Watford’s oldest pub is moving back to full opening hours after a permanent landlord was found to take over the business.

The One Crown in High Street, where a pub was first registered over 200 years ago, has been looking for a permanent manager for the last month after it shut unexpectedly for several days on August 28. 

The pub management company has confirmed a new landlord has moved over from another business in Oxfordshire to take on the historic drinking hole, and had his first day behind the bar yesterday (October 1).

The Own Crown shut unexpectedly in late August.The Own Crown shut unexpectedly in late August. (Image: Newsquest) It also means The One Crown is moving back to its previous opening hours from midday every day until 11pm on weekdays and 12.30am on weekends.

The closure was not advertised in the window or on social media.The closure was not advertised in the window or on social media. (Image: Newsquest)

The sudden closure in late August came after the previous landlady left the business and saw many regulars voicing sadness and shock online. 

A photo of The One Crown taken in the 1930s.A photo of The One Crown taken in the 1930s. One wrote: "Fingers crossed it finds a new landlord, such a lovely pub!"

It is believed to be the town’s oldest public house as a landlord was first registered there in 1756, according to Watford Museum, although it is not the longest continuously run pub in the area.