Student, 19, opens café to five-star reviews as customers hail 'hidden gem'

        June 25, 2026

Student, 19, opens café to five-star reviews as customers hail 'hidden gem'

Good Morning Hertfordshire — 2026-06-25
Council records, travel, safety, weather and events for St Albans, Harpenden, Watford, Hemel Hempstead.
Good Morning Hertfordshire
Morning briefing · 24 min read
Good Morning Hertfordshire
Herts towns before the commute

Thursday 25 June 2026
Herts towns before the commute · Your Thursday local briefing
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Lead Story
Student, 19, opens café to five-star reviews as customers hail 'hidden gem'
• After starting her own business, Moonstone Café, in Bushey, during her studies, a university student has her eyes on growing it as a potential franchise.
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Almanac · Daily readings
Today in Hertfordshire
Conditions in your area this morning.
Hertfordshire
20°C
Clear · High 30° · Low 19°
Wind
5mph
Moderate
Rain
0mm
Cloud 0%
Local news · 14 stories
The local news that matters this morning
Here's the local news from the past 24 hours, made easy to digest.
Welwyn Hatfield Times · Local newstoday
Welwyn 10k 'huge success' with 343 runners despite extreme heat
• Running enthusiasts were invited to be extras in a BBC show.
Borough of Broxbourne Council news · Counciltoday
Mayor re-elected for second term as Council confirms 2026/27 Cabinet
• Borough of Broxbourne Council news has a council update for Hertfordshire: "Mayor re-elected for second term as Council confirms 2026/27 Cabinet".
• Check the source link for the full record, timing and any resident action needed.
Borough of Broxbourne Council news · Eventstoday
Waltham Cross Sports Festival returns for summer 2026
• Borough of Broxbourne Council news has a events update for Hertfordshire: "Waltham Cross Sports Festival returns for summer 2026".
• Check the source link for the full record, timing and any resident action needed.
Hemel Today · Local newstoday
The Shark ChillPill which kept me cool in 30°C heat is now on sale on Amazon for Prime Day
• With the UK heatwave continuing, I tested Shark’s premium ChillPill portable fan in 30°C heat to see if it could actually keep me cool.
Herts Advertiser · Familiestoday
More than 120 girls take part in cricket festival at club
• A cricket festival brought 12 school teams together to promote girls' participation in the sport.
Herts Advertiser · Safetytoday
Pair jailed for stealing more than £600,000 worth of luxury cars
• Two men have been sentenced for stealing more than £600,000 worth of luxury cars.
Herts Advertiser - things to do · Eventstoday
All you need to know ahead of Alban Day Pilgrimage and Festival 2026
• St Albans is set to celebrate its most famous figure with the return of the Alban Day Pilgrimage and Festival for 2026.
St Albans Times · Eventstoday
More than 70 local artists set to feature at Harpenden event
• It’s time to get arty again when Harpenden’s Art on the Common returns to town on the weekend of July 4-5.
• This annual event is part of a growing local art and culture scene and features more than 70 artists exhibiting, alongside live music and other entertainment....
The Comet - News (Newsquest) · Local newstoday
Stevenage at 80: Celebrating our history, building our future
• This year’s Stevenage Day marks a very special year for our town.
• Stevenage is celebrating its 80th anniversary as the UK's first New Town, marking eight decades since the decision was taken in 1946 to create something bold, ambitious and completely new
Watford Observer - News (Newsquest) · Local newstoday
13-warehouse project worth £120m unveiled for land by Hertfordshire A41
• Plans for 13 warehouses worth around £120 million have been unveiled to “satisfy the latent demand” for logistics space by the A41 in Elstree.
North Herts Council - site RSS · Safetytoday
More than 800 visitors turn out as Harry Aikines-Aryeetey marks transformation of Royston Leisure Centre
• More than 800 visitors turn out as Harry Aikines-Aryeetey marks transformation of Royston Leisure Centre joseph.mitchell Date 23 June 2026 Date 23 June 2026 L-R: Cllr Amy Allen (Executive Member for Environment at North Herts Council), Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Cllr Keith Hoskins, Sarah Kingsley (Director - Environment at North Herts Council) Royston Leisure Centre welcomed more than 800 visitors on Saturday (June 20) as the town celebrated the completion of a major refurbishment with a free community open day.
• TV personality and Team GB sprint relay star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was on hand to mark the occasion, cutting the ribbon on the centre's new gym extension alongside Cllr Keith Hoskins, Chair of North Herts Council.
