THERE are, it seems, two types of people in this world. There are pub people and there are bar people.

The former enthuse over real ales, beer mats and swirly-patterned carpets, while the latter positively drool over parquet flooring, stainless steel bars and over-priced designer alcopops. And ne'er the twain shall meet.

Barney's in London Road, St Albans, however, is different kettle of fish. To all intents and purposes a 'style bar', certain elements of the traditional public house have infiltrated among the dramatic lighting and designer touches.

Not least, the clientele which seems to be a bizarre mix of self-conscious twenty-something's sipping mixers, boisterous rubgy types who look as if they're having a hard time restraining themselves from standing on the tables singing 'Father Abraham' in Home Counties accents - and the ubiquitous pair of elderly gentlemen nursing their pints.

Not that a good mix of people is bad, per se. It just belies the idea that the plethora of style bars which have sprung up are purely for the benefit of stylish career women fantasising that they are sipping margheritas after a hard day at the office.

Some might say, then, that Barney's has struck just the right balance - while to all intents and purposes a bar, it has not sacrificed the atmosphere of a friendly local.

Though this illusion is somewhat marred by the cordoning off of a huge section of the bar for rather pricey but more interesting than average, pub grub.

The lighting is slightly disconcerting, too. It's not so much bathed as flooded in so much red lighting it looks like every single patron has been drinking non-stop since mid-morning.

But Barney's does at least have atmosphere, and even early on a Sunday evening it was positively buzzing. Or maybe that was just my head after a couple of vodkas.

CL