28 May 2025
We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This week: Jamie Day, district councillor for Hill End and Mayor of St Albans City and District 2024-2025.
What’s your favourite restaurant in St Albans?
Has to be Lussman’s – the menus always surprise and delight, and I applaud Andrei’s sustainability and locally sourcing ethos. Honourable mentions for Verdi’s, H&H kebabs and The Rice Indian takeaway in Colney Heath.
Odyssey or Netflix?
Both have their place, but we are very lucky to have the Odyssey in town – thanks to James [Hannaway] and his persistence in getting it established. I love the comfortable seating and bar, and the way people stay and chat after the film ends – unlike a conventional multiplex where they stampede for the exit as soon as the lights go up.
What’s your favourite St Albans pub?
There are too many to single one out – St Albans is lucky to have so many good ones. The Plough at Tyttenhanger is my excellent local. The Mermaid is ideally placed for refreshment after council meetings, the Boot when in the town centre and the Robin Hood is a must for its Harvey’s beer. I’m a member of the South Herts CAMRA branch, which holds regular pub trails to ensure the pubs with real ale are all visited regularly.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be involved in farming, despite my father running a construction firm. I grew up in a rural area of Hampshire and was fascinated by farm machinery from an early age. Which led to a degree in agriculture and my finding a job at Oaklands when still the county agriculture and horticulture college.
Who is your favourite St Albans musician or band?
Has to be Kiss my Brass, the ska band formed by our son Zyggy and his Verulam School mates via the Pioneer Club around 20 years ago, with the occasional gig at that St Albans fixture The Horn. And that led to Zyggy and the brass section of the band playing with Enter Shikari – also with Verulam roots – at the Glastonbury Festival. Of these still playing, the Zipheads – who again have some Kiss My Brass roots. And we enjoy many of the regulars on the thriving St Albans pub music scene.
CD, vinyl, download or streaming?
Having reached a more mature age, I grew up with vinyl, tape cassettes and then CDs.
Fortunately, I never got rid of one format as another came along – as many of my friends did. So, I still have all three and the equipment to play them on. I’m not a streamer or downloader – but I do have an iPod to make the many hours delivering election leaflets more bearable!
What sort of music do you listen to?
Coming of age in the seventies, you were supposed to be either hippy/progressive or punk/new wave – but I always liked both. So, I regularly listen to my Genesis and Pink Floyd records a blues-based – I’d rather go to a club or theatre rather than a stadium gig where you end up watching it on a screen.
Where do you walk when you want to think?
Living in Tyttenhanger to the south of the city, we have network of footpaths and bridleways to easily access the countryside to see the seasons change and crops develop. And, as a Trustee of Highfield Park, we have a variety of well used walks and trails to enjoy a range of green and woodland environments.
What’s your favourite hidden gem in the district?
Not exactly hidden, but it is St Albans Cathedral. One of the great pleasures of being Mayor is spending a lot of time there. Otherwise, like most people, I’m afraid I’ve rather taken it for granted and tend to rush past while on errands. One of my post-Mayer pledges is to visit the Cathedral, and attend services and events there, more often.
