Plans to bring Watford Colosseum back into the use have been approved, with the 85-year-old site set to reopen later this year.

AEG, which runs the 02 Arena, now manage the Rickmansworth Road venue, and their application to refurbish the venue ahead of a scheduled Autumn reopening was approved by Watford Borough Council's planning department on Friday (February 23).

The plans include the installation of a box office, mobile counters, reconfigured bar layouts, a cloak room, and a forum hall on the ground floor, reworking of the circle bar layout on the first floor, and the addition of guardrail above the ground floor office.

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Watford Observer: Watford Colosseum.Watford Colosseum.

The 85-year-old site will also be decorated with a 1930s art deco theme.

Watford Borough Council took over operation of the venue in December 2020 and announced that it would close for the “major refurbishment”. Then, last year, AEG was confirmed as the council’s selection to operate the new-look Colosseum.