The Bell Inn, Marylebone, NW1

Corner pub in an interesting building but now mostly serving as a rather characterless bar for the hostel rooms above. Limited number of basic tables inside but a number of wooden picnic benches can be found out on the pavement on both sides. No cask ales, and just seven standard keg offerings including Beavertown Neck Oil (£6.00), but at least they seemed to have a supply of the right glasses for each beer and cider.

It would seem that this is no longer a locals' pub, frequented by students and staff from the French bank over the road though not at weekends when it's closed. It's absolutely correct that there's nothing of heritage value in here - it's one of the starkest pubs I've ever visited, with most of the seating coming in the form of red leatherette banquettes and sofas which might be ok for a group, but would require sharing if alone or in a couple. Luckily it was almost empty on our visit and may have had fewer customers if it weren't for the football, which though played on a modest sized TV, did rather dominate proceedings. Ales: none real, with much ordinary fizz and Caledonian's Coast to Coast on keg at £2.50 a half which could have been a lot worse. This pub is even more dull than the Globe across the road, though there's not much choice around here. Solution: don't drink round here.

Now refurbished into something that would not be out of place in a French suburb. Brightly lit, red banquette seating winding around the walls facing brown formica tables. Bar counter with the usual keg fonts - 1664, Fosters, cider etc but then an array of stuff more suited to a cafe. Food majors on breakfast then pizza later on. All three pubs around here are very popular with BNP-Paribas staff, I wonder if this one is set up to make them feel at home. Makes a change if you fancy a quick one while waiting for a train.