Good Morning, Hertford! 🍂

Well, it's a big one. Half term starts on Saturday, the clocks go back on Sunday and Halloween lands the following weekend. Throw in a forecast that's mostly umbrellas, and you've got a week that needs a plan.

Good news: we've made one. There are free skate workshops on Hartham, a Halloween beer festival at one of the town's best-loved pubs, a pub quiz you can bring your baby to, and a run of indoor workshops for when the rain refuses to quit. Grown-ups get tribute nights, a paint-and-sip with a winter deer and a sound journey on Fore Street.

And if you’re craving a fresh start this autumn, keep reading: we’ve got an exclusive deal on Hertford’s newest reformer studio that you’ll want to grab before anyone else does.

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

• What’s On

• Town Talk:Ware Lock stuck till spring + last call for the south of town

• Kiddies Scoop: Half-Term Hit List, Part 2

• Eye Catching Deals: £10 off strength Pilates + free kids’ meals

• Property Of The Week: A detached just minutes from town

• Weather: Wet week, with one golden Thursday

• Mind, Health & Fitness: Beat the 5pm slump

• Extra Sprinkles: Halloween movie night, sorted

TOGETHER WITH KIM SHIPTON POWER PILATES

Kim Shipton Method: Strength Reformer Pilates

Hertford, your new favourite workout has arrived on Hertingfordbury Road.

The Kim Shipton Method fuses classical Reformer Pilates with traditional strength training for a dynamic, full-body session that seriously delivers results. Mixed-ability classes mean reformer regulars and curious first-timers are equally welcome, with expertly trained instructors and a warm, welcoming atmosphere from the second you walk in. Take a peek @kimshiptonmethod.

🎟️ Book via the Mindbody app with code SCOOP10.

Exclusive to Scoop readers, at a top-tier studio. Subject to one code per person, expires 31 Dec 2026. Trust us, you don’t want to sit this one out.

What’s On

🎭 Arts + Entertainment

Faux Fighters UK
📅 Fri 23 Oct | 19:30-23:00 | 📍 Corn Exchange, Hertford
The Foo Fighters tribute that goes all in on volume and energy. Expect Everlong, a sweaty dance floor and a hoarse voice on Saturday. 🎟 Check listing for price - Get tickets

Fabulous Halloween Wreath Workshop
📅 Sat 24 Oct | 14:00-17:30 | 📍 Southern Maltings, Ware
Stained glass artist Katie Lambert helps you build a quirky, upcycled Halloween wreath from baubles, trinkets and charity shop treasures. 🎟 £40pp - Grab a spot

Taylor Swift Tribute: The Eras Experience
📅 Sat 24 Oct | 19:00 | 📍 BEAM, The Wash, Hertford
Friendship bracelets at the ready! Xenna takes you through all 12 of Taylor’s eras, from the early classics right up to The Life of a Showgirl. Expect a full-voice singalong for fans of all ages. 🎟 From £24.50 pp - Shake it off here

Gigspanner Big Band
📅 Sun 25 Oct | 19:30-22:30 (doors 18:45) | 📍 St Andrew’s Church, Hertford
A proper folk supergroup: Steeleye Span fiddle legend Peter Knight, Bellowhead’s John Spiers and BBC Folk Award winners Edgelarks, all on one stage. Licensed bar too. 🎟 £32.25 pp - Book tickets

Winter Deer Paint & Sip
📅 Tue 27 Oct | 18:30-21:00 | 📍 The Cowper Arms, Cole Green, SG14 2NL
Artshed Arts guide you step by step through a gorgeous winter stag on canvas, with food and drinks from the bar. Zero talent required, just a free evening. 🎟 £35pp - Call Artshed Arts on 01920 466446 or book via The Cowper Arms

Open Mic Night at The Greyhound
📅 Thu 29 Oct | 20:00-22:00 | 📍 The Greyhound, Bengeo
Bring your instrument, or borrow their guitarist and pick from a songbook. The best bit? Everyone who performs gets a free drinks token. Secure your slot earlier in the week if you’re keen. 🎟 FREE - Get the details

Acts of Chaos: Halloween Special
📅 Thu 29 Oct | 19:30-23:00 | 📍 Corn Exchange, Hertford
A spooky-season showcase of local bands, with Strtles, Pyracantha and AutoCopy (unplugged). Support the scene and catch your next favourite band early. 🎟 Check listing for price - More here

