-changing home dialysis
service to benefit more patients. The funding will also be used to improve the Lister Urgent Treatment Centre, for ward refurbishment, an interventional radiology suite, to tackle maintenance backlogs
and for new scanners including one MRI and two CT scanners. Improvements are also being made to the hospital’s emergency care service, including to the ambulance handover area, on which works are due to be completed in the coming weeks.
Martin Armstrong, deputy chief executive at East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: “The impact this investment will bring cannot be understated –particularly for local families and those further afield who benefit from the care provided by our staff on our children’s wards.”
Marks & Spencer plans to build a new food and fashion store in Harlow – marking a return to the New Town more than a decade after closing its previous store in the centre of town.
Subject to planning permission, the new two-storey, purpose-built, flagship store will be built on Edinburgh Way, on a site currently used as a driving training centre.
The 50,000 sq ft store will offer an extensive M&S product range, including food, clothing and general merchandise. It will have its own 380-space car park, direct bus routes and will also benefit from an improved road layout. It is expected to open next year.
The agreement follows two years of detailed discussions and close collaboration between Harlow Council and M&S and will be a return to Harlow after the company closed its old store in Broad Walk in 2015 having failed to gain permission to build a foodstore in, ironically, Edinburgh Way.
The new store is expected to deliver
significant economic benefits and create between 200 and 300 new jobs.
Announcing the deal, Cllr Dan Swords, the leader of Harlow Council, said: “We promised the people of Harlow we would bring a fullline M&S store back to our town – and today we have delivered. This is a huge moment for our town and a real vote of confidence in Harlow’s future. Many doubted it could be done but we made the case to M&S
£3.5m lottery grant will enable ‘once in a generation’ project to transform Hertford Castle grounds
The grounds of historic Hertford Castle are to be transformed after funding was secured for a ‘once in a generation’ investment from the National Lottery Heritage Fund worth £3.5million.
Over the past 18 months, Hertford Town Council and its partners East Herts District Council and Hertfordshire County Council’s Countryside Management Service have been working on a masterplan to improve the grounds.
Now funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund has been confirmed, further planning and preparation can begin, and work is expected to take place in 2028 and 2029.
The lottery funding will cover 83 per cent of the total cost of the planned works, with Hertford Town Council pledging a further £495,949 towards it over the course of the project.
The work will include:
l Conservation of the motte, curtain wall, icehouse and other historic features;
l Restoration of the River Lea’s riverbanks and improved wildlife habitats;
l A complete redesign and repositioning of the children’s play area;
l Improved access through upgraded paths, bridges and step-free routes;
l Sensitive improvements to the Ashley Webb Shelter;
l New and improved seating across the site;
l Enhanced planting and biodiversity to support wildlife;
l New interpretation, signage and heritage information; and
l A full programme of community activities, volunteering and events.
Cllr Alex Daar, leader of Hertford Town Council, said: “The council is delighted that the Hertford Castle
for two years and they have seen the ambition, growth and regeneration happening here.”
Stuart Machin, CEO of M&S, said:
“We are delighted to confirm we have signed an agreement on terms for a new state of the art Marks and Spencer store in Harlow.
“The proactive steps taken by Dan Swords and his colleagues to attract new investment in Harlow and demonstrate the growth prospects for the area have been pivotal in
our decision. We look forward to creating 200-300 new jobs and a fantastic store bringing food and fashion to the area and supporting the council in its work to renew Harlow.”
Foodstore opens in Hatfield l Meanwhile, M&S opened a new foodstore at Hatfield on the Oldings Corner Retail Park by the A414A1(M) roundabout on Tuesday 17th March.
Greenspace Renewal Project has made such a considerable step forward. The project team have been diligently preparing the application
to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and it’s so wonderful that this has been recognised with this monumental investment in our town.”
East Herts Council has confirmed its intention to transfer ownership of Water Lane Hall in Bishop’s Stortford to the local community, subject to three conditions being met.
The hall, which was formerly used to host shows and events, had been earmarked for demolition as part of the wider Old River Lane redevelopment scheme.
It was later excluded from that programme, but hopes of saving it for future generations were dashed after a structural report commissioned by the council identified that works costing £1.6million would be required to repair and restore the building.
Faced with such an unaffordable bill, the council held a consultation, asking the community for its views on the building’s future. Transferring it to community ownership was the overwhelming first choice, followed by using it to create more retail space, then selling it on the open market. Demolition for other uses was the least popular option.
East Herts has now written to the
How a new Water Lane Hall could look under community ownership
Friends of Water Lane Hall group, which has expressed an interest in taking over the building. Assuming the group can meet three conditions by 21st June, a transfer of ownership will take place.
First it must raise £500,000 to complete the essential works required to reopen the hall for basic hire. The council is contributing £170,000 of that money.
It must also establish a Community Interest Company to operate the
venue. Thirdly, it must submit an agreed business plan, validated by a credible third party organisation. These conditions must be met for the council to legally transfer the ownership for less than the market value.
The group will then have a further 18 months to raise the £1.1million still needed to deliver the full programme of works identified in the structural report commissioned by the council.
A new initiative is being piloted in four areas across Hertfordshire in an attempt to tackle shoplifting. With the crime on the rise, largely due to the tough economic times we are living through, Herts Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards is working with local BIDs and neighbourhood policing teams to make it quicker and easier for retailers to provide evidence and information to the police if they are victims of theft from their shops. A pilot of the scheme, called ShopSafe Alert, is being introduced in four towns including Bishop’s Stortford this year. If successful it could be introduced in other towns across the county. The scheme makes it easier to capture details of criminal incidents and hold intelligence for police evaluation.
Retailers will be able to share more information about incidents and prolific offenders with each other
and police, which should prevent more shoplifting from occurring. Future developments aim to enable a direct reporting facility to Hertfordshire Police’s control room so retail staff are able to quickly upload evidence such as CCTV footage and witness statements via the system.
This will speed up evidence gathering and the issuing of crime reference numbers, making the reporting of crime by retailers more likely. The other areas that are taking part in the pilot are St Albans, Welwyn Garden City and the Roaring Meg Retail Park in Stevenage.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor to headline revived Harlow Town Show
Sophie Ellis-Bextor will headline this year’s revived Harlow Town Show, Harlow Council has announced.
The free event will take place from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th August, with a programme of family entertainment, showground spectacles, live music and a community celebration, all in Harlow Town Park. The show was a mainstay of the town through the 1960s, 70s and early 80s before it was axed, despite a brief revival in the 2000s.
Latest on the plans to reorganise our councils
Sophie Ellis-Bextor will perform on the evening of Saturday 29th at the park’s new bandstand, which has been rebuilt following a fire last year. The bandstand itself will reopen on Saturday 4th July with a free Last Night of the Proms-style concert featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. The reorganisation of local councils has taken a step forward, after the government announced that five new unitary authorities will be created in Essex, with Harlow, Epping Forest and Uttlesford merging to become a new West Essex Council. A decision on the number of unitary councils in Hertfordshire is expected in July. A public consultation in Hertfordshire ended on 26th March, with the government seeking the public’s views on whether to create two, three or four new councils. Indications from its early decisions on other areas including Essex (five councils), Norfolk (three councils)and Suffolk (three councils) have led some Hertfordshire insiders to believe it is likely the county will be split into three new authorities. If that does prove to be the case, East Herts and Broxbourne councils will be merged with North Herts and Stevenage to form a new eastern Hertfordshire authority.
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YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR HERTFORD & STORTFORD WRITES FOR AXIS MAGAZINE EVERY MONTH
Too many families in Hertford and Stortford are being let down by a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in crisis. Week after week, I hear from parents whose children with SEND are being left without the support they need and are out of education for months or even years, because there is no suitable school place for them within a reasonable distance from their home. This is not just frustrating, it is unacceptable.
Last year, I held a series of roundtables with parents, carers and educators to hear where the system is letting them down. It was clear that families are struggling to access early support and too many children cannot get the specialist help they need, including services like speech and language therapy.
Last month the government published plans to transform the SEND system, reflecting many of the priorities raised with me by constituents across our community. I am encouraged to see a focus on early intervention, improved training for all school staff and access to specialists.
But this isn’t the end of the conversation and that’s why the government has launched a consultation on its proposals. Over the coming weeks, I will be holding a further series of roundtables so more families, schools and professionals can share their views and help make sure we get this right. We must ensure these
proposals deliver for our community.
And I want to build on this work even further. I recently raised my campaign for more investment in SEND provision in our community directly with the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions, making the case for investment in the bricks and mortar provision that semi-rural communities like ours need.
I called for the Prime Minister to back my campaign to expand SEND provision in Hertford and Stortford, and to arrange a meeting for myself and the relevant minister to discuss this in more detail.
I want every child in Hertford and Stortford to have the very best start in life and families should be able to rely on support that comes early, is easy to access and works with
If you have an issue you would like to raise with me, my next advice surgeries will be held on Friday 10th April in Sawbridgeworth and Saturday 25th April in Hertford. To book an appointment, please email josh.dean.mp@parliament.uk with your full name, postal address including postcode, a contact number and as much detail about your case(s) as possible.
them, not against them. I’m looking forward to engaging with more parents, carers and educators at my roundtables, and I look forward to saying more on my campaign for SEND investment in the near future. If you would like to take part in my upcoming roundtables, please sign up via the link on my social media or write to me via josh.dean.mp@ parliament.uk.
YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR BROXBOURNE WRITES FOR AXIS MAGAZINE EVERY MONTH
Last month, I received confirmation from the Home Office that the Delta Marriott hotel in Cheshunt will cease housing asylum seekers before the middle of June 2026. Securing this closure has been one of my most pressing priorities since the General Election, and I have worked closely with Broxbourne Council to take every possible step to secure the closure of the hotel.
I have written letter after letter and challenged government ministers – including the Home Secretary herself – on numerous occasions in Parliament over the last 18 months. In September, I joined Broxbourne councillors at Downing Street to present a letter to the Prime Minister demanding he takes action. In January this year, I took the case directly to the Home Office, meeting with the minister responsible to raise the concerns of my constituents. It is now the government’s responsibility to place the asylum seekers in more suitable accommodation, and there are no plans for them to be rehoused elsewhere in Broxbourne. As far as I’m concerned there is no suitable accommodation anywhere in our area, and my own view on the wider issue is crystal clear: every individual with no right to be in this country should be deported immediately. This is what I will continue fighting for as your Member of Parliament, and I remain committed to doing everything I can to deliver the changes I was elected to make.
Come along to my Older Persons’ Fair on Friday 10th April
I am once again hosting my Older Persons’ Fair this April. This will be a fantastic opportunity for older adults to access valuable resources, connect with service providers, and enjoy a variety of activities designed with their interests and needs in mind. Local residents of any age can attend, and readers would be more than welcome to do so on behalf of an older friend or relative. The fair is taking place at The Spotlight, Hoddesdon,
I continue to hold regular in-person surgeries to discuss issues and concerns with constituents. If you have a problem you’d like to raise with me, please contact my office at lewis.cocking.mp@parliament.uk or on 01992 845335 In addition, if you own a business or are involved in a local organisation and you would like me to come and visit, then please let me know!
EN11 8BE on Friday 10th April, between 10am-2pm. For more information visit lewiscocking.uk/fair or contact my office at lewis.cocking.mp@ parliament.uk or call on 01992 845335.
Music legends are coming to Ware Drill Hall as a new chapter in live music is launched by respected local promoters Chris and Joolz Addison.
From 2006 until 2020, Chris and Joolz were the driving force behind the revival of Hertford Corn Exchange, transforming it into a nationally respected grassroots venue renowned for its intimate atmosphere and iconic performances.
