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Nelson Arms (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA |  | 3 |
| Kent - Maia | | 2 |
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | | 2 |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | | 2 |
| Brunswick - Father Mike's Dark Rich Ruby | | 1 |
| Cerne Abbas - Danny's Brew | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Gone Fishing E.S.B. | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Hammerton - City of Cake | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | | 1 |
| Kent - Galaxy | | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 1 |
| Kent - No Kinda Plan | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Jamaica | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 1 |
| Lakedown - Harmonium | | 1 |
| Larkins - Porter | | 1 |
| Ledbury Real Ales - Ledbury Dark | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - 50 (CAMRA SE Sussex Branch 1974-2024) | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Anthem | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | | 1 |
| Three Acre - Extra Special Best | | 1 |
| Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (spent a while at 5.4%) | | 1 |
| Bradfield - Farmers Cherry Beer |  | 1 |
| Cerne Abbas - Community Green Hop 2024 | | 1 |
| Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Maiden Voyage | | 1 |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild | | 1 |
| Kent - Vista | | 1 |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Hoppers Ale | | 1 |
| Two by Two - Nelson IPA | | 1 |
| Black Country - Pig on the Wall Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Empire ESB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brighton Bier - Mildred | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Dangerous Grounds | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Revival | Not Tried | 0 |
| East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fell - Light Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Citrus Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Good Chemistry - Chinook Smash | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Green Ernest | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Juice Junkie | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Wai-Iti | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lakedown - Magic Hour | Not Tried | 0 |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Left Handed Giant - Mosaic Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Big Stik! | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Green & Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marble - Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moor - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moor - Resonance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Whispering Grass | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Alliance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Valley Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Night Shift | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Memento | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Soundwave IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Acre - Pineapple Dream | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titanic - First Class | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Sundown | Not Tried | 0 |
| Turning Point - Lucid Dream | Not Tried | 0 |
| Uttoxeter - Uxonian | Not Tried | 0 |
| Verdant - Future You | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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 |
01 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Lightest footfall I have known despite European football on TV. Where everyone? Soon just one!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | 5.20 | | Powerful nightcap |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | KGB at its very best |
| Kent - No Kinda Plan | 4.90 | | Glorious. Smooth, magnificent head and lacing. Great to compare with last night's first out of cask gravity pour elsewhere. Excellent in different ways |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Rother Valley - Alliance | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Moor - Resonance | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Triple fff - Sundown | 4.30 | Not Tried |
17 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. Half the customers left out within 5 minutes of me entering!! Nightcap provided by a half of keg "A beer for Zelenskyy" at 9.2% from Gyle59.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Quite a creamy head |
| Brunswick - Father Mike's Dark Rich Ruby | 5.80 | | Superbly balanced |
| Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (spent a while at 5.4%) | 5.00 | | Indeed a numbing strength and flavour |
| Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Maiden Voyage | 4.00 | | Overly toffee / caramel. Good condition but was the taste right? |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Citrus Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Wai-Iti | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Good Chemistry - Chinook Smash | 4.80 | Not Tried |
13 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. By my arrival just one or three in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | 5.20 | | Stronger dark bitter, time prevented more than an extra half |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Everything was right |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | 4.80 | | Superbly balanced |
| Mad Cat - Big Stik! | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Night Shift | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Juice Junkie | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Lakedown - Magic Hour | 3.40 | Not Tried |
02 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Almost everyone out their coats on as soon as the Euro TV football was over! Impressive 20 taps on back bar now for cider and keg beer and still some ciders in boxes too.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ledbury Real Ales - Ledbury Dark | 3.90 | | Top quality condition |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | 4.80 | | A massive flavour hit |
| Two by Two - Nelson IPA | 6.20 | | A massive flavour punch (in a murky beer I would usually choose not to try!) |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Pineapple Dream | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Extra Special Best | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Dangerous Grounds | 5.80 | Not Tried |
11 Jun 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. 4 locals at the bar made for an entertaining tableau. The proliferation of very sharply hopped bitters here tonight was most pleasing.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Maia | 5.00 | | Continued the theme here of very sharp hoppy brews tonight |
| Kent - Galaxy | 4.50 | | Great hoppy bitterness |
| Cerne Abbas - Danny's Brew | 4.40 | | Another sharply bitter brew |
| Rother Valley - 50 (CAMRA SE Sussex Branch 1974-2024) | 4.70 | | Dark and sharply bitter |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | 5.60 | Not Tried | Must have just ran out as I walked up the road |
| Black Country - Pig on the Wall Mild | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Uttoxeter - Uxonian | 4.90 | Not Tried | The taster as so very bland compared with the others here |
| Fell - Light Mild | 3.40 | Not Tried |
21 May 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Couple of milds on in readiness for this forthcoming weekend's mild festival here including Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Porter | 5.20 | | First rate, keeping superb head and lacing until the end |
| Kent - Maia | 5.00 | | Most drinkable 5%er |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | 4.80 | | Superb with a tongue rasping dry bitterness. Not quite sure if this is revival of a Dark Star beer per se. Moreish |
| Bradfield - Farmers Cherry Beer | 4.20 | | Good but needed more cherry flavouring |
| Titanic - First Class | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Night Shift | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brighton Bier - Mildred | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Empire ESB | 5.40 | Not Tried |
19 Apr 2024 (Ian)
Friday lunchtime. Everyone saying what a great pub this is. Relaxed welcoming lovely. Great beