Town Hall Quarter project

This historic area is now being transformed through a phased regeneration project into something more open, lively and welcoming for everyone.

Its aim is to create a vibrant town-centre hub for residents, businesses and visitors, while protecting the area’s heritage and preparing it for the future.

From civic buildings to community destinations

Built in 1937, the Town Hall and former Assembly Hall were designed to serve the town.

Over time, the Assembly Hall became the Colosseum, and footfall into the Town Hall reduced. As more people choose to access services online, the way residents and businesses interact with the council has evolved, with quicker, easier and more flexible support.

Naturally, this meant fewer people needed to visit the building in person, and spaces once designed for busy civic life gradually became quieter with much of the building occupied by council offices and meeting rooms.

This change wasn’t a loss, but a reflection of progress, and it highlighted something important: that the Town Hall deserved a new purpose worthy of its heritage. The Town Hall Quarter project embraces this moment, opening the building back up so it can once again be a place where people gather, discover and feel part of Watford’s shared story.

Alongside the restored Colosseum, the Town Hall will host a mix of cultural, community and practical uses, helping it once again live up to its name as a building for the town. This includes facilities such as a museum, café, and continued provision of council services alongside improved streets and public spaces nearby.

A restored Colosseum leading the way

The transformation began with the Colosseum. After careful restoration and modernisation, it reopened in 2025 as a world-class venue with improved facilities, better accessibility and far greater energy efficiency. Managed by leading operator AEG, the Colosseum is once again welcoming audiences, performers and visitors from Watford and far beyond. Its success has shown what is possible when heritage buildings are treated with care and ambition, and it set the standard for what comes next.

Bringing the Town Hall back to the town

In 2027, the Town Hall itself will be opened up and reimagined. Read about the plans here. A new museum will celebrate the stories, objects and memories that make Watford unique. A community café and welcoming spaces will invite people to meet, gather and connect. The innovation and incubation hub will give local people a place to grow ideas and businesses. Customer services will be easier to reach.