Despite Covid forcing its closure (although the venue has since reopened under different ownership), their commitment to live music never faded. Their new venture sees them bringing music to Ware Drill Hall. Chris said: “While the venue offers a significantly larger capacity, the experience remains rooted in intimacy and connection. The space has been carefully designed to ensure audiences can still enjoy the close-up, immersive atmosphere that defined earlier shows, with the focus purely on the music and the shared live experience.”
The programme at the venue in Amwell End, Ware, kicks off on Saturday 2nd May with Ian Dury’s Blockheads and features a line-up of living legends and
Legendary singer Paul Young and his Los Pacaminos Tex-Mex band will be among the big name bands coming to Ware Drill Hall later this year
crowd favourites. Other acts announced so far for later this year include Los Pacaminos featuring Paul Young; Dr Feelgood; The Livewire AC/DC Show and muchloved local icons The Overtures, with more to come.
“This is live music the way it should be – authentic, powerful and shared,” said Chris. Tickets are available now at seetickets.com (search for The Drill Hall). For more information call 07904 333923.
BEAM Hertford has launched its brand new website – a major digital upgrade designed to make discovering, booking and enjoying events easier, faster and more personalised than ever.
Developed with Grandad Digital, every element of the site has been shaped by BEAM’s physical building – the layout, colour palette and visual details draw directly from the venue’s award-winning architecture and interiors.
At the heart of the site is BEAM Recommends, an industry-leading tool that
suggests events based on each visitor’s interests and booking habits. Similar in approach to the engines used by major streaming platforms, BEAM Recommends is one of the most sophisticated systems of its kind in the UK arts sector.
The new My BEAM account also brings everything together in one place, giving users seamless access to tickets, personal details, pre-sales, offers, tailored recommendations and more.
The new website is now live at beamhertford.co.uk.
The grounds of Hertford Castle play host to the Hertford Art and Literature Festival, a free family event, on Saturday 11th April from 12noon to 4pm. Visitors will be able to browse a wide variety of art, literature and craft stalls, meet talented local artists and enjoy hands-on creative activities throughout the afternoon. Hertford Castle will also be open for visitors to explore free of charge. Herts Book Fest will host a Bring a book, take a book exchange; Hertford Library will deliver interactive storytime and rhyme time sessions and Hertford Art Society will lead a creative art activity. Event sponsors the Hertfordshire Spanish School will also be hosting interactive Spanish taster lessons.
Morecambe and Wise fans will love Eric and Ern, starring the Olivier Award-nominated duo of Ian Ashphitel and Jonty Stephens, which is coming to BEAM Hertford from Tuesday 26th to Friday 29th May. The show takes audiences back to the days when the legendary comic partnership’s Christmas specials were required
viewing for what seemed like the entire country. The brilliant homage recreates some of their best-loved sketches, routines and songs – and of course their special musical guest. The show is suitable for the whole family and plays at 7.30pm daily with a Thursday matinée at 2.30pm too. For tickets, visit beamhertford.co.uk.
Book ahead now for Ice Age Adventure Live at The Spotlight in Hoddesdon on Sunday 31st May at 2pm – the perfect end to the May half term.
A brand new family theatre spectacular, the show promises prehistoric thrills, big laughs and plenty of icy surprises for audiences of all ages. A fully interactive expe-
Hertfordshire Zoo has just opened a new dinosaur adventure golf course.
Players will have to navigate roaring dinosaurs, bubbling volcanoes and themed obstacles as they putt their way around the exciting, family-friendly course – a perfect new attraction for families looking for something different this Easter.
Scan the QR code on the advert opposite on page 15 for details or visit hertfordshirezoo.com to book your entry ticket to the zoo, which is in White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne EN10 7LA.
rience, it’s a chance for little ones (and their grown-ups) to travel back in time to a chilly chapter of history, blending imaginative storytelling and big, bold characters to keep them engaged from start to finish.
