Readers are calling for Watford’s indoor shopping centre to be named once again as the Harlequin.

People who live and shop in the town say they have known the shopping mall in the town centre by the name for years despite the intu branding – and are calling for the move now that the centre is under new management.

intu Watford has been taken over by Global Mutual, a company managing £4.2 billion of global assets, primarily in retail.

The deal secures the future of the shopping centre after intu Properties plc fell into administration in June with huge debts.

Read more - Takeover of intu Watford shopping centre completed (and centre could be renamed)

And it looks like intu's orange branding and name will be disappearing from Watford with the existing name and branding only set to stay in place for an "interim period".

With a new name a possibility, we asked people on Facebook for some of their suggestions, and more than 100 people say it should go back to being called the Harlequin.

This is how the shopping centre was originally known by when it was owned by Capital Shopping Centres from 1992-2013, before the company rebranded itself into intu.

Watford Observer:

Debbie Attwell said people continue to call the centre the Harelquin.

She said: “As everyone has said, people never stopped calling it The Harlequin. It makes sense to change it back rather than add another random name.”

Watford resident Denis Kumar agreed, saying: “I lived in Watford for a good seven years, and like the majority here, also think the shopping and leisure complex should get back its name Harlequin.”

Dawn Leatherland said: “To me it will always be called the Harlequin, it don't matter what name they give it, it will always be called the Harlequin to most people that shop and live around the area.”

However, one reader had another suggestion as to what the shopping centre could be called.

Rouge Panayi said it could be called the ‘Golden Centre’.

She said: “If we absolutely had to rename it and Harlequin wasn't an option, I'd say The Golden Centre! After the Golden boys of course and AJ bringing back the Gold medal! Watford is a Golden Town after all!!”

And reader Jenny Saville says a new name for the centre could be ‘The Hive’.

Now that Global Mutal has taken over intu Watford, International real estate advisor Savills has been appointed as property manager of the centre.

Watford Observer:

Steve Gray, head of European retail asset management at Global Mutual, said: "intu Watford has performed resiliently despite the challenges brought by the coronavirus.

"Footfall is recovering steadily and the team has continued to sign some fantastic new deals with high quality tenants.

"We also have strong support from our creditor group who have committed to inject significant new funds into our four shopping centres, providing the financial stability we need during this period.

"We can look to the future with confidence."

Do you think Watford's shopping centre should once again be called the Harlequin? Vote in our poll below or leave a comment if you believe it should be named differently.