• The event marked the completion of a major decarbonisation and refurbishment programme at the centre, delivered in partnership with North Herts Council, which has included a £1.8 million gym extension that has more than doubled the gym's size.
North Herts Council - site RSS · Planningtoday
North Herts Council awards £7,501 to support Hitchin community projects
• North Herts Council awards £7,501 to support Hitchin community projects cameron.rutherford Date 17 June 2026 Date 17 June 2026 Category Press Release Bike instructors from Herts Disability Sports Foundation North Herts Council has awarded £7,501 in grant funding to support five community projects in the Hitchin area following recommendations from the Hitchin Community Forum on June 2, 2026.
• Partners of Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy were awarded £1,500 towards replacing playground equipment as part of a wider project to rejuvenate the play area.
• The new equipment will help create an improved, safer, and more engaging outdoor environment for pupils.
North Herts Council - site RSS · Traveltoday
Red Extreme Heat Warning issued for 24-25 June
• Red Extreme Heat Warning issued for 24-25 June gavin.midgley Date 22 June 2026 Date 22 June 2026 A Red Extreme Heat warning has been issued by the Met Office for Wednesday and Thursday this week (24-25 June 2026).
• This means there will be exceptionally high temperatures, perhaps reaching around 39C.
• Overnight temperatures are also expected to be very high.
Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce · Traveltoday
Amy and Mary celebrate 11 years at Chamber
• Two long-serving members of the Chamber team have each chalked up an impressive 11 years of service.
• Chamber CEO Donna Schultz was keen to salute Business Support Executive Amy Rich and Mary Sykes, Corporate Relations.
• Donna said: “Both Amy and Mary have been invaluable members of our team over the past decade, and I feel privileged to have their experience on my side as we move forward into the Chamber’s next century.
Local utility · Practical note
Daily source desk
Primary sources checked for today's edition. Use these links to verify records, consultations, travel changes and local service updates.
What's On · 12 items
What's on: next 7 days
A quick-view of 12 priority public listings from 12 tracked events over the next 7 days. Tap any item for the source and full details.
2026-06-26 · Cinnabar Hertford · AllEvents - HertfordCinnabar Fridays2026-07-03 · Corn Exchange - Hertford · AllEvents - HertfordCommon People (PULP Tribute) | Hertford Corn Exchange2026-06-28 · St Michael's Manor Hotel · AllEvents - St AlbansAl Fresco Afternoon Tea inspired by Jo Malone London2026-06-26 · Oaklands College · AllEvents - St AlbansPhats Small in St Albans2026-07-04 · The Pioneer Club · AllEvents - St AlbansRetired Ravers Club presents Phil Hartnoll (Orbital)2026-07-02 · Tequila Mockingbird St.Albans · AllEvents - St AlbansSt Albans Singles Party - Over 35s2026-07-05 · St Peter's Street · AllEvents - St AlbansSt Albans Vegan Market2026-06-28 · Oaklands College · AllEvents - St AlbansSummer In Nashville - St Albans 20262026-07-03 · 28 The Maltings, AL1 3 Saint Albans, United Kingdom · AllEvents - St AlbansSummer Sounds 20262026-06-27 · Tequila Mockingbird St.Albans · AllEvents - St AlbansTHROWBACK BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH St Albans2026-06-26 · Watford Palace Theatre · AllEvents - WatfordAggys Big Gay Party2026-07-03 · The Zoo Watford · AllEvents - WatfordCHLOE WILLIAMS: Fri 3rd July: Zoo Watford
Amazon Picks · 3 Hertfordshire searches
Three Hertfordshire Amazon finds
Rotating area-related book, map, gift and local-interest searches.
Hertfordshire Amazon pick 1
Bishop Stortford Cycling Guide
Amazon UK search for Bishop Stortford cycling guide using the newsletter affiliate tag.
Search Amazon UK →
Hertfordshire Amazon pick 2
Hitchin Calendar
Amazon UK search for Hitchin calendar using the newsletter affiliate tag.
Search Amazon UK →
Hertfordshire Amazon pick 3
Hemel Hempstead Cookbook
Amazon UK search for Hemel Hempstead cookbook using the newsletter affiliate tag.
Search Amazon UK →
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.
This Day in Hertfordshire History
On this day · Through the years
793
Hertfordshire takes its name from Hertford; the county grew around routes, markets and river crossings north of London.
Did You Know · Hertfordshire
Did you know? · Hertfordshire
Sir Elton John, Watford FC's Honorary Life President, received the Freedom of the Borough of Watford on 6 October 1977.
Source →
Until tomorrow morning
Have a lovely day.
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