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Nelson Arms (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Bitter Simmonds 1880 with Goldings |  | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Cairngorm - Wildcat | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Jamaica | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Porter | | 1 |
| Kent - Motueka Single Hopped Pale | | 1 |
| Hammerton - City of Cake | | 1 |
| Kent - Twelfth Night | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | | 2 |
| Langham - LSD (Langham Special Draught) | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Level Best | | 2 |
| Kent - Black Forest - Stout | | 1 |
| Three Acre - Extra Special Best | | 1 |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Baltic Trader | | 1 |
| Good Chemistry - Into Darkness | | 1 |
| Kent - Starry Night | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Brewed at Hackney Wick) - Saddle Up - Extra Special Bitter (Collaboration with Five Points) | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Gone Fishing E.S.B. | | 1 |
| Black Iris - Nail In The Coffin | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | | 1 |
| Drop Project - Choppy |  | 1 |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 1 |
| Cerne Abbas - Legless Jester | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Coast Sting IPA | | 1 |
| Cerne Abbas - Community Green Hop 2024 | | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | | 1 |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | | 1 |
| McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Bridgefield ESB |  | 1 |
| Triple fff - Alton's Pride | | 1 |
| Black Lodge - Grimble Grumble | | 1 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| New Bristol - Small Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Valley Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Arbor Ales - Yakima Valley | Not Tried | 0 |
| Left Handed Giant - Mosaic Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Burton Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Woodshedding - By Furrow | Not Tried | 0 |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Grey Trees - Nectarbomb Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Liquid Light - Ramble On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | Not Tried | 0 |
| Green Jack - Ripper Tripel | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Haffenden Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Blues | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brass Castle - Morph - Brit Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Surrey Hills - Greensand IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Crispin Amber | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Olympia | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Loral | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - 1984 Sweet Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Hopping Special | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Green & Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Small Pale Ale Chinook | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - East India Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Whispering Grass | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stonehenge - Sign of Spring | Not Tried | 0 |
| 4T's - SPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Green Ernest | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Golden IPA (previously Meaney's Golden India Pale Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Good Chemistry - Bob's Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moor - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Gun - Chummy Bluster | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
10 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | As it should be |
| Kent - Black Forest - Stout | 4.70 | | Tasty, good as a last one of a session |
| Rother Valley - Coast Sting IPA | 4.80 | | Good condition but a sourish hop I did not enjoy |
| McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Bridgefield ESB | 4.80 | | Rather unpleasant caramel tasting and smelling. Not sure it was meant to be brewed like this |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| 4T's - SPA | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Rother Valley - Valley Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Good Chemistry - Bob's Best | 4.50 | Not Tried |
24 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than the Saturday before and for my similarly timed mid-evening visit and from coming back one stop from Paddock Wood and its nearby Halfway House at Brenchley. I was met with the usual friendly, prompt service from the bar staff and it was my good fortune that their kitchen was still open and as I recall until about 8.30pm. A hearty steak and ale pie and mash with gravy and veg was ordered alongside a flight of three third measures so as to sample some of the nine real ales on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Chemistry - Into Darkness | 3.40 | | A pleasantly dry toasted malt-infused first hit on this Bristol-based dark mild. A hoppy fruitiness rising up in the mouthfeel aided by its subtle sweetness arising from its molasses and raisins. A bitter dryness pervading the aftertaste. Not tried a Good Chemistry brew before and they are now 10 years young in 2025. Look forward to trying them again. |
