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Nelson Arms (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Kernel (The Kernel) - India Double Porter Columbus Chinook |  | 2 |
| Kent - Extra Stout | | 2 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Masham Ale (collaboration with Theakston) | | 1 |
| Beak - Spring (collaboration with Harvey's) | | 1 |
| Cairngorm - Santa's Sledgehammer | | 1 |
| Left Handed Giant - 1900 Porter | | 1 |
| Old Cannon - Gunner's Daughter | | 1 |
| On Point - Isamburt's Brun Ale | | 1 |
| On Point - Brewer's Mild | | 2 |
| Triple fff - Moondance | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | | 1 |
| Kent - Nutcracker | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Gone Fishing E.S.B. | | 1 |
| Good Chemistry - Rolling Thunder | | 1 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | | 1 |
| Larkins - Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Heritage Range 18th Century Porter | | 1 |
| Church End - Fallen Angel | | 1 |
| East London (ELB) - W.P.B. Walthamstow Beer - Green Hopped Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Fell - About That Nightcap (collaboration with Five Points) | | 1 |
| Newbarns - 60/- Darklight | | 1 |
| Mad Cat - Ninth Life (a.k.a. 9th Life) | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Copper Ale | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Ripper | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Norwegian Pale | | 1 |
| Swannay (formerly Highland) - Dark Munro |  | 1 |
| McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Bridgefield ESB | | 1 |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Victorian Mild | | 1 |
| Langham - Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Complex | | 1 |
| On Point - BS3T Bitter | | 1 |
| New Bristol - Good On Ya! | | 1 |
| Rudgate - Valkyrie APA | | 1 |
| Duration - Charm | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 |  | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lakedown - Extra Special | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Apex - Lights Out | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - 9th Life Noir | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tempest - Low Lander | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Harlequin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cerne Abbas - Big Lubelski | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Green & Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lost and Grounded - Autumn Protagonist | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Zeitgeist | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tempest - Vermont Sessions | Not Tried | 0 |
| Chelmsford (also branded as Blueshack) - Superdelic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | Not Tried | 0 |
| Langham - Hip-Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Gun - Zamzama IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Fat Tuesday | Not Tried | 0 |
| Castle Rock - Black Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Attic - Centro - Session IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Verdant - New November | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Kaleidoscope IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Attic - Marry & Bright Red IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Gun - Parabellum Milk Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Indie Rabble - Space Ship | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Golden IPA (previously Meaney's Golden India Pale Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Karma | Not Tried | 0 |
| Langham - Arapaho | Not Tried | 0 |
| All Day - Good Heavy Gun | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
03 Aug 2026 (Magnus Greel)
Late afternoon and the place was wedged with many folk, like myself, just disembarked from a special DEMU railtour to mark the retirement of a celebrated and popular railway legend. Sadly the 'old school' are slowly going, much to the delight of the incompetent buffoons in charge who haven't got a clue..
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | | Pale with a subtle hint of grapefruit and lemon with a hop bitterness complemented by a balanced malt flavour. |
| Mad Cat - Ninth Life (a.k.a. 9th Life) | 5.90 | | Full bodied pale malts balance the hoppiness for this easy drinking lethal fare. |
| Kent - Extra Stout | 4.20 | | Traditional black stout with a dry roasted barley flavour and complex bitterness from Kentish hops |
| Rudgate - Valkyrie APA | 5.00 | | Flavoursome fare, with notes of passionfruit, citrus and tropical fruit. |
| McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Bridgefield ESB | 4.80 | | Full bodied caramel and subtle malts fare. |
| New Bristol - Good On Ya! | 4.30 | | A gooseberry and grape fruit punch with a hint of hops and a floral nose. |
| Larkins - Best Bitter | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Duration - Charm | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Cerne Abbas - Big Lubelski | 3.90 | Not Tried |
01 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
3rd visit of the outing: Not overly busy on our early evening arrival and so prompt attentive service and seating to be had. A paddle of beers was ordered as in 3 x 1/3rds and some food to accompany them. Eight real ales on to choose from.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Best Bitter | 4.40 | | 1st beer of this visit: Came with good head and lacing and lasting all the way on this Kentish best bitter which is slightly darker than Larkins’ 'Traditional' bitter, and from the 1986-launched brewery which relocated to Chiddingstone in Kent in 1988 from its earlier small site in Tunbridge Wells. A dry bitter first hit. A fruity hoppiness rising with a touch of sweetness from its summer fruits derived from the brewery's home-grown mix of three traditional whole-cone Kentish hop varieties: Goldings, Bramling Cross and Whitbread Golding Variety. A maltiness winning over from its malted barley aiding its natural sweet caramel flavours. A moreishly dry bitter aftertaste lingering. Served in excellent nick. |
| Kent - Extra Stout | 4.20 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Good head and lasting lacing on this jet-black stout from Birling in Kent, north of West Malling, and where brewing was founded at Birling Place Farm in 2010. A dry fruited first hit. Caramel malts and oats aiding its subtle sweetness. Bittersweet coffee and dark chocolate flavours emerging from its dry-roasted malted barley and black malt. A sharp hoppy bitterness winning over from its locally grown Kentish hops such as Kent Goldings lending an earthy flavour before paddling out. Served in good nick. |
| Duration - Charm | 3.40 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Presented with good head and lasting lacing on this dark mild brewed by Duration Brewing, an independent farmhouse brewery set up in late 2019 after operating for two years as a collaborative nomadic brand and located inside a majestic 16th-century stone barn at Abbey Farm by the ruins of West Acre Priory in the village of West Acre, Norfolk. A dry bitter first hit. A malty sweetness rising with the flavours of caramel, hazelnut and toasted bread from its Maris Otter behind its bready flavours, Brown Malt, Light Crystal Malt, and Pale Chocolate Malt aiding its dark colouring. A mild bitterness winning over and from its UK Cascade hops also lending a floral and citrus touch for me. A bitter fruitiness prevailing and lingering. On good form with plentiful conditioning. |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Rudgate - Valkyrie APA | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Bridgefield ESB | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Cerne Abbas - Big Lubelski | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Good On Ya! | 4.30 | Not Tried |
10 Jun 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Lower footfall than I expected with England friendly football TV on, albeit match start delayed an hour due to a Florida thunderstorm.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church End - Fallen Angel | 5.00 | | Pretty much faultless condition |
| Green Jack - Ripper | 8.50 | | Great condition but I was a tad disappointed that there was not much oomph to the barley wine taste |
| Beak - Spring (collaboration with Harvey's) | 4.50 | | Very good condition but I found the orange-juicy nose and taste a tad sickly |
| On Point - Isamburt's Brun Ale | 4.20 | | Well balanced brown ale in lovely condition in the glass |
| Mad Cat - Golden IPA (previously Meaney's Golden India Pale Ale) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Ninth Life (a.k.a. 9th Life) | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Lakedown - Extra Special | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Apex - Lights Out | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tempest - Low Lander | 4.40 | Not Tried |
01 Apr 2026 (Dosser)
Back from Tenerife and a stop off on our train ride home. Beers the same as Mr Pirrips visit yesterday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Jack - Gone Fishing E.S.B. | 5.50 | | In great condition but not my sort of beer. £5.60 a pop. |
| On Point - Brewer's Mild | 4.00 | | Chocolate flavours but a little watery. £5.40. All beers up since I was last here. |
31 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. 5 superb ales tried - but not unusual for this house. Despite England football on TV just a few scattered about here tonight.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | | Peak condition - unusual to find this ale in this condition usually elsewhere |
| Fell - About That Nightcap (collaboration with Five Points) | 5.00 | | Slightly smoky ale with a collaboration story to it |
| Rother Valley - Norwegian Pale | 4.20 | | One to savour with a full bitter sweet unusual hopping |
| Left Handed Giant - 1900 Porter | 5.50 | | Quite glorious, wish I'd had time for a second one |
| On Point - Brewer's Mild | 4.00 | | Condition peaked. enduring head and lacing |
| Gun - Parabellum Milk Stout | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Indie Rabble - Space Ship | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Karma | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| All Day - Good Heavy Gun | 4.80 | Not Tried |
07 Feb 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
3rd visit of the outing: Very busy footfall for our early evening visit after the Fuggles Beer Café. For such a backstreet pub, it is always refreshing to see its popularity for cask ale with usually some 9 on and as indeed on this visit. Usual prompt, friendly service and home-cooked grub also devoured alongside my paddle of ales as in 3 x 1/3rd measures.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kernel (The Kernel) - India Double Porter Columbus Chinook | 7.80 | | 3rd beer of the visit: Good head and lacing presented and lasting almost to the end on this murky maroon-brown porter from Spa Arch Lane, off Dockley Road, in Bermondsey, South East London. A spicy and peppery malted first hit. A fruity spiciness rapidly rising. Hints of dark chocolate, tobacco and espresso emerging as aided by its roasted malts. A very dry herbaceous bitterness lingering from its Columbus and Chinook hops alongside hints of strong pine and zesty grapefruit. Slightly over-fruited for my palate but perfectly acceptable and in good nick. |
| Swannay (formerly Highland) - Dark Munro | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: This dark brown to ruby red-coloured mild from a rustic farmstead situated between the Atlantic Ocean and fertile farmland near the Swannay Loch, on the north-westerly tip of the Orkney Mainland in Scotland, came with very good head and lacing and lasting all the way. A dry hoppy first hit. A gentle maltiness rising with dark fruit flavours like plums, blackcurrants and raisins emerging. An increasingly dry bitter maltiness playing out with hints of chocolate and vanilla on its descent. Very moreish and quaffable to my taste buds and met their full approval! Formerly known as Highland Dark Munro, it has met many others' approval, too, as it won CAMRA's Champion Beer of Scotland Gold award in 2007 and Bronze in 2023. |
| On Point - BS3T Bitter | 3.80 | | 1st beer of the visit: Presented with very good head and lacing and staying the course on this Bristol-brewed bitter. A dry fruited first hit with an earthy and herbal touch about it. A hoppy bitterness rising up from classic English hops such as Fuggles, East Kent Goldings and Target. A malty note, likely to be from Maris Otter barley along with small amounts of crystal and amber malts, prevailing in its balance of hoppiness sailing out. This brewery, launched in 2022, was new to me and from Bedminster in Bristol and known for its focus on both modern craft ales and traditional cask beers. |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Got The Face On | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Rother Valley - Fat Tuesday | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Attic - Centro - Session IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Kaleidoscope IPA | 5.00 | Not Tried |
03 Feb 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. How many places can you visit and just expect every ale to be in excellent condition like here?
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triple fff - Moondance | 4.20 | | Good basic bitter - quite different hopping taste to the Gilt Trip preceding it |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | 4.60 | | Spot on - uses sour hopping |
| Newbarns - 60/- Darklight | 3.40 | | 3.4% dark mild with superb head and lacing |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - India Double Porter Columbus Chinook | 7.80 | | Delightfully smooth, no harshness of taste. Ideal nightcapper |
| Mad Cat - Ninth Life (a.k.a. 9th Life) | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tempest - Vermont Sessions | 4.40 | Not Tried |
03 Jan 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
6th and final visit of the outing: Almost mid-evening now and not as busy around the bar when we arrived as I often see it. What a contrast with the Shep House with 10 cask no less now on in this award-winning CAMRA-rated backstreet drinking hole. They do thirds which aids sampling almost a third of their range. They also do homemade steak and ale pie though the crusty pastry should be treated with caution as a bit like a pork scratching and so not readily crunched. Sucking the pastry crust aids it all suitably going down and ably assisted by some fine real ales. A table became available on our arrival and so all was well!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rother Valley - Copper Ale | 4.10 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Very good head and lacing and lasting on this bitter brewed north-west of Rye in Sussex. A hoppy bitterness in its first bite. A dry hoppy bitterness rising aided by its floral Goldings hops. A malty note or two joining in with notes of caramel. A moreish hoppiness slithering downwards. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Masham Ale (collaboration with Theakston) | 6.50 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Very good head and lacing and lasting on this strong ale from Bakewell, south-west of Sheffield, and a collaboration with Theakston Brewery, north of Harrogate. A dry moreish bitterness in its first hit. A pleasant hoppiness rising care of its Fuggles hops. A fruited bitterness winning over with a maltiness emerging. Fermented on Theakston's Burton Union set*, resulting in a deep amber, rich, malty beer. A dark fruitedness bobbiing along with hints of caramel. A delectable hoppiness saddling out. *A traditional and historic system of interconnected wooden casks used for fermenting beer, originating in Burton-on-Trent in the 1830s. |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Victorian Mild | 5.90 | | 1st beer of this visit: One to lose its head and so downed this Bermondsey mild first. A dark fruited first bite. A sherry-like flavouring rising with lots dark fruitiness in on the act and hints of caramel and dark chocolate in among its spiciness. Maris Otter, Vienna, Crystal and Chocolate malts all playing their wonderful act. A dry moreish bitterness sliding downwards having been hopped with fruity hops like Cascade and El Dorado, lending it for me hints of damson. The Kernel Brewery celebrated its 16 years of operation in September 2025. |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Golden IPA (previously Meaney's Golden India Pale Ale) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Langham - Arapaho | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - 9th Life Noir | 5.70 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Harlequin | 4.50 | Not Tried |
23 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Christmas packed with many comings and goings too.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairngorm - Santa's Sledgehammer | 5.60 | | Smooth and powerful. The nightcap |
| Kent - Nutcracker | 4.20 | | 4½* Best of what was a superb selection of ales here tonight. Up there |
| Iron Pier - Heritage Range 18th Century Porter | 5.10 | | Smooth, no harsh notes, easily downed |
| Langham - Best Bitter | 4.50 | | New cask on - second one out. Fresh but well condtioned from the start |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | Soon lost head and lacing in glass |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | Not Tried | Ran out as I ordered |
| Langham - Hip-Hop | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Gun - Zamzama IPA | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Black Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - New November | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Attic - Marry & Bright Red IPA | 5.40 | Not Tried |
28 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Good, nay superb, cask house.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Cannon - Gunner's Daughter | 5.50 | | 4½* In superb condition - smooth, powerful and full on flavour |
| Good Chemistry - Rolling Thunder | 4.00 | | An exceptional stronger dark mild |
| East London (ELB) - W.P.B. Walthamstow Beer - Green Hopped Pale Ale | 4.10 | | Tasty and quite sharp tasting green hopper |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Complex | 4.60 | | Good but did not hold a lively head or lacing |
| Kent - Porter | 5.50 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Mad Cat - Green & Gold | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Lost and Grounded - Autumn Protagonist | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Zeitgeist | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Chelmsford (also branded as Blueshack) - Superdelic | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About the Nelson Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 141 |
| 48 |
| 5 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1UP.
Beautifully refurbished side street local in Cromer Street, a few minutes walk from Tonbridge station. Features an always interesting selection of cask ales, real ciders and keg beers. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. 10 handpumps plus 2 unused (dummy) ones and 20 keg taps on the back wall. Different rooms with all Nelson linked names. Massive real cider / perry range here too. CAMRA Kent (West) Pub of the Year 2023 then became CAMRA Kent Regional Pub of the Year 2023. Selected as one of the last 4 in the CAMRA National 2023 Pub of the Year competition. CAMRA Kent (West) Pub of the Year 2024, 2025 and 2026 then Kent Regional (latterly County) Pub of the Year 2024 and 2026.
We have visited this pub 54 times, seen 289 different beers and tried 150 of them.
Postcode: TN9 1UP