Where 5 new Watford area supermarkets are set to open

While the town centre has recently seen the addition of smaller specialist supermarkets like Wing Yip, Alli Bhavan, and La Mart in the High Street, the big brands are not being left behind.

Aldi, Lidl, M&S, and Sainsbury’s all have plans to expand their presence in the area.

See the full list of locations below:

Aldi - Albert Road South

(Image: Stephen Danzig.)

Aldi is working on a new store “coming soon”, having knocked through the walls between the former Iceland and Laser Planet units in the old High Street Pryzm building.

It is understood that the store will be opening this summer, with a June 4 launch date rumoured.

Lidl - High Street

(Image: Newsquest)

An opening date has not been confirmed and less work can be seen to have already taken place, but Lidl is on the way to Watford’s high street.

It has submitted planning applications for the former Wilko unit, which initially said it would be opening in 2025, before this was pushed back to sometime this year.

Sainsbury’s - Clarendon Road

(Image: McLaren Living)

Sainsbury’s is planning to open a new supermarket inside the upcoming redevelopment of the former police station and magistrates’ court site at the corner of Clarendon Road and Shady Lane.

The wider project involves building mixed use blocks, including a 23-storey tower, offering 314 homes. This has not yet begun, meaning the Sainsbury’s Local is likely a long way off despite a licensing application already having gone in.

Lidl – A41, Hunton Bridge

The new Lidl store, off the A41 near Hunton Bridge (Image: Stephen Danzig)

Lidl is also working on a new building which would host a larger supermarket where the World of Water store once stood, off the A41 near Hunton Bridge.

No opening date has been confirmed there either, but work is well underway.

M&S – High Road, Bushey Heath

CGI image showing how the redevelopment would look (Image: : Nacropolis Construction Ltd/Hertsmere Planning Portal/Claridge Architects)

M&S is planning to open a food hall store on the ground floor of a new development proposed for 6 to 18 High Road, Bushey Heath.

The application is currently pending council consideration. It also includes 25 homes on the upper floors.