Echoes of Vienna
📅 Sat 31 Oct | 17:00 | 📍 All Saints’ Church, Hertford
Not a pumpkin in sight: Hertford Choral Society brings Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart together for one glorious evening. Perfect if Halloween isn’t your thing. 🎟 Book your seat

Autumn Wreath Workshop with Emma Collins
📅 Wed 21 Oct | 19:00-21:00 | 📍 Folly Yard Studio, The Folly, Hertford
Make a forever autumn wreath from painted papers, card and natural treasures, with plenty of guided demos along the way. No experience needed, just bring yourself and enjoy a glass of something lovely. Ages 16+. 🎟 £45pp - Book your place

🏰 Community + Family

Bring Your Baby Pub Quiz
📅 Thu 22 Oct | 12:00-14:30 | 📍 Quattro Lounge, Hertford
A proper pub quiz, with your mates, at lunchtime, and the baby comes too. Adult conversation and bragging rights, no babysitter required. 🎟 Ticketed - Secure your table

Halloween Quiz Night at Leafy Oak
📅 Tue 27 Oct | Doors 18:00, food 19:00 | 📍 Leafy Oak Tea Room, Hertford Road, Great Amwell
Dinner and a spooky quiz for £15 a head. Round up a team of 2-6 and go for the title of Halloween quiz champions. Spaces are limited. 🎟 £15pp - Book your table

Halloween Beer Festival
📅 Thu 29 Oct - Sun 1 Nov | 📍 Old Cross Tavern, St Andrew Street, Hertford
The Old Cross Tavern was just crowned CAMRA South Herts Pub of the Year 2026, so their Halloween beer festival is a genuinely good shout. Four days, lots of ales and no piped music, just good conversation. 🎟 More here

🌱 Health + Wellbeing

Next Level You: Guided Subconscious Meditation
📅 Fri 23 Oct | 19:00-20:00 | 📍 The Secret Space, 105 Fore Street, Hertford
An hour-long meditative journey of release and calm. A lovely way to draw a line under the last school week before half term. 🎟 £20 pp - Book here

Sound Journey with Nichole
📅 Sat 24 Oct | 19:00-20:15 | 📍 The Secret Space, 105 Fore Street, Hertford
Sound and guided meditation on a rainy Saturday night. Lie down, close your eyes and let the week melt away. 🎟 £20 pp - Book your mat

Let’s Lift the Curfew with Ware Joggers
📅 Tue 27 Oct | Meet 19:00, runs start 19:30 | 📍 Wodson Park, Ware
An evening backing women’s safety and confidence when running after dark. Pick from three friendly 40-minute groups (run/walk, social or faster), then head back for treats from Whisk Bakehouse. Newcomers very welcome; bring high-vis and a light. 🎟 Find out more

📣 Town Talk

The trains are (nearly) back. The nine-day closure at Hertford East, Ware, St Margarets and Rye House runs until Sun 25 Oct, so services are due back from Monday. Hertford North is unaffected in the meantime. Full story

Ware Lock stays shut until spring. Ware No.2 Lock has been closed since January, and the Environment Agency now says new lock gates won't be in until spring 2027. Boaters moored upstream between Hertford and Ware are effectively stuck, though short openings may be allowed for urgent journeys. Story

Last call for the south of town. The Castle Plus Neighbourhood Plan consultation closes at midnight next Monday, 26 Oct. If you live near Mead Lane, Balls Park, Foxholes, Sele Road or either station, this is your final week to have your say. Have your say

Kiddies Scoop

🎃 The Half-Term Hit List, Part 2 Last week's big hitters (Samhain at Celtic Harmony, Knebworth's autumn trail, the Hartham swim crash course and more) are right here. Here's a fresh batch, mostly indoors, because, well, the forecast.

Hartham Skate Park: Free Skate Day
📅 Mon 26 Oct | 10:00-16:00 | 📍 Hartham Common, Hartham Lane, SG14 1QR
Free workshops, pro demos and competitions hosted by King Ramps, celebrating the new ramp installed earlier this year. Total beginners and regulars all welcome. A brilliant way to kick off half term. 🎟 FREE - More here

Halloween Face Painting for Beginners (Age 10+)
📅 Mon 26 Oct | 10:00-15:00 | 📍 Southern Maltings, Ware
A day learning fab Halloween face paint designs. By Saturday, they’ll be doing the whole family’s faces. 🎟 Info here

