The Colonies, Victoria  

The best pubs in this area all tend to be tucked away in side streets and the Colonies is no exception. It's a vibrant place that's tailor-made for the after-office jar, and consequently fills up with local workers in the early evening. A good range of well-kept beers are all on the hand pumps - Pride, Young's bitter Thwaite's Shuttle and Bateman's Jester when we were last there, accompanied by a standard range of lagers and wines. Nice old wood panelling and cosy décor make for a warm atmosphere, but the laminate flooring looks and feels a little out-of-place. It's also a fine place to go on a sunny day, as the beer garden out the back proves very popular with the local workers. Don't bother on coming here at the weekend though - like many places round here, it's closed.