While readers don’t have to look back very far to remember the events of December, here are the month's biggest headlines as the review of the year wraps up.
Watford’s biggest nightclub was saved as it signed a lease extension after facing the threat of closure.
Pryzm Watford signed a five-year lease extension to save the venue, hundreds of jobs, and prevents a bitter blow for the local economy.
The 2,500-capacity super club was in danger of having to vacate its premises in January to make way for plans for 147 homes.
Manager Dave Vickery said: “I am obviously thrilled that we head into the New Year on a high note, and I look forward to working with all vested parties to ensure Pryzm has a long and successful future.
Watford MP Dean Russell thanked all those who signed the Save Watford’s Nightlife petition which he presented in Parliament earlier this year.
“It is too easy to be dismissive of the cultural and economic value that nightclubs such as Pryzm Watford bring to a thriving town. There is a danger that our town centres are going to become ghost towns, which is no good for anyone," he said.
Many in and around Watford shared their joy at the news.
Vibe 107.6 FM founder Matt Cadman said: “Excellent news. It would have been a great shame to lose such an iconic venue.
The club attracts around 3,000 visitors every weekend and Watford Business Improvement District chief executive Maria Manion had described the prospect of losing it to homes as “devastating” for the town economy.
On the very first day of the month Watford shoppers were hit with some bad news as the Joules shop inside atria Watford was confirmed to be among 19 that will close, despite Next stepping in to pull the brand out of administration.
The Joules unit had only opened in October 2020 – when it moved into the shopping centre's lower ground floor.
There was further disruption to customers to come, as those still trying to collect a click and collect order were given the wrong contact details.
A sign in the shop window read: “Unfortunately this store is now closed.
“If you are collecting a click and collect order, please contact our customer service desk on 03345 250 7160.
“We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused.”
However, a customer who had arrived was left frustrated when the number provided did not work.
Joules confirmed that the number on the notice was wrong and had an extra ‘3’ in it.
Locals are unlikely to have forgotten the long period of snowy conditions earlier this month, which led to traffic chaos on the M25 and elsewhere.
@baylee190 The snow settled so fast #m25 #snow #m11 #pileup #stuck #ice #fyp #weather #uk #cold #coldweather #snowing #stranded #motorway #crazy #gritters #bmw ♬ this feeling - Øneheart
Drivers were seen standing on the motorway while their cars were stuck in heavy snow which covered the entirety of the road.
National Highways said “we had up to 25 gritters treating the M25 at any one time” on the night of December 11 and morning of December 12.
They spread a total of 960 tonnes of salt and more than 18,000 litres of anti-freeze.
The UK’s busiest motorway was closed in both directions between Junction 23 for South Mimms and Junction 25 for Waltham Cross, in Hertfordshire, for around 90 minutes on December 12.
"Heartbroken” Holyrood Social Club members held their last event on December 11 amid claims of a lack of communication from the landowner and "unaffordable" rent demands.
The site in Tolpits Lane, Watford, is owned by Holy Rood Catholic Church which is part of the Diocese of Westminster.
The diocese has claimed that rumoured rent figures were inaccurate, but added the parish has a responsibility to ensure sound financial management of its assets.
It said the club had made a regular donation for the use of the hall in the past, which it stopped making two years ago.
The Watford Observer has been told there was upset from those at the social club aimed towards the parish over the closure.
The club was described as a "lifeline" for the elderly, particularly on Sundays for bingo, and a place for people to meet up and have a drink or watch the football.
Property guardians have moved into the hall since the closure and the diocese said that the parish will be consulted on the future use of the hall next year.
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