Tickets are £18, available from thespotlightvenue.com or by calling 01992 441946.
Bishop’s Stortford hosts Eco Fair in the Square
Bishop’s Stortford Town Council holds its first Eco Fair in the Square on Earth Day, Wednesday 22nd April, from 10.30am to 4.30pm. The free community event will bring together local environmentally-focused organisations, charities, community groups and traders to celebrate sustainability and encourage practical, everyday actions that support the environment, with stalls, hands-on activities and demonstrations, including seed planting and energy-generating bikes. The event takes place in Market Square.
Sexbomb – Celebrating the Music of Sir Tom Jones
Two hours of iconic hits live on stage
Saturday 11 April, 7.30pm
The Makings of a Murderer – The Undercover Detective
Lifting the lid on the most dangerous and hidden aspects of murder investigations
Sunday 26 April, 7.30pm
Essentially Cher
Get ready to Turn Back Time!
Thursday 30 April, 7.30pm
The Sound of Magic
Richard Jones, the first and only magician to conquer the stage of Britain’s Got Talent!
Saturday 2 May, 7.30pm
Discos For Grown Ups
Returning for another incredible boogie night!
Saturday 16 May, 7.30pm
Country Roads – One Night of Country Classics
Hits including 9-5, Jolene, Ring of Fire and Rhinestone Cowboy! Saturday 23 May, 7.30pm
Tom Gates Epic
Bringing alive the illustrations and music that made Tom Gates hugely popular!
Monday 25 May, 12.30pm
K-Pop Live – The Theatre Show
Expect jaw-dropping choreo, live vocals and stage visuals!
Friday 29 May, 2pm and 6pm
Ice Age Adventure Live
Join our fearless explorers as they trek through snow-packed valleys!
Sunday 31 May, 2pm
Doors and bar open 90 minutes prior to event start.
Why not enjoy a relaxing pre-show drink and a slice of our delicious...
thespotlightvenue.com 01992 441946 (Monday-Friday 10am-2pm)
The Magic Faraway Tree (U) Now showing
Many of us remember Enid Blyton’s imaginative Faraway Tree tales from our own childhoods and this new interpretation follows a modern family who relocate to the countryside where the children discover the magical tree with its eccentric residents. They’re transported to fantastical lands, rekindling their family bond through adventure. Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy star, with appearances from Rebecca Ferguson and Michael Palin.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (PG) Now showing
Never mind the new American mission to the moon, here is the space movie you’ve all been really waiting for! Venturing far away from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom, Mario heads into space exploring cosmic worlds and tackling galactic challenges.
From Friday 10th April
You know what they say: You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. This gentle, acutely observed comedy follows estranged siblings who reunite after years apart and are forced to confront unresolved tensions and re-evaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents. Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling and Cate Blanchett star.
Glenrothan (12A)
From Friday 10th April
Another new film on the theme of family. Directed and co-starring Brian Cox, this focuses on two brothers, the younger of whom fled to America after they had a violent exchange with their father on the day of their mother’s funeral. 40 years later he returns to their Highland home and family-owned distillery. Also starring Shirley Henderson, fresh from a superb performance in I Swear.
Michael (PG)
From Friday 24th April
Misunderstood? Exploited? Culpable? Whatever your view on Michael Jackson, he was the undisputed King of Pop for decades, making some of the biggest selling records and most memorable pop videos of all time. This musical biopic tells his story. Will we be any the wiser after watching it? And did anyone ponder the irony of giving it a certificate that means Parental Guidance? Hmmm...
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (PG)
From Friday 1st May
Two decades on, a seasoned Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is struggling to keep Runway relevant in changing times. Here she must navigate a rivalry with her former assistant Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), now a high-powered director controlling millions of advertising dollars. Anne Hathaway also reappears.
