St Albans: The Mermaid managers celebrate 10th anniversary

John Cusworth and Mark Powell manage The Mermaid in Hatfield Road, along with two other pubs.

The duo will celebrate 10 years at the pub on Sunday, September 17.

The establishment has won a series of awards during Mark and John's tenure, including South Herts CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Cider & Perry Pub of the Year in 2020.

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The Herts Advertiser caught up with John, to speak about his memories over the past 10 years and his vision for the future of the pub.

John runs The Mermaid with fellow-actor Mark. (Image: Pearce Bates)

John began: "We both started out as actors, doing West End shows and things like that, which obviously has a shelf life.

"But, when you're not doing it, one of the most common jobs that you would do is bar work, restaurants, call centres.

"So, you end up coming back and forth to the same type of job and you think 'well, rather than keep on going back to a pub, why don't we look into having one?'.

The pub hosts a variety of beer festivals. (Image: Pearce Bates)

"Obviously, we were getting on at the time - at 30 something.

"The West End was getting harder to juggle, the life of it, and you just think need something that is your bread and butter."

Along with the Mermaid, Mark and John run a pub in Windsor and a bar named 'No. 58' in Radlett.

The biggest physical change over the past 10 years, has been an expansion to the Mermaid's garden. (Image: Pearce Bates)

Speaking of his proudest achievements since taking over the pub, John continued: "A creation of things really, the music has gone really big!

"It used to be just inside, in the corner, near the TV on Wednesdays, but then Covid happened.

"All the biggest things that have happened, the biggest changes, have been because of Covid.

The pub has a traditional feel inside. (Image: Pearce Bates)

"Covid made us make a bigger garden, and Covid made us put the music outside.

"It was a massive success, we have tons of people out here as opposed to no-one.

"Not even half of them would squeeze into the pub now."

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Along with live music, The Mermaid often hosts themed beer festivals, with 'Top of The Hops' having taken place over the bank holiday weekend.

Keeping a traditional feel was high on John's list of priorities. (Image: Pearce Bates)

"The festival featured as many hoppy ales as I could get hold of," John said.

The pub has also hosted space-themed beer festivals and 'Best of the Best' days in the past.

To celebrate 10 years, four bands will perform on September 17, "free bubbles" will be provided and money will be raised for a local charity. 

Live music now takes place in the pub's garden. (Image: Pearce Bates)

The pub will soon be undergoing an extension to the ladies toilets, with John adding: "Over the years, we’ve become busier and busier, but also changed the demographic hugely.

"We have seen a big increase in the younger crowds, but more importantly a huge change in the amount of ladies who treat the Mermaid as their local.

The Mermaid will soon see an extension to the ladies' toilets, due to a change in demographic. (Image: Pearce Bates)

"So, we have addressed the need to expand the toilet facilities to cater for this welcome change in demographic."