Atria Watford has confirmed that another business is lined up to move into the former John Lewis unit this year.

After Watford’s multi-floor John Lewis unit closed in 2020, it took a long while for concrete information on what would be replacing it to emerge.

In May, it was announced that Dunelm would be opening to partially replace it, with the large space being divided into separate smaller units. It has now been announced that Poundland will take up another of these.

Today (October 25), Poundland owner Pepco announced it will be opening or relocating 75 stores over three months in the largest such growth programme in the company’s history.

The Watford store is listed as a relocation set for December. The town’s existing Poundland is also part of the shopping centre but faces out onto the high street, near St Mary’s Church.

Watford Observer: Existing Watford Poundland location, in the High Street.Existing Watford Poundland location, in the High Street. (Image: Google Street View)

Poundland’s managing director, Austin Cooke, said: “To open 75 stores in the space of a single quarter is nothing short of a super-human effort from every member of the Poundland team.

"To each and every one of them I say ‘thank you’.

“But we’re working at this pace because we’re on a mission –ambitious to grow, create jobs and serve new communities by opening shops customers and communities can be proud of.”