Thursday 16th April, 7.30pm
Tickets £28
Friday 17th April, 7.30pm
Tickets £28
Saturday 18th April, 7.30pm
Tickets £29, £45 Meet & Greet
Box Office: 01707 645005
Theatre, Wyllyotts Place, Darkes
When the police arrive, his life splits into two parallel paths: one of
one
The musical follows these two alternative lives and explores the consequences of Joe's decisions over the next seven years.
Hertford Museum hosts a new exhibition, simply called Tewin, from Saturday 11th April until 28th June. It looks at life in this thriving village and shows how it has changed over the last century, with firsthand accounts from villagers past and present. The exhibition also explores what the future might hold and how the village retains its sense of community in a rapidly changing world. The museum is in Bull Plain, Hertford SG14 1DT. Visit hertfordmuseum.org for more details.
Pianist Luke Kimpton will be giving a piano recital at 3pm on Sunday 26th April at Leaside Church, Ware. Entry is free, with a collection in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. The recital be for 45 minutes and feature works by Debussy, Joe Hisaishi and Bernard Herrmann.
A charity fashion show is being held at The Chequers pub in Matching Green near Harlow on Thursday 30th April. Organised by former Hertford-based, now online, retailer The Women’s Society Boutique, The Addie Brady Foundation Charity Fashion Show & Ladies’ Lunch takes place from 12noon to 3pm, with tickets priced at £45. The event features a glass of fizz on arrival, two-course lunch, fashion show and charity raffle. Visit www.womens-society.co.uk for tickets.
The United Reformed Church in Broxbourne is hosting a May Craft and Plant Market on Monday 4th May from 1.30 to 4.30pm, featuring crafts, plants and cream teas. The church is in Mill Lane, Broxbourne EN10 7BQ. For a table call 07707 180296.
Our House, the Madness musical, is being performed by Broxbourne Theatre Company at The Spotlight in Hoddesdon from Wednesday 6th to Saturday 9th May. For tickets call 01992 441946 or visit broxbournetheatrecompany.co.uk.
Herts Book Festival will return on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May at two different venues: Saturday 16th at BEAM Hertford from 10am to 4pm and Sunday 17th at Southern Maltings, Ware, also from 10am to 4pm. For more information, visit hertsbookfestival.com.
A garden in Ware is opening to the public in aid of the National Gardens Scheme, on Sunday 31st May from 2-5pm. Peter Laing’s garden is at The Pines, 58 Hoe Lane, Ware SG12 9NZ. Admission is £5 (children free) and there will be tea and cake for sale on the patio by the swimming pool. Visitors may park in the car park at Hertford Rugby Club.
Discover experiences like White Water Rafting, Hydrospeeding, Hot Dog Kayaking as well as fun lake activities and much more this summer. at Lee Valley White Water Centre
Choose your adventure at gowhitewater.co.uk
Scan to book your tickets now!
The acclaimed Old Cross Tavern in Hertford has been chosen as Pub of the Year for 2026 by Camra’s South Herts branch, winning the branch’s Gold award.
One of eight pubs on the original shortlist, the Old Cross Tavern was followed in second place by the Robin Hood in St Albans, then the Great Northern, also in St Albans, with the Crooked Billet in Ware coming in in fourth place.
Each year, local branches of Camra, the Campaign for Real Ale, select their winners based on a combination of different factors, including high quality real ale and cider, service and welcome, atmosphere, community focus and alignment with Camra’s aims, with scoring based on members’ feedback and inspections.
The Old Cross Tavern has long been a magnet for real ale lovers and, in an era of gastropubs and pub buildings being repurposed as restaurants, it stands out as
what many would describe as “a proper pub”.
The beers come from a wide range of British breweries producing ales of exceptional quality and diversity of styles.
There are eight hand pumps, with six or seven in use most of the time. Beers usually change daily with beers of differing tastes, styles and strengths available on any given day.
The pub also recently launched a small seasonal food menu featuring a combination of starters, mains and bar snacks, with the kitchen open on Wednesday evening, Thursday and Friday lunchtime and evening and Saturday from 2-9pm.
