St Albans farm shop 'saved' after £50K backdated business rates bill overturned

• The owner of HATCH in St Albans has helped overturn a backdated business rates bill of almost £50,000, "saving" Smallford Farm Shop.

Today in Hertfordshire

Conditions in your area this morning.

The local news that matters this morning

Here's the local news from the past 24 hours, made easy to digest.

St Albans Times · Families · yesterday Beechwood Park unveils new computing and robotics room • Beechwood Park School has unveiled new facilities which aim to provide pupils with exciting opportunities to explore coding, robotics, AI and digital innovation. • The specialist computing and robotics room formspart of its continued investment in future-focused education, digital learning and STEM provision. • The new facility features 24 dedicated workstations, a.

Watford Observer - News (Newsquest) · Travel · yesterday Chiropractor who 'pulled down woman's underwear' guilty of unacceptable conduct • A St Albans Road, Watford chiropractor who pulled down a patient’s underwear without informed consent has been found guilty of unacceptable conduct.

Hemel Today · Planning · yesterday Councillors in Hertfordshire back plans to upgrade streetlights • Hertfordshire County Council is planning to allow councillors to fund additional streetlights or upgrade existing ones in their own areas.

The Comet - News (Newsquest) · Planning · yesterday New Lister Hospital children's ward granted planning permission • Planning permission for a new children's ward at Lister Hospital has been unanimously agreed by members of Stevenage Borough Council's planning committee.

Welwyn Hatfield Times · Travel · yesterday Police release CCTV after spate of business burglaries in Hertfordshire • Police have released CCTV images after a spate of business burglaries in Hertfordshire.

The Comet - News (Newsquest) · Local news · yesterday Stevenage boy faces court accused of carrying 30cm hunting knife and drugs • A teenager is accused of carrying a hunting knife and possessing drugs in Stevenage.

Watford Observer - News (Newsquest) · Safety · yesterday Three men charged after police chase down M1 in Hertfordshire • Three men have been charged after a Herts Police chase down the M1 in Hertfordshire following a reported theft in Hemel Hempstead.

St Albans Times · Events · yesterday Just hanging around with Hugh Cornwell • He’ll undoubtedly hate the comparison, but there’s definitely something of the Billy Mack about former Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell; although it’s the dry sense of humour with a generous slug of sarcasm, rather than any tendency to wear skintight leather like Bill Nighy’s aging Love Actually rock icon.

HertsLive - Hertfordshire news · Local media · yesterday Hertfordshire students take part in groundbreaking new qualification • The Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship enables people without an existing degree to become a qualified Early Years Teacher

BBC News - Beds, Herts & Bucks (regional) · Travel · yesterday Watford at 'crossroads' after Elton John criticism • Sir Elton John has changed the narrative "completely" at Watford after his comments about the club's "decline", says BBC Radio Three Counties' Geoff Doyle.

BBC News - Beds, Herts & Bucks (regional) · Safety · 2 days ago Saracens sack academy player Auvaa after St Albans incident • Saracens sack Totoa Auvaa, the academy player who was involved in a nightclub incident with England cricketers Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, after another incident.

Herts Advertiser · Local news · yesterday Suspected shoplifters threaten staff at Shenley Tesco • Police are appealing for information following a robbery at a Tesco store in Shenley.

Welwyn Hatfield Times · Local news · today Telegraph names Hertfordshire city among most 'desirable' places to live • St Albans has been named one of the most desirable places to live in the UK by The Telegraph.

What's on: next 14 days

A quick-view of 52 priority public listings from 52 tracked events over the next 14 days. Tap any item for the source and full details.

