+1 for the Albion.
An impressive range of fine beers on tap there, which they change regularly too. I live across the road from the Prince and the Mary Ellen, yet probably call the Albion my local. If you want a properly nice beer with good staff and an absence of heroes disturbing the peace, the Albion is the go
The food is also very very good at the Albion.
Silo has some good imported beers (by 'imported' i don't just mean Peroni and Heineken.
). But the prices excessively high, even for boutique beers. (Mind you, I haven't been there for at least a year, so things could be different)
The Mary Ellen often has some good beers on tap. Though, last night I was disappointed by the selection. No decent dark/heavy ales on tap. Lots of stuff like Hoegarden (spelling?), Kronenburg, Schfferhoffer, plus a fair few local versions of 'exotic' style beers. E.g. Moo Brew Hefeweizen, some other local stout, bee knees, hrmm can't remember the rest.
They often put on limited run beers like Maibocks and stuff..
The Northern has live jazz on thursday nights and the black plz or whatever it is there is quite good
But again, the Albion.
