Watford Colosseum's refurbishment project to get it back open this year has begun, the construction company confirmed this week.

Watford Borough Council appointed Morgan Sindall, which has already been revamping the town hall next-door, to upgrade the venue and bring it back into use after its closure in 2020.

The latest planning applications detailing how the venue would look were approved at the end of last month and, this week, the company confirmed it has started the second part of the combined £20 million Watford Town Hall and Colosseum project.

The work involves a new stage and lighting rigs, reopening the original grand entrance which had been closed for over a decade, and adding a new café.

It will put accessibility, energy efficiency, lighting, and signage improvements in place. An external ventilation duct and roof plant will also be installed, and the existing canopy will be refurbished.

Morgan Sindall area director, Emma Curtis, said: “We’re proud to be collaborating with Watford Borough Council on the Colosseum and breathing fresh life into this iconic building while preserving a valuable, much-loved part of the community’s heritage.

“This project is not just about protecting the past but also investing in the future and creating a multi-generational legacy.

“It will form the backbone of a new cultural quarter that will support Watford’s long-term regeneration by attracting more acts and performers as well as generating tourism, employment, business opportunities, and social value.”

The company also highlighted how Julian Lloyd Webber once described the venue as “the finest recording venue in the world”.

Watford Observer: CGI showing how the Colosseum is set to look.CGI showing how the Colosseum is set to look. (Image: Watford Borough Council)

Watford Borough Council has appointed AEG Presents to manage the venue when it reopens later this year.

Watford mayor Peter Taylor said: “These works will help us forge ahead with delivering our ambitions for this area of the town, unlocking economic growth, and driving further investment in Watford.

“This will mean new jobs and opportunities for local people as well as the relaunch of this exciting venue, hosting outstanding live performances.

“Now, more than ever, it is vital that we remain ambitious for our town and keep investing in Watford.”