The Mermaid

The Mermaid Well here it is; a public page dedicated to all those who remember the Mermaid bar of the 1970s – the hippies, bikers, rockers, musicians and music lovers.

18/07/2015

Hi Everyone

The (NOT) the Mermaid 70s Reunion is booked!

After months of faffing around about dates, venues, and will we/won’t we, I have made an executive decision and booked the Sidmouth Rugby Club for Friday 14th August.

This weekend was the most popular with those who replied, although I know there will be a few who can’t make it; apologies to those. And I hope picking a Friday won’t be too difficult for anyone who is travelling from away – just take the day off! Also, choosing the week after Folk Week should make accommodation easier for any one who needs to stay over.

The Rugby Club is more reasonable to hire, so I am less likely to be left holding a bill. I am not going to bother with tickets, but will ask for a donation of at least £3 in an honesty box on the night. If we make a profit I will donate it to Children’s Hospice South West.

The club’s normal Licensing hours finish at 11pm, so I have asked for an extension to midnight, which I hope will be granted, but it is not guaranteed. So if you want maximum time to mingle, please be there at 8pm.

I have contacted the Sidmouth Herald and I hope an article will be published next week, which will be about 4 weeks ahead of the event. I will also ask some local contacts (thanks Ann and Steve) to get some local posters up, as we did last time.

However, the most important publicity is YOU. Please try to think of anyone who you hung out with at the Mermaid in the 70s and let them know what is happening. If everyone brings a few friends it will be a great night. Even if you cannot make it yourself please pass on the news to anyone who should know. As per last time - we will have the ‘70s’ juke box’ playing all night, so be prepared to be transported back in time. For anyone who didn't make it last time, don't be shy; we are all just the same, just a little older!

Looking forward to seeing you all on the 14th........................

Cheers for now

03/05/2015

Hi Guys
The fact that the Mermaid reunion will not be repeated this year (or maybe ever) was sad news to those who came last year and many others who missed it. So here is an idea……..
We could still have a ‘Mermaid of the 70s reunion’, but not in the Mermaid. Let’s call it a celebration of 70s Sidmouth - or the NOT THE MERMAID REUNION.
Rather than pick another pub and bemuse the locals, I think that to make it work it would have to be in a separate venue somewhere. One possibility is Kennaway House (beside the Triangle putting green). It has a semi-cellar bar, (not quite a cellar, but nearly) which is not dis-similar in size to the Mermaid and it is only a stones' throw away. It can be hired out for events, so we would have to charge a small entrance fee (£4 -£5) to re-coup the hire charge and cost of bar staff, but we would have sole use of the place so we can blast out our 70s play list just as before. I know it will not be quite the same if it is not in the Mermaid, but perhaps with a good crowd and the right music it might work. I would love to see many of my old friends didn’t make it to the last one, come to this one.
But I am in 2 minds. Good idea, or not? So before I go ahead and make arrangements, I need to know from all of you; do YOU think it will would work? And most importantly, would you be interested in coming? And do you know others who would come too?
Re dates there are several Saturdays free in during the summer;
July 25th
8th August (the night after the last night of Folk week, so probably best to avoid that)
15th August
29th August (bank holiday weekend)
Please let me know what you think. All feedback, good or bad, is welcome (and essential). Thanks.

15/04/2015

Hello Mermaid fans, I regret to tell you I am the bringer of bad tidings. Although Colin Pyne told me after last year’s very successful Mermaid reopening that he was happy for us to repeat it in 2015, I have recently learned this will not be possible. Colin says "circumstances have changed" and he will not be reopening Jacks Bar for Folk Week, so he cannot offer us the opportunity of another Mermaid night. I am still not sure about the exact reason behind this change of heart, but he appears genuinely sorry that he cannot help. This a shame, as following the success of last year I was expecting an even larger turn out in 2015. It remains to be seen whether it can ever happen again but, if not, at least some of us can say we were there for a great night in August 2014. I will keep you posted if there is any further Mermaid news. Kind regards to all, Chris

25/01/2015

Those eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed the last night of 2015 folk week is Friday 7th August, not 6th as stated below. Put it in your diary, an event you must not miss.

The sign has gone back in the garage ready for next year.....
14/08/2014

The sign has gone back in the garage ready for next year.....

14/08/2014

Great news, Colin Pyne has given the go ahead for a repeat in 2015. Assuming we go for the last night of Folk Week this will be Friday 6th August.

The Mermaid Bar 1970s reunion. Would it work? Would anyone turn up? Would anyone recognise each other?! YES YES and YES!...
11/08/2014

The Mermaid Bar 1970s reunion. Would it work? Would anyone turn up? Would anyone recognise each other?! YES YES and YES! Wow what a night! At one point, around mid-night , I watched as at least half of the packed room danced in unison to the guitar solo in Freebird. Good Times!

Publicity poster
10/08/2014

Publicity poster

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Esplanade
Sidmouth
EX108NR

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