Rosie McCann's, Camden  

Considering Irish pubs come in all shapes and sizes, we knew to expect anything behind the drawn curtains of Rosie McCann's. Finding a pub-cum-bookmakers did nonetheless take us by surprise. Our Saturday afternoon visit found the Racing Post to be the favoured read and all conversation focused on the TV's racing action. We even spied a pile of betting slips on the bar, accompanied by little blue pens - most useful for getting that last minute bet to the nearby bookies. Unforgivably for an Irish pub the Guinness was poorly kept and the bored-looking Eastern European girl behind the bar wasn't exhibiting much craic, preferring (perhaps understandably) to entertain herself by chatting to her friends. Even if the décor was interesting, with plush green velour seating and brass knickknacks on the walls, unless you want a tip for the 3.40 at Kempton, we suggest the nearby Newmarket Ale House instead.

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