Good Morning, Hertford! ❄️

Mark your calendars: in just 17 days, the Mayor flicks the switch and Hertford’s Christmas lights come on. Before that, though, winter is making its own entrance. Friday and Saturday nights drop to -3°C, so dig out the ice scraper and give yourself five extra minutes on the school run.

The good news? There’s plenty to warm you up. The BBC Big Band swings into Christmas at BEAM, a Hertford lamplighter leads you through the town’s shadowy past, and there are not one but two paint and sip nights: one with pizza and Prosecco, the other with a Christmas plate to take home. We’ve also rounded up the festive things worth booking now before they sell out, plus a chain-free Edwardian home in Brickendon that backs onto open fields.

And because Sunday roast season is officially here, we need your vote: who does the best roast in and around Hertford? 🍖

👇 Here’s what we’ve got for you this week:

• What’s On

• Town Talk

• Kiddies Scoop: Laser tag and tiny Christmas footprints

• Eye Catching Deals: Two courses for £14 at Three Lakes

• Property Of The Week: Edwardian charm with fields for neighbours

• Weather: Frosty, crisp and mostly dry

• Mind, Health & Fitness: Comfort food without the slump

• Extra Sprinkles: Who does the best roast?

What’s On

🎭 Arts + Entertainment

Second Chance, One Punch Wonder + Jumpers For Goalposts
📅 Thu 12 Nov | 20:00-23:00 | 📍 Corn Exchange, Hertford
Three bands, one stage, one very loud Thursday. Make it a night out. 🎟 From £7 pp - See the line-up

Hertfordshire Big Band
📅 Sat 14 Nov | Doors 19:00, music 20:00-22:30 | 📍 Southern Maltings, Ware
The county's big band returns to the Maltings with the full brass section. Swing, jazz standards and a dance floor if you're brave enough. 🎟 £14 adv, £18 door - Book here

Pizza, Prosecco & Paint
📅 Thu 19 Nov | 19:00 | 📍 Hertford House, Hertford
The Colour Club is back with a creative twist: paint your favourite cocktail (Aperol Spritz, Espresso Martini, Prosecco...) on canvas, with pizza and Prosecco on the night. No experience needed, so come solo or bring the gang. 🎟 £42pp - Book your spot

The BBC Big Band: A Swinging Christmas
📅 Fri 20 Nov | 19:30 | 📍 BEAM, Hertford
Winter Wonderland, Santa Baby and The Christmas Song with a proper swing twist, from one of the world's best big bands with vocalist Emer McParland. The classiest start to Christmas you'll find. 🎟 £34-£38.50 - Swing by here

The Lamplighter’s Shadows
📅 Fri 20 - Sat 21 Nov | 19:45 | 📍 BEAM, Hertford
An immersive walk-through show led by a Hertford lamplighter, uncovering true (and shadowy) stories from the town’s past. Comfy shoes on: it’s 90 minutes on your feet. 🕯 🎟 Pay what you feel, £14-£25 - More here

Kings of Lyon + UK Strokes
📅 Sat 21 Nov | 19:30-23:00 | 📍 Corn Exchange, Hertford
Sex on Fire, Use Somebody and Last Nite, played back to back. A tribute double bill for anyone who did their growing up in the noughties. 🎟 £16.50 - Grab tickets

Embossed Metal Christmas Decorations
📅 Sun 22 Nov | 10:00-13:00 | 📍 Courtyard Arts, Hertford
Mixed media artist Betty Grove shows you how to emboss metal sheets into a set of gleaming tree decorations: think golden pomegranates, owls and doves. Mindful, festive and no experience needed. 🎟 £35pp - Book your seat

Christmas Pottery Paint & Sip
📅 Tue 24 Nov | 18:30-20:30 | 📍 The Cowper Arms, Letty Green, SG14 2NL
Artshed Arts brings the paints, you bring a friend. Decorate your own 20cm Christmas plate with a drink in hand, and they'll glaze and fire it for you. 🎟 £35pp - Book via the QR code here or call 01920 466446

🏰 Community + Family

Getting Started at Hertfordshire Archives
📅 Thu 12 Nov | 11:00 | 📍 Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies, Pegs Lane, Hertford
Always wanted to trace your family tree or dig into the history of your house? This free intro shows you how to use the county's archive, right here in town. 🎟 FREE (donations welcome) - Sign up

Tudor Square Market
📅 Sun 15 Nov | 10:00-14:00 | 📍 Tudor Square, Ware
Local producers, makers and bakers in the heart of Ware, run by volunteers to help turn the Southern Maltings into a bigger arts centre. A lovely Sunday morning wander, and an easy place to start the Christmas list. 🎟 Free entry - More here

Behind the Scenes of the Herts Book Festival
📅 Tue 17 Nov | 19:30-21:00 | 📍 BEAM, Hertford
Love books? The Herts Book Festival team is looking for helpers, organisers and creative thinkers for 2027. Pop along to a relaxed evening to find out how you could get involved. 🎟 Just let them know you’re coming - Email to RSVP

🎄 Book It Before It's Gone

The festive things that sell out every year. Here's your nudge to book now.

