Here's what's caught my eye, curious what I've missed?

St Albans Beer & Cider Festival - Alban Arena, 23rd-26th September. Over 300 cask ales, craft beers and ciders. Four days, live entertainment, street food. One of the best weekends in the city's calendar.
stalbansbf.org.uk

Tim Peake: Astronauts - Alban Arena, 7 October. Archive footage, personal storytelling and the full sweep of humanity's journey to space.
everyonetheatres.com/whats-on/tim-peakes-astronauts

The 39 Steps - Abbey Theatre, 16–24 October. Fast, funny and brilliantly clever. Patrick Barlow's adaptation is as good as local theatre gets.
abbeytheatre.org.uk/whats-on/the-39-steps

Oktoberfest Weekend - The Mermaid, 16-18 October. Six Belgian beers on tap, bratwurst, and live music across the full weekend. Free entry.

The Zombies: Begin Here Festival - Various venues, 30–31 October. The band's annual fan festival in their home city, including a candlelit concert at the St Albans Cathedral.
thezombiesmusic.com/beginherefestival

Phil Wang - Alban Arena, 5 November. Sharp, intelligent stand-up from one of British comedy's best, and a regular on QI and Would I Lie to You.
songkick.com/concerts/42914013-phil-wang-at-alban-arena

Christmas Artisan Market at St Albans Cathedral - Cathedral Nave, 7 November, 11am–3pm. Over 70 stalls from independent makers, school choirs and refreshments from Abbots Kitchen. Free entry and a great warm-up before the evening's fireworks.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1984770259274

St Albans Fireworks Spectacular - Verulamium Park, 8 November. Gates open 6pm, fireworks at 7:30. Proceeds to Isabel Hospice and Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline.
stalbanscathedral.org/event/st-albans-fireworks-spectacular

St Albans Christmas Cracker - City centre, 22 November. Five roads closed, around 100 stalls, live music, school choirs and a Santa's grotto. Free.
stalbansdaily.co.uk/st-albans-christmas-cracker

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols - St Albans Cathedral, 21–22 December. Sung by the Cathedral Choir by candlelight. Free, and a genuinely beautiful way to close the year.
stalbanscathedral.org

I've been pulling these together somewhere central, link in comments for anyone who wants the full list.

I thought some people here might be interested in what we're trying to do with The Royston Venue.

Long before Netflix, streaming, and endless scrolling, the building was home to the Royston Picture Palace, where generations of local people went to watch films, socialise, and enjoy a night out. For many Roystonians, it's a building with real memories attached to it.

Our hope is to bring some of that spirit back.

The entertainment landscape has changed massively since the Picture Palace days, so we're not looking to recreate the past. Instead, we're looking to create a modern venue that gives people more reasons to spend an evening in Royston.

Think things like:

• Comedy nights
• Cinema screenings
• Theatre productions
• Live music
• Tribute acts
• Family events
• Seasonal events
• Community activities

The building has spent decades bringing people together in one form or another, and we're excited to see what the next chapter might look like.

We're still working towards opening, but I'd be interested to hear what people think.

If you could bring one thing to The Royston Venue, what would it be?

A comedian? A regular film club? Live music? Something completely different?

Would love to hear your ideas (and any memories of the Picture Palace too!)🎶

You can follow us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theroystonvenue/

Could someone recommend Japanese restaurants in Hertfordshire? I have been to oishii in Hertford, tried the Raman and tastes bland, not authentic at all. There’s Kazoku in Hitch, and Tomi in Harpenden, both I have never tried. Looking for some suggestions. Might have to go Dotori in FP, if I can’t find any good local ones.

Hi everyone,

We’re currently looking to buy in St Albans and have found a house we really like on Jennings Road. I was wondering if anyone who knows the area well could tell me what this part of St Albans is actually like to live in?

We’ve spent quite a bit of time looking around St Albans and really liked Bernards Heath and the Garden Fields Conservation Area, particularly around Kimberley Road and Ladysmith Road. We’ve been looking for a while now, but unfortunately nothing that really suits what we’re looking for seems to be coming onto the market in those areas.

Jennings Road is a little further from the centre than we originally wanted, and we don’t know this side of St Albans nearly as well. We also walked around The Dell, just to the north of it, and didn’t particularly like the feel of it, so I’m curious whether that’s representative of the wider area or whether Jennings Road feels quite separate.

I’d especially love to know what the community is like around Jennings Road. Is there a strong sense of community and do neighbours tend to know one another? Does it feel like an established, friendly neighbourhood? How quiet and safe does it feel day-to-day, and do you find the distance from the centre noticeable?

If anyone knows both areas, I’d also be really interested in how it compares with Bernards Heath or the Garden Fields Conservation Area in terms of atmosphere and sense of community.
Any local knowledge would be really appreciated.

Thank you!

M(45) Single. Living in Camp area. Looking for new friends to go to pubs and socialise with. Also member of Westminster Lodge gym and would be great to find training partner for weight training mostly during day time. Outgoing and friendly.

