An iconic Watford pub is being turned into a Brazilian seafood and grill bar.
The building that was formerly home to The Horns, in Hempstead Road, will be occupied by Avabar when it reopens in the coming weeks, the new management has confirmed.
It is currently being “completely refitted” and refurbished to transform it from a drinks-focussed pub and live music venue to a seafood and grill bar “with a Brazilian twist”.
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Avabar added that the work will be sympathetic to the venue’s history and importance in the town.
No reopening date is currently set, as some issues with the building have become apparent during the refurb which need to be tackled first, but Avabar still hopes to be operating “in the next few weeks”.
The pub shut unexpectantly last month but Stonegate, which owns the venue, quickly shared that it would be reopening soon “with a fresh direction under new management”.
“The aim will be to enhance the pub experience overall, focusing on quality food and drink while maintaining its status as a valued community favourite,” the pubs company added.
“We can't wait to welcome people back to the cherished local pub.”
See what Watford residents want from the Horns: What will make The Horns a success again after closure?
The new licensees are from the area and apparently “know Watford really well”. They had been on the look out for the right Hertfordshire location when The Horns became available.
The Horns’ current state is the latest in a series of closures following attempts to make the pub and live music venue a success - as it had been in previous decades.
In October 2022, The Horns’ management at the time announced it had closed “for the last time” before an “extraordinary” response from locals and meetings with Stonegate produced fresh hope it would be able to keep going.
At around the same time the following year, the management closed the pub again, admitting that it had “tried our hardest” but found running The Horns “completely unsustainable”.
It reopened in December under its most recent management. The pub then underwent refurbishment including a reworked bar, new flooring, and a redecoration in January and February.
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