The team behind the popular Tasty Bean café at Oxhey Activity Park has been chosen to run the new café at Watford Town Hall, bringing fresh food, affordable drinks and a welcoming new meeting place...
Scheduled to open in spring 2027, the café will be operated by EnsCat Ltd, the local, independent family business behind The Tasty Bean Café. The new venue will sit alongside its existing café at Oxhey Activity Park and form part of the Town Hall Quarter transformation, bringing new life to one of Watford’s most historic buildings.
Located on the ground floor of the Grade II-listed Town Hall, the café will feature an outdoor terrace overlooking the new Town Square, providing a place for residents, families and visitors to relax, catch up with friends or enjoy a break while exploring the town centre.
From freshly brewed coffee and cakes to breakfast dishes, sandwiches, wraps and light lunches, the café will offer something for everyone, including children's meals and a range of vegetarian and plant-based options.
Affordable choices will be a key part of the menu, with indicative opening prices including tea from £2.50, pastries from £2.75 and breakfast baps from £5.25. Meal deals are also planned, alongside no extra charge for oat, soya or almond milk.
EnsCat Ltd already has experience of creating welcoming community spaces through its popular Tasty Bean café at Oxhey Activity Park. The new Town Hall café will build on this success, becoming a place where people can meet, socialise and feel part of Watford's growing cultural quarter.
There will also be opportunities for local people to benefit beyond the café itself. EnsCat Ltd plans to promote job vacancies through local employment networks, including West Herts College, and offer structured work experience opportunities for young people.
The café will also support community life through regular activities and partnerships with local schools, charities and organisations, helping to make the Town Hall Quarter a place for everyone.
Sustainability will be another important part of the café's approach, with plans to reduce food waste, minimise unnecessary packaging, offer Fairtrade products and encourage more environmentally friendly food choices.
The café forms part of the wider transformation of Watford Town Hall, which will also be home to the new Museum of Watford, an Innovation Hub, council customer services and community meeting spaces. Together, these facilities will create a vibrant destination where residents can discover local history, access services, work, learn and spend time together.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “It's fantastic that the team behind the popular Tasty Bean at Oxhey Activity Park will be bringing their experience to our new Town Hall café. We want the Town Hall Quarter to be somewhere people genuinely enjoy spending time, whether that's exploring the new museum, visiting the library, meeting friends for coffee or simply taking a break in the town centre.”
Jerome Enskat, Managing Director of EnsCat Ltd, the family business behind The Tasty Bean Café, said: “We’re proud to have been chosen to be part of the next chapter for Watford Town Hall. Our team and customers have helped make The Tasty Bean at Oxhey Activity Park what it is today, and their support means a great deal as we take this next step.
“As an independent family business, we want to bring the same personal welcome, good food and good value to the town centre. We’re looking forward to creating a café that becomes part of people’s everyday lives, whether they’re visiting the museum, working nearby or meeting friends.”
Councillor Aga Dychton, Deputy Mayor and Portfolio Holder for Community, said: “With affordable food and drink, a lovely outdoor terrace and opportunities for local jobs and community activities, this café will be an important part of creating a welcoming and lively new space for Watford. It's another exciting step towards bringing our historic Town Hall back into the heart of everyday life in our town.”
The new café is currently scheduled to open in spring 2027, with further details about its opening and menu to be announced closer to the time. For more information, please visit tastybean.co.uk.