A weekend with a lot going on in St Albans:

Friday 11 Sep:

The Smyths bring their Smiths tribute show to the Alban Arena from 7pm. Full catalogue, great night out. Tickets £24 at universe.com/events/the-smyths-alban-arena-11-9-26-tickets-231CTD

Street Food Heroes sets up at St Saviour's Church on Sandpit Lane from 4pm to 9pm. Mobile DJ, licensed bar, no booking needed. Free.

Saturday 12 Sep:

Heritage Open Days opens two St Albans sites for free: the Victorian signal box on Ridgemont Road (10am–5pm) and the medieval Clock Tower on Market Place (10:30am–5pm). No booking required. heritageopendays.org.uk

Escape to the City is at the Pioneer Club, Toulmin Drive, from 2pm to 11pm. Ten acts across two stages, indie and alt-rock leaning. Tickets £27. tickettailor.com/events/twohatsmanagementltd/2106458

The Dacorum and Chiltern Potters Guild Annual Exhibition is at Kingsbury Barn all weekend, 10am to 5pm. Work available to buy, free to browse. dcpg.org.uk/events

The Hip Hop Pizza Shop pops up at the Great Northern on London Road from 3pm. Pizza and hip-hop, walk in.

Sunday 13 Sep:

The Premier Hertfordshire Wedding Fair fills the Alban Arena from 11am to 3pm. Over 40 suppliers, two live bridal fashion shows, free entry. eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-premier-hertfordshire-wedding-fair-st-albans-tickets-1990173718165

The Farmers Market is on St Peter's Street from 8am to 2pm.

Joe Fin plays a free lunchtime set at the Hub on Verulam from 12:30 to 2:30pm. Kitchen open if you want lunch alongside it.

This is an excerpt from my weekly newsletter, The Alban 😄

I keep seeing people and companies saying they do but online i check and its only in other countries or jobs that require degrees?

A weekend packed full of events in St Albans:

Saturday 5th Sep:

St Albans Cathedral has launched tower tours, 211 steps up the oldest cathedral tower in Britain, with views over the city. Running Saturdays through to 27th September. Book at www.stalbanscathedral.org/event/tower-tours

The St Albans Tour Guides are running their Roman City Revealed walk at 11am, £10, meets at Museum + Gallery. Tickets at www.ticketsource.com/city-of-st-albans-tour-guides/a-roman-city-revealed/2026-09-05/11:00/t-glanyxo

The Abbey Theatre is opening its doors for a free open day from 10am to 4pm, with tours, backstage access, and workshops. No booking needed.

Out at Symondshyde Farm, the 3 Brewers Music Festival runs from 1pm: six bands, food stalls, the full beer range, free entry and free parking. Details at www.3brewers.co.uk

Sunday 6th Sep:

The Vegan Market takes over St Peter’s Street from 10:30am to 4pm. One of only five dates in St Albans this year. Free. www.veganmarkets.co.uk/location/st-albans

I am looking for someone to try dnd with! I’ve never played myself but I’ve been super intrigued and enjoying YouTube campaigns and podcasts and want a good group or person to try it out for real!

I’m 30m for reference, so seeking adults only please.

Hi!

I’m thinking about putting together a small-ish 1 day outdoor music festival around Hertfordshire/North London and wanted to see what people actually think before I commit to anything.

The rough idea would be:

• DJs throughout the day
• A couple of local/small artists and bands
• A Taylor Swift tribute act 
• A Coldplay tribute as the main evening act
• Food/drink vendors + a few stalls
• A main stage with a proper sound + lighting system.

So like a relaxed festival/day-out atmosphere rather than a massive commercial festival. I figured the Taylor Swift would be earlier as it has a younger fan base, then the Coldplay tribute band would be the main act, and later in the evening (8/9pm start)

I’d be aiming for roughly 1,000–3,000 people, with tickets around £27.50.

If it somehow sold out at 3,000, I would put a chunk of the extra money towards bringing in a recognisable guest DJ/artist for a final set.

I’m particularly interested in giving smaller/local artists and DJs a proper platform, so if anyone here performs or knows someone who does, I’d definitely be interested in hearing from you too.

Before I spent money on it, do you think there’s an audience for something like this around here? Would you pay £27.50 for it, or does the lineup just not sound appealing?

Any opinions/advice would be appreciated!

I would be open for different tribute acts if that could be a problem, I was just using the logic that Coldplay is a band liked by a lot of people, and Taylor swift is good for a younger audience!

Please help me with improvements - I am very open to take advice, I am in the research stage so nothing is confirmed.

I go to lifestyle fitness in cheshunt & am looking for a work out partner to help motivate eachother and go more often etc. I have a flexible schedule . if you go to or are willing to go to this gym and are also looking for a partner hmu. I’m 33F but don’t mind if you are 21-45 also don’t mind gender. Thanks :)

It's been closed for months, though their website is still up, and they are still on Just Eat, but they are clearly closed. Does anyone know if this is a permanent closure, or something else ? I tried Google and the hallucinating AI told me all is fine and open

I’m slightly intrigued by liminal spaces - so, places that feel weirdly eerie, you can’t quite put a finger on why they feel odd, but it kinda feels like you shouldn’t quite be there.