| Black Iris - Nail In The Coffin | 5.90 | | Never tried a Black Iris brew before and based in Nottingham and set up in 2011. A delight to try two new ones on this visit therefore. This extra special bitter came with very good head and lacing and lasting. A dry bitter first hit. A caramel-infused bitterness on the first hit. Chocolatey notes came to the fore along with a spiciness from its UK Progress hops. A pleasantly dry bitter fruity finish. |
| Rother Valley - Level Best | 4.00 | | Good head and lacing and lasting well on this Rye, in East Sussex, best bitter. A hoppy bitterness from its Phoenix hops on the first hit. A fruity bitterness rising up with just a hint of a citrus to my taste buds and a moreishly dry bitter aftertaste lingering. |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Olympia | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Loral | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Hopping Special | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - East India Pale Ale | 6.00 | Not Tried |
17 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy for our mid-evening visit for our party of three real ale enthusiasts. The FA Cup Final had brought the punters in by all accounts earlier as in late afternoon and now there was the Eurovision Song Contest on the tv. Just 7 real ales on compared to the usual 9 but still very impressive for this multi-awarding winning real ale house. No tv on now and so just friendly and attentive service from the barmaid and barman. Their home-made steak and ale pie, complete with mash and veg, was duly ordered and to be washed down with a flight of 3 x 1/3rd measures. But first a half to cool down with after the walk back to Paddock Wood from Brenchley and the train, just one stop and taking just 9 minutes, to Tonbridge Station and another similar number of minutes' walk to The Nelson Arms.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | In tip-top condition was this Ramsgate bitter with very good head and lacing and lasting the course. A bitter malty first hit. A slightly sweet malty mouthfeel aided by its red berry-flavourings but with a pleasant dry bitterness shining right the way through into the aftertaste. |
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | | Superb head and lacing and lasted to the end on this Lewes' brewery's porter. A bitter dryness aided by the hop grist, referring to ground or crushed hop, of Fuggles and Goldings, and a hint of liquorice on the first hit. A pleasant maltiness rising up and a combination of roasted pale, crystal and black malts pervading into its moreishly bitter aftertaste. The name, porter, is believed to be derived from its popularity with 18th century street and river porters and this ale follows Henry Harvey’s recipe of 1859. Very moreish indeed! |
| Langham - LSD (Langham Special Draught) | 5.20 | | Came with a superbly good head and lacing and lasted throughout on this auburn ale from Petworth, some 13 miles south-west of Godalming. A lovely bitter first hit with a touch of caramel sweetness. Could almost have been a good whisky with pleasantly oily and spicy hop-infused and sweet malty flavourings hitting the taste buds. A moreishly sweet maltiness continued to rise up and last well into the dry aftertaste. |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | | Presented with good head and lacing and lasting. A very dry bitter first hit on this Birling-based brewery's mild from north of West Malling in Kent. The bitterness continued to persist into the mouthfeel with a pleasantly moreish dryness lingering. |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Haffenden Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brass Castle - Morph - Brit Hop | 5.00 | Not Tried |
26 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Heaven on Earth for my early evening visit as a range of 9 real ales on and just 33 minutes from London Bridge with one stop at Sevenoaks and 5 minutes trot from the station. The three real ales I tried were all in tip-top condition and very tasty. The helpful barmaid carried my paddle to a nearby table whilst I ferried the menu and navigated one small dog and a rucksack to that spot. The place was ticking over with many others dining but some also just sampling the fine range of real ales on offer. Not surprising to note that it was CAMRA Kent Regional Pub of the Year 2023 and 2024 and now also in 2025. It was also put forward as one of the last 4 in the CAMRA National 2023 Pub of the Year competition.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rother Valley - Level Best | 4.00 | | This East Sussex bitter from the Northiam-based brewing company, north-west of Rye, and set up in 1993, came with very good head and lacing and lasted throughout. This fine ale had a dry bitter first hit on my palate. A moreishly dry hoppy mouthfeel rose up from those British Phoenix hops and said to be high in oil content. I was left with a dry and slightly citrusy aftertaste. Could easily have done more but another two ales already with me now and to accompany my steak and ale pie, mash, vegetables and gravy. |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | Head and lacing was plentiful and lasted right to the end on this Sussex Old Ale from Lewes. A bitter and roasted malty first hit combined. A dry bitterness rising up along with a burnt-sugar sweetness from dried fruit and the odd date. A very moreishly malty aftertaste. The prospect of another was very tempting! |
