Reporting, opinion, and the occasional strongly-worded rant from AL5.

Romania's aggressively priced broadband operator DIGI is set to land in Harpenden by the end of the year, bringing an end to our reliance on the Openreach and Virgin duopoly. With gigabit speeds starting at just £15 a month, the midnight cable-laying crews might just deliver the digital shake-up this town has been waiting for.

Papa J is relocating its successful 22-year Luton Indian tapas operation, Grand Trunk Road, to 72 High Street, Harpenden on July 2nd. Taking over a tricky, historic site that once housed Billy's Wine Bar and saw the controversial rise and fall of Hoo House, the new opening aims to bring long-term stability and spice to one of the town's most prominent locations.

After a worrying winter closure, the Elephant & Castle in Amwell has reopened under the return of its post-lockdown management team, Manuel and Manuella. With the legendary beer garden back in action, improved food on the soft launch menu, and a perfect 5-star food safety rating already secured, it’s a welcome return for one of our favourite summer spots.

Election season has hit Harpenden, bringing with it a tsunami of generic leaflets, mysterious party absences, and a severe threat to our recycling bin capacity. Read on for a wry look at the upcoming May 7th showdown and why living a solid ten-minute walk from the High Street is the ultimate canvasser-defence strategy.

After years of ignoring a crumbling pavement, Shadow Highways Chief Cllr Matt Cowley heroically turns up just in time to watch the new tarmac dry—and take all the credit. Read our breakdown of the latest political 'miracle' in Harpenden.