No booking is necessary – in keeping with the pub’s relaxed atmosphere, you are encouraged to simply rock up.
The Old Cross Tavern is at 8 St Andrew Street, Hertford SG14 1JA. You can check out its website at oldcrosstavern.com and its daily menu on Instagram (oldcrosshertford).
Popular Mudlarks Café in Hertford has opened a new shop featuring exclusive handcrafted items created by Mudlarks gardeners and other local artisan crafters.
Each quarter, the shop will be featuring products from local crafters and to kick off, Anna Bell Ceramics and Copper Threads have been selected as Mudlarks’ crafters of choice. In the shop now you can buy a coffee cup by Anna that has been inspired by Mudlarks colours, along with her signature ceramic products, while Sarah from Copper Threads has created hand-embroidered socks
featuring favourite pets. The vegetarian and vegan café is also planning to introduce a range of artisan baked goods and seasonal vegetables fresh from the Mudlarks allotment.
Mudlarks is a Hertford-based charity supporting adults with learning disabilities and mental health concerns. The café and shop are open from 9am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday.
Whisk opens in Ware
Ware has a new bakery and coffee house, Whisk Bakehouse, which has opened at 76-78 High Street. It is serving speciality coffee and tea plus cake slices, brownies, cookie pies, toasted sandwiches and ready to go celebration cakes, and is already proving a popular addition to the town. Keep up to date on Instagram (whiskbakehouse_ware).
Nolaki is a high quality Turkish restaurant that has taken over the former Cock pub in Stansted Mountfitchet and transformed it into a stunning contemporary restaurant with an elegant interior and inventive dishes. Open seven days from 12noon until late, Nolaki offers lunch, dinner, fabulous wines and stunning cocktails. The restaurant is also available for private hire. From Monday to Friday 12-4pm it has a superb value two-course lunch menu for just £14.95 and a three-course lunch menu for £17.95. On Sunday, roasts are served from 12-5pm.
Pircio is a family-run independent restaurant in Bishop’s Stortford that offers two different menus of Italian and Turkish cuisine. Both menus are cooked by teams of specialist chefs and diners can choose from pizza, pasta and other Italian classics or dishes such as halloumi, falafel, moussaka and lamb tagine.
The historic Drill Hall building has been smartly refurbished and can seat 200 people downstairs whilst there is also a mezzanine for private dining. Pircio is open seven days a week, all day.
Drill Hall, Market Square Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3UU 01279 898181 pirciorestaurant.com
The award-winning Veyso’s has long been one of Hertford’s most talked-about restaurants. Its chefs use the finest ingredients and traditional skills to produce innovative signature dishes and desirable cocktails in a bold and stunning environment. Behind the doors of Veyso’s lies an interior as well crafted as the food, with hand-carved wall art, mother of pearl-embedded wall beams – and the iconic Veyso’s staircase that leads to the basement. Open 7 days a week, Veyso’s has a menu for every occasion, from a light lunch to a great celebration.
30 Silver Street, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8HD 01279 812964 nolaki.co.uk Fox & Hounds 2 High Street, Hunsdon SG12 8NH 01279 843999
97-101 Fore Street, Hertford SG14 1AS 01992 550055 veysos.co.uk
We are proud to be featured in The Michelin Guide again – we have been included every year since opening in 2004. We also received a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year from 20122024 – a huge accolade!
www.foxandhounds-hunsdon.co.uk Come & experience the Fox & Hounds for yourself! • Try our inspiring seasonal menu
Midweek Special just £15
Fantastic Sunday lunch
Garden and heated terrace for
al fresco dining
The George IV offers exceptional restaurant cuisine within a warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The team serve fresh and seasonal dishes, on both an à la carte and small plate menu, which can be enjoyed on the sun-drenched terrace over the summer months. Dart Club, located in the rear courtyard, is an interactive dart game that’s ideal for birthdays, team-building or just a friendly competition! The George IV can also be the perfect venue for your next event, such as an intimate wedding, baby shower, birthday or a special anniversary.
