THE Bell, on Chequer Street, is the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde bar able to transform itself from quiet cosy pub by day into a strobe-lit "mini-club" by night.

I know this because on the two separate occasions I have visited the establishment I could not believe the transformation.

The first time I set foot in The Bell was during a bit of a pub crawl that had started some hours earlier.

It was on a Sunday night and the sole reason for venturing in was because it had a late licence something to behold in St Albans, where, if you want to drink past 11pm your options are severely limited.

However, just like in football, an extra period of time does not automatically mean an improvement in the entertainment.

Although I am struggling slightly to remember the finer details about that evening I do recall that the place was very busy and, to get to the bar, you had to negotiate your way past revellers strutting their stuff to various dance floor classics.

Call me old fashioned, but at that time of night I would much prefer to enjoy my beer in a more relaxed atmosphere.

And for this reason alone, I suggest if you truly want to sample what The Bell has to offer then you should visit it in the daytime.

I went in a few weeks later for a drink and meal with a few work colleagues during our lunch hour.

I couldn't believe the difference in the place. The atmosphere was calm and relaxed. There was a choice of comfortable seating to choose from and the music was turned down to a bearable level.

I also noticed a rather attractive glass conservatory, which I had failed to register before, that looks an ideal place to enjoy a few light ales in the summertime. I was amazed by the change in the place and it only goes to show how a person's perception of a place can become clouded after one too many.

PC