Happy Halloween Fused Glass for Children
📅 Tue 27 Oct | 10:00-16:00 | 📍 Courtyard Arts, Hertford
Little hands make their own spooky fused glass pieces to take home. A keepsake that beats a plastic pumpkin. 🎟 £25 pp - Find out more

Spooky Mosaic Decorations (Age 4+)
📅 Tue 27 Oct | 14:00 or 15:00 (50 mins) | 📍 Southern Maltings, Ware
A short, sweet session making spooky mosaic decorations. Just right for little attention spans. 🎟 £14.50 pp - Book a slot

Express Yourself! at Hertford Museum
📅 Tue 27 - Thu 29 Oct | 10:00-13:00 | 📍 Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain
Drop-in arts and crafts all morning, no booking needed. 🎟 £4 per child - Info here

Kids Pottery: Autumn Leaf Clay Dishes
📅 Thu 29 Oct | 09:30-11:00 | 📍 Tewinbury Farm
Real autumn leaves pressed into clay to make leaf dishes, which are glazed and fired for collection 3-4 weeks later. Ages 5-16; under-12s need a grown-up with them. 🎟 £25pp - Book now

Halloween Workshops at Wonder Den
📅 Thu 29 Oct | 📍 The Mill House, Dicker Mill, SG13 7JY
Spooky creative sessions for ages 3-12. Thursday’s Monster Makers Lab (ages 4-12, £13.50) and Ghoulish Graffiti (ages 6-12, £25) has limited spaces. Be quick! 🎟 From £13.50 - Snap one up

🔥 Eye Catching Deals

💪 Don’t forget: Scoop readers can try Kim Shipton Method’s Strength Reformer Pilates for just £10 a class (usually £26) with code [CODE]. Grab yours here

👉 Kids eat free (or for £1) October half term:

🏡 Property Of The Week

Mangrove Road, Hertford, SG13

Mangrove Road is one of those addresses Hertford people say with a little nod, and this detached three-bed is a rare chance to get on it, just moments from the town centre.

Downstairs there's a welcoming hall, a cloakroom, a sitting room that opens out to the garden and a kitchen/diner with plenty of storage, plus a separate utility room (the unsung hero of family life). Upstairs, the principal bedroom has fitted wardrobes and its own en-suite, and the other two bedrooms share the family bathroom.

The fun bit? Out the back there's an easy-to-look-after garden and roof terrace, made for a glass of something on a summer evening, with no lawn to mow. Add driveway parking, a garage and catchment for Simon Balle, Richard Hale and Presdales, and you can see why it won't hang around. Freehold, 1,316 sq ft.

🔗 Take a look inside

🌦 Hertford Weather: 20 - 26 Oct 2026

Today’s the soggiest (84% chance of rain, 13°C), with on-off showers tomorrow and a chilly 6°C start. Thursday is the week’s golden ticket: partly cloudy, just a 20% chance of rain and 13°C. Friday turns wet and blustery again, and Saturday stays dry-ish in the morning before afternoon rain sets in. Sunday is windy but a touch milder at 14°C, with only a few showers, so the Castle tours should be fine with a good coat. Monday starts bright, with showers in the afternoon.

Best days: Thursday, plus Sunday and Monday mornings.

✨ Mind, Health + Fitness

The clocks go back on Sunday, which means from next week, most of us will be logging off in the dark. A few small habits to stop the winter work slump creeping in:

• Take your daylight at lunch. Even 15 minutes outside resets your energy better than another coffee. Thursday’s the driest day for a first go.

• Move every hour. Stand up, stretch, walk to make a cuppa. Your back (and focus) will thank you.

• Set a hard stop. Darker evenings blur the line between work and home, so pick a finish time and stick to it.

• Book something to look forward to. An evening class gives the day a proper full stop. 💪

🧁 Extra Sprinkles

Your Halloween Movie Night, Sorted 🎬🍿

Rain on the windows, the clocks gone back and a sofa full of small people? Sounds like movie night to us. Moms Guide To has rounded up 20 family-friendly Halloween films that are more cosy than creepy. Pair the film with a spooky snack board: load it up with popcorn, pretzels and fruit, then make chocolate-covered strawberry witch’s brooms the star of the show. Just dip strawberries in melted chocolate, add “bristles” with a pipe cleaner while it sets, and swap the skewer for a pretzel stick for an edible handle. They look far fancier than they are, and the kids can help. Blankets on, lights down, and let the little ones pick the first film. 👻

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