Barack Obama to visit Watford?

10:05am Monday 17th November 2008

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Chicago. Washington, DC. Watford? The town could welcome Barack Obama on his first visit to the UK as the 44th US President, if it is selected as the venue of a G20 summit next spring.

The Grove Hotel, in Chandler's Cross on the outskirts of Watford, has been shortlisted to host the international summit, where 20 world leaders will meet to discuss the global economy on April 30.

The hotel is already the base for the England football team, while Tiger Woods and the New Orleans Saints American football team have also stayed there.

The Grove previously welcomed 15 world leaders when it hosted the Progressive Governance Summit.

Birmingham and Manchester are also hoping to host the G20 summit, while Japan is keen to bring the G20 to the Far East.

A formal announcement is expected next week during the Pre-Budget Report, though London is reported to be the most likely venue.

The G20 is made up of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The European Union is also a member, represented by the rotating Council presidency and the European Central Bank.