Looking back at the pub that became a fast food takeaway

Aerial view of the Hertfordshire Arms c1938. Image: The Pennant Magazine, December 1938

This building is now a fast foot restaurant on one of Watford’s busiest roads but its exterior has remained largely unchanged since when it was a popular pub.

The Watford Observer is delighted to share pictures from the Watford Museum archive and this week we recall the Hertfordshire Arms.

The museum’s volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: “The Hertfordshire Arms was built in response to the newly developing North Watford area, to designs by J. C. F. James of Benskins Brewery. It appears to have followed a house style as the company were building pubs of a similar design at this time.

“This pub was opened on May 23, 1933 and the first landlord was Ernest L Wyndham. This aerial view was printed in Benskins house magazine, The Pennant, in 1938.

Watford Observer: The pub is now a McDonald's.

The pub is now a McDonald's. (Image: Google Street View)

“Today, despite no longer being a pub when McDonald's converted it to a take away restaurant, the exterior of the building remained little altered.”

Watford Museum is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.