When I first went to Campustown of "(illegal) drinking age," these were the main bars we were aware of:
Legends: This was almost always our "start the night" bar. Great "collegetown" atmoshphere without being clubby. Still love this place!
Murphy's: I had never been here until 2016, and I remember thinking it was cool enough but I'd probably rarely go due to the other options in Campustown ... now it's like one of the few Campustown bars I'd consider!
Red Lion: Ended the night here a few times ... thought it was SO cool the first time I went there, and now you couldn't pay me to go there as a 30-year old.
The White Horse Inn: Never went in this one either, but we walked by it and it looked fun. RIP.
The Clybourne: Never went in this one, usually in favor of Firehaus. RIP.
Kams: Duh, RIP.
Brothers: Loved the balcony setup, RIP.
Firehaus: I remember we went into this one already buzzed, and they had the "third floor" open, as well as stairs down to some beer garden area ... and our drunk 20-year old selves thought it was like the largest college bar of all time.
I have watched a few games here, as well, with both family and friends, and it was a great spot. RIP.
There might have been more, but these were the ones I knew of ... 5 out of 8 gone. I would be so annoyed if I were a student at Illinois right now. Went from having one of the better bar scenes in the Big Ten (especially when you included Downtown!) and being the #1 party school when I was first partying there to having like two bars anyone goes to. Sad!