🛍 Knebworth Christmas Fair | Fri 27 - Sun 29 Nov
Hertfordshire's biggest Christmas shopping event, with hundreds of stalls across the barns and marquees. Arrival slots are filling fast and the fair sold out last year. Book a slot

✨ Ashridge House Illuminated | Fri 20 Nov - Sat 2 Jan
The county's biggest Christmas light trail is back with a brand new route, new installations and a bigger festive food village. Adults from £24.50, children from £15.40. Weekend evenings in December go first. See dates

🫘 Jack & The Beanstalk | BEAM, from December to Sun 3 Jan
Mama G is Dame Trott and Hertford's very own Alistair Barrie is the Squire. Tickets from £26, with £3 off each ticket for groups of 10+ (excluding peak shows). A relaxed performance runs on Tue 29 Dec and a BSL-interpreted one on Sat 2 Jan. Pick your date

🎅 Dear Santa | BEAM, Fri 18 - Mon 21 Dec
Santa and his cheeky elf try to find Sarah the perfect present. Just 55 minutes long, ideal for little ones. Book here

🎉 Fanny Galore's Big Bingo Party | BEAM, Sat 5 Dec
Sorting the work do or the friends' Christmas night out? Drag queen bingo is the answer. Eyes down here

🗓 Pop It In The Diary: Hertford Christmas Gala + Lights Switch-On | Fri 27 Nov | From 15:00, switch-on 18:00 📍 Hertford Town Centre & Salisbury Square | More info

📣 Town Talk

Fancy running Hertford's arts centre? 🎨 Courtyard Arts is looking for a part-time Centre Director to cover maternity leave from January to October 2027. It's the job of keeping the gallery, studios and café buzzing, championing local artists and getting the community involved. If you're confident, friendly and organised (or know someone who is), applications close Wed 18 Nov. Full details here

Heading into London at the weekend? TfL has engineering works planned on several lines over the coming weekends, so check the TfL Journey Planner before Christmas shopping trips.

Kiddies Scoop

Light Year Laser at Woody's Play Barn
📍 Woody's Play Barn, Ware
Woody's has launched parent and child games in its dedicated laser tag arena. Chase the targets, dodge the aliens and find out once and for all who's the better shot. Great for a frosty afternoon. 🎟 £2.50 add-on per player - Book a game

Christmas Baby Prints at Manic Ceramics
📅 Wed-Sat, booking essential | 📍 Manic Ceramics, Hertford
They paint your little one's hand or foot and print it onto your chosen pottery, then you add the finishing touches: reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees. Glazed, fired and ready to collect in 3-4 days. The perfect grandparent gift. 🎟 From £10 + £4 studio fee - Message to book or call 01992 554124

🔥 Eye Catching Deals

Over 60s Thursday Menu at Three Lakes
📅 Every Thursday | 📍 Three Lakes at Westmill Farm, Ware
Calling all over 60s: Three Lakes has a dedicated menu every Thursday, and it changes weekly, so there’s always something new to try. Grab your friends and make Thursday the new Sunday. 🎟 2 courses £14 | 3 courses £18 - Book your table

🏡 Property Of The Week

Brickendon, Hertford, SG13

Want space, character and fields for neighbours, just minutes from town? This five-bedroom Edwardian semi in Brickendon has been sympathetically extended and renovated to a high standard, with gardens that back straight onto open countryside.

At 2,573 sq ft, there's room for everyone. Downstairs there are two living rooms, a kitchen/family room at the heart of the house, a home office, a utility room and (dog owners, take note) a dog and boot room for muddy walk returns. The principal bedroom has its own dressing room and en-suite, with two more bedrooms and a family bathroom on the first floor and two further bedrooms up on the second.

Outside, a gravel driveway gives plenty of parking. It's freehold and chain free.

🔗 Take a look inside

🌦 Hertford Weather: 10 - 16 Nov 2026

A crisp, mostly dry week with the season's first real frosts. Today is mild with only a 20% chance of rain. Wednesday is the one to watch, with a 45% chance of showers.

From Thursday it turns colder, with highs of just 7-8°C, and Friday and Saturday nights drop to -3°C. Allow an extra five minutes to de-ice the car, and check on elderly neighbours if you can. The upside? Friday is the driest day of the week (0% chance of rain), and Saturday stays crisp and mostly dry.

Sunday brings a 40% chance of showers, and next Monday turns milder (12°C) but wetter.

Best days: Friday and Saturday for crisp, dry winter walks.

✨ Mind, Health + Fitness

🍲 Comfort Food Without the Slump

When it's -3°C outside, nobody wants a salad. The good news: comfort food can still be good for you. This one-pan Cajun chicken lasagne feels like a hug, and it's packed with 47g of protein for 481 calories a portion.

🧁 Extra Sprinkles

The clocks have gone back, the frost is coming, and Sunday afternoons were made for one thing: a gorgeous roast. Crispy potatoes, Yorkshires the size of your head, gravy you'd happily drink. But who does it best around here?

You’re now fully up to date, Hertford.

Thanks for being here.

👀 Want to see if your company is a good fit for our community of local Hertford readers? Join our Sponsor Waitlist here.

👉 Got an event, story or feedback to share? Email hello(at)hertfordscoop.com - we’d love to hear from you.

NOTE: If anything is inaccurate, please contact us and we will rectify. Never want to hear from us again? Break our hearts and unsubscribe.