Cautherly Lane, Great Amwell SG12 9SW 01920 870039
info@georgeivpub.co.uk georgeivpub.co.uk
Meze Bar & Grill
Based in the former Old Star pub in Wormley, Broxbourne, Manto’s restaurant offers authentic Turkish cuisine with a modern twist, using only the finest ingredients for its dishes. Taking inspiration from Turkey’s extensive heritage, Manto’s aims to celebrate regional flavours and give its customers a true flavour of the Mediterranean.
The restaurant is open seven days a week 12noon to midnight, offering lunch, food throughout the afternoon and dinner. There is also free parking for customers.
32 High Road, Wormley EN10 6LE 01992 414301
mantosrestaurant.com
No.14, in the heart of Bishop’s Stortford, is taking Asian Fusion dining and luxury to new heights in the town. No expense has been spared on the interior decor at this three-storey venue. An updated range of menus has been launched, with new à la carte, sushi and Sunday roast menus all available. On Tuesday, you can enjoy limitless sushi, and on Sunday both brunch and roasts are served. There is now also a DJ every Friday, Saturday and Sunday with live jazz every Thursday. Book the Chef’s Table for the best seats in the house.
14 North Street, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2LQ 01279 597548 no-14.com
Thai
Ruay Rôt means ‘rich in flavour’ in Thai and that is precisely what the food here is. Just down the road from its previous and hugely popular Baan Thitiya restaurant, this takeaway and delivery outlet offers authentic Thai food for you to enjoy at home, continuing Baan Thitiya’s story after 20 years in Hertford. You can order by phone or through the GoGetters and Deliveroo apps for delivery to Hertford, Ware and Hoddesdon. The menu includes many vegan specials. Since opening, a small number of tables both inside and outside have been added so you can now dine in too.
6 Old Cross, Hertford SG14 1RB 01992 587706
ruayrôt.co.uk
The Golden Fleece is an old English pub with a modern twist. Set in the pretty village of Braughing, Jess and Peter Tatlow’s pub has been a favourite for over 15 years. The menu is updated bi-monthly, allowing for fresh, seasonal and delicious locally-sourced food, and a specials board also offers changing dishes. The Fleece has an exceptional reputation, with plenty of choice for diners with gluten or dairy allergies and vegans/vegetarians, allowing everyone to enjoy a visit. A large, secluded garden with play area is perfect on warmer days or enjoy log burners on cooler ones.
20 Green End, Braughing SG11 2PG 01920 823555 goldenfleecebraughing.co.uk
Roni’s, set in the heart of Bishop’s Stortford, is a fine dining restaurant where both the quality of food and the service combine to offer guests a memorable experience. Roni’s offers a wide range of traditional dishes, passionately crafted, including a vegan menu. There is a set lunch menu (Tuesday-Saturday) and a set evening menu (Tuesday-Thursday) while superb roasts are served on Sundays. You can also book the private dining room for your group or family. Roni’s is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 12noon, and closed on Monday.
16 North Street, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2LQ 01279 508856
ronisrestaurant.co.uk
A beautifully presented three bedroom Victorian cottage with off street parking in Lower Bengeo. The property has a sitting room, a large extended kitchen/dining/family room, downstairs cloakroom, a basement with home office and separate storge/utility room, three good sized bedrooms and a family bathroom. The rear garden is laid mainly to lawn with a lovely mature tree, patio seating area and very useful outbuilding with power connected. A short walk to both Hertford North train station and town centre.
A delightful cottage situated on a very desirable street in Lower Bengeo. The property has a sitting room, open plan kitchen dining room, two bedrooms and a family bathroom. The garden is laid mainly to lawn with a good size patio. The home also benefits from a large garage/ workshop, incorporating an office area, in addition to two parking spaces directly to the rear of the garage. A short walk to Hertford North railway station, Hertford town centre and close to a good primary school, this is the ideal home for first time buyers or those downsizing.