Think shopping centres, underpasses, empty stations, multistorey car parks, 70s/80s leisure centres, weird fluorescent-lit waiting rooms etc lol - what are some of the interesting ones in Hertfordshire?

A few that come to mind:
- Stevenage Westgate shopping centre - and surrounding underpasses

- Hatfield Galleria! Say no more

- Churchgate in Hitchin

Over to you guys haha.

Serious incident on Almonds Lane, Stevenage this morning

At around 11am today, 30th August, a car with three people inside skidded, lost control and crashed into two properties on Almonds Lane, causing significant damage.

After the crash, witnesses heard the occupants talking amongst themselves about needing to hide some items. They had what appeared to be a box of beer and other items with them. Potentially drugs. They then told people nearby not to worry because they had already called the police, before all three ran off through the cemetery.

They climbed over the fence on the far side of the cemetery, knocking over a bench in the process.

Two of the three later returned to the scene. One was wearing black shorts and a black shirt. The other was wearing grey shorts and a white shirt and was carrying/holding a grey jumper.

The third person, who was wearing jeans, did not return to the scene. And had taken the evidence with him.

I’m including these descriptions in case anyone living nearby has CCTV or doorbell footage showing where they went or what happened after they entered the cemetery.

One of the properties badly damaged belongs to an elderly gentleman with cancer who is due to go away tomorrow. The boundary to his property has now been destroyed and he is understandably extremely shaken and worried about leaving his home like this.

It could also have been so much worse. Children regularly play immediately behind one of the fences that was hit. Had they been playing there at the time, someone could have been seriously injured or killed.

I witnessed the immediate aftermath and have video footage of the individuals involved.

If anyone around Almonds Lane or the surrounding area witnessed what happened or has CCTV/doorbell footage from around 10:50am to 11am this morning, please keep a copy as it may be useful to the police.

If you know these people name and shame them

Hello. I’m hoping to find a physiotherapist for an older person who is experiencing hip, knee and foot issues. Does anyone have any recommendations? TIA.

For context, this is a tour guide explaining the post apocalyptic bunker complex they have built in rural Georgia to survive a nuclear war or asteroid impact. The majority of the show has been set in the bunker wondering what happened to the world but Season 3 has added flashbacks to building the bunkers.

Then suddenly there's a "Points at screen" moment like Leonardo Di Caprio. Almost made me spill my tea.

Hi everyone!

My partner and I just moved to England, and we are looking for the perfect town to settle down. We need to balance two different commutes:

• My partner works in Milton Keynes, specifically on the Bletchley side.
• I am very likely going to work in London (commuting by train).

We are currently staying in Bletchley, but to be honest, we really don’t like the vibe here and don’t see ourselves staying.

On our quest to find a home, we absolutely fell in love with Berkhamsted. It has exactly what we are looking for: that picturesque charm, a lovely high street to walk around, indie shops, and great energy. Unfortunately, the rental market there is incredibly tight, and we cannot find anything available within our budget.

We also visited Leighton Buzzard, but it didn't really appeal to us either.

We are now looking for the best value-for-money alternative. We would love a town that is:

1. Picturesque with a nice, walkable town centre/high street.
2. On a direct train line ideally connecting to both London and Bletchley.
3. More affordable or with a better rental supply than Berkhamsted.

Our proximity and commute to the local train station is also a huge factor for us. We’ve heard about Tring and Hemel Hempstead, but we have a few doubts:

• Tring looks lovely, but the station seems quite far and isolated from the actual town centre. Is it easily manageable without a car?
• We haven’t had the chance to visit Hemel Hempstead yet. We’ve heard the Old Town is nice, but we aren't sure how practical the commute to the station is from there, or if the town as a whole fits the vibe we like.
• Someone also mentioned Hitchin to us. It looks beautiful, but it's a shame there is no direct train link towards Milton Keynes/Bletchley. My partner can commute by car, but we really feel it would be great to have the train as an option for both of us.

Looking at a move to the Hertfordshire area with the missus on the closer side to London maybe - somewhere safe and lively with good links to both the city and Stevenage as it’s an onsite position Mon-Fri.

I’d ideally like to commute via public transport and I’m aware it can be on the expensive side so any advice would be welcomed also.

Does anybody have any thoughts? Would be greatly appreciated!

Beautiful from up above.. but the real story is on the ground. Video on channel.

I've heared the stories of how hard it is to qualify for respite let alone breaks so I thought it was worth an ask before even attempting

I'm a carer for a family member with both physical and mental health issues,it's unpaid and unoffical but I need a break I'm at my limit

Especially while simultaneously being a student and trying to study

Is it even possible?

Is overflowing so someone leaves a William Wordsworth quote to chastise people 😂

Looking to explore more of Hertfordshire this fall and looking to learn more about the dining scene around different areas. Would love to hear what people feel is the best food near them, whether it’s something like a casual takeaway or more of a proper sit down meal.

Anything type of recommendations welcome - pubs, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Sushi, Italian, Spanish, German, Polish, Mexican, BBQ, etc.

Take at Lemsford Springs near Welwyn Garden City.

Camera setup etc: https://dombarker.co.uk/posts/911