| Howling Hops (Brewed at Hackney Wick) - Saddle Up - Extra Special Bitter (Collaboration with Five Points) | 4.80 | | This English bitter from Howling Hops in Hackney Wick came with superb head and lacing and lasted the whole course. Made with American hops, it hit you with its sweetness. A maltiness then presented itself with a spicy fruitiness lingering. |
| Arbor Ales - Yakima Valley | 7.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Burton Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Woodshedding - By Furrow | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Grey Trees - Nectarbomb Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
01 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Good crowd in on the Victory Sports Bar side for TV football.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Jack - Baltic Trader | 10.50 | | A sipping nightcap |
| Kent - Motueka Single Hopped Pale | 4.50 | | Clean on palate and mellow bittering. First rate |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | | One of the first if not the first out of a new cask. Slight haze, fresh and tasted of a sourer hop that I am used to |
| Drop Project - Choppy | 4.80 | | Lost head and lacing rather too quickly |
| Stonehenge - Sign of Spring | 4.60 | Not Tried | The green 'un |
| Mad Cat - Golden IPA (previously Meaney's Golden India Pale Ale) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Gun - Chummy Bluster | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Whispering Grass | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Small Porter | 3.00 | Not Tried |
11 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairngorm - Wildcat | 5.10 | | As smooth as silk on the palate |
| Kent - Twelfth Night | 7.40 | | Barley wine with no harsh notes whatsoever |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | New cask just on. Just a tad fresh |
| Mad Cat - Crispin Amber | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - 1984 Sweet Stout | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Small Pale Ale Chinook | 4.20 | Not Tried |
18 Jan 2025 (Ian)
Quiet Saturday lunchtime. A few groups in. Good beer list as always.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | 3.80 | | Typical dark mild in good nock |
| Cerne Abbas - Legless Jester | 4.70 | | Good golden bitter |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | 4.20 | | Citrus apa |
| Triple fff - Alton's Pride | 3.80 | | Middling bitter |
| Black Lodge - Grimble Grumble | 4.60 | | Collab with Only With Love. Odd aroma but rest of beer is fine |
| Cairngorm - Wildcat | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Green Jack - Ripper Tripel | 8.50 | Not Tried | |
| Rother Valley - Blues | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Surrey Hills - Greensand IPA | 4.60 | Not Tried |
10 Dec 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Seemed all the Barden community was in here for a Christmas sing-a-long. All only became sane again by 10.15!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout | 6.20 | | THE way to end a session with a spot-on nightcapper |
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest | 5.00 | | One of the best examples of this I have ever had |
| Kent - Starry Night | 4.20 | | Maybe I just picked up on the hint of cinnamon or maybe not! |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Bitter Simmonds 1880 with Goldings | 5.90 | | Only a half but The Kernel quality shone through |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Liquid Light - Ramble On | 3.90 | Not Tried |
19 Nov 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. The early knockings of a Green Jack tap takeover this week.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Jack - Gone Fishing E.S.B. | 5.50 | | A proper ESB oooooooooomph |
| Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter | 4.60 | | First rate bitter. Pub is having a Green Jack tap takeover |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | 4.60 | | Surrey Hills is a very competent brewer with consistency as illustrated on this one |
| Hammerton - City of Cake | 5.50 | | Perfect nutritious nightcap |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Rother Valley - Valley Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Left Handed Giant - Mosaic Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | 3.40 | Not Tried |
29 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. Serendipity brought Ray, former Guv at The Door Hinge, Welling, and his son James and myself to reminisce old times. I also learned how Uber can not always provide a cab - for them home.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | 5.80 | | Excellent condition |
| Kent - Old Jamaica | 5.10 | | Full bodied |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | 4.60 | | Spot on with usual Surrey Hills quality |
| Three Acre - Extra Special Best | 5.40 | | Best Three Acre ale I have had |
| Cerne Abbas - Community Green Hop 2024 | 4.00 | | Good condition on what seemed a quite amateur brew |
| Mad Cat - Green & Gold | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Whispering Grass | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Green Ernest | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Moor - Bitter | 3.40 | Not Tried | Duty reducer ale |
About the Nelson Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 4 |
| 103 |
| 33 |
| 3 |
 | - |
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 and 2025. 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 and 2025 then Kent Regional Pub of the Year 2024.
We have visited this pub 40 times, seen 224 different beers and tried 110 of them.
Postcode: TN9 1UP