23 Oct · The Book and BottleA Tarot Tale - An Spiritual Evening

14 Oct · Corn Exchange - HertfordALEX FRANCIS — THE REVIVAL TOUR WED 14TH OCT | HERTFORD

14 Oct · Hertford Corn ExchangeAlex Francis in East Hertfordshire

17 Oct · The Bengeo ClubBengeo Club

22 Oct · Quattro LoungeBRING YOUR BABY PUB QUIZ | Hertford, Herts, Parent Social at Quattro Lounge

23 Oct · 39 Fore Street, SG14 1AL Hertford, United KingdomFaux Fighters UK | Hertford Corn Exchange

14 Oct · British Red Cross CentreFirst Aid at Work (FAW) Course - Hertford

16 Oct · Hartham Common ParkHertfordshire Oktoberfest 2026 - Friday Evening Session

17 Oct · Hartham Common ParkHertfordshire Oktoberfest 2026 - Saturday afternoon Session

17 Oct · Hartham Common ParkHertfordshire Oktoberfest 2026 - Saturday evening Session

24 Oct · Corn Exchange - HertfordMoretallica Live at The Corn Exchange, Hertford

17 Oct · 39 Fore Street, SG14 1AL Hertford, United KingdomSimulation Muse / Runaway Killers | Corn Exchange, Hertford

27 Oct · Waterhall FarmSPACE at Therapeutic Hooves

23 Oct · BEAMThomas Green - Brainstorm

24 Oct · PANSHANGER PARKWHAT'S BENEATH YOUR FEET AT PANSHANGER PARK

18 Oct · Polaris Wilderness AdventureWild Food & Forage Day Workshop

17 Oct · BEAMWild Tales & Creature Puppets: BEAM

23 Oct · St Albans Cathedral90s Silent Disco inside St Albans Cathedral - ON SALE NOW!

26 Oct · WaterstonesACOTAR Celebrations: Book 6 Midnight Release - St Albans

24 Oct · St Peter's Church St AlbansAngela Brownridge - Piano Recital

23 Oct · Royston Social Club, AL1 5ND Saint Albans, United KingdomBen's Music Quiz - #14

24 Oct · St Saviour's Church, St Alban'sChoral Inspirations - Dresdner Motettenchor and Joyful Company of Singers

17 Oct · The Alban ArenaDAYTIME Discos for Grown ups 70s80s90s party ALBAN ARENA ST ALBANS

24 Oct · Verulam Golf ClubFaulty Towers The Dining Experience

24 Oct · Hotel ChocolatHalloween Chocolate Tasting Experience - St Albans

24 Oct · The Horn, Victoria Street, AL1 3TE Saint Albans, United KingdomOhasis | The Horn, St Albans

23 Oct · Club VeedaSakura @ Club Veeda

24 Oct · Sopwell HouseSopwell House Premier Wedding Showcase

25 Oct · Three HammersSpeed Dating in St Albans Ages 45-65ish

17 Oct at 11:00 · Inn On The ParkSt Albans Clothes Swap

25 Oct · St Michael's Manor HotelSt Michael's Manor Wedding Show October 2026

27 Oct · St AlbansUnified Dating - Meet Singles in St Albans

16 Oct · Gorhambury HouseYoga & Sound Bath Day Retreat

17 Oct at 14:00Come n Try Waterskiing

23 Oct at 07:30Salsa Mish 23 Oct

24 Oct at 10:00St Albans Mosaic Making Workshop - Sat 24th Oct 10am-2pm

20 OctStay Warm for Less in Jersey Farm Community Centre - 20 October 2026

17 Oct · O WatfordDollys country BRUNCH

24 Oct · Dunnings 2DRUMATICS x DNB SHACK x PATTERNED UP: THE HALLOWEEN WARM-UP

17 Oct · Timmy's (Formerly Bar Bodega)It's Local End of Sumer Party

23 Oct · The Zoo WatfordFRIDAYS OUT OUT at The Zoo - Packages

14 Oct · Hare Krishna TempleGuided Tours - Bhaktivedanta Manor

24 Oct · Hotel ChocolatHalloween Chocolate Tasting Experience - Watford

24 Oct · Watford ColosseumJimeoin: BALLYHOO!

26 Oct · Timmy's 151JUVY Under 18s - Halloween Tour - Mon 26 October - WATFORD

27 Oct · Timmy's 151JUVY Under 18s - Halloween Tour - Tues 27 October - WATFORD

26–27 Oct · Watford ColosseumRicky Gervais: Legend

25 Oct · WD18 0FLSpirit Of Luther & Classics. Sunday Brunch by Fil Straughan, Comedy.. Dj's

22 & 27 Oct · Watford Palace TheatreThe Music of Whitney - The Candlelight Concert - Watford Palace Theatre

24 Oct · Zoo NightclubUKG BINGO SAT 24th October Watford

18 Oct at 10:00Old Hatfield Farmers Market – 18th October

16 Oct at 19:30 · The Old PalaceThe Tudor Songbook

Resident pulse

One weekly reader question. Choose one option; responses guide what we follow up next.

Three Hertfordshire Amazon finds

Rotating area-related book, map, gift and local-interest searches.

Affiliate disclosure: these links open Amazon UK searches with our affiliate tag, and we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Did you know? · Hertfordshire

The 2005 Buncefield explosion near Hemel Hempstead was heard as far away as the Netherlands and registered about 2.4 on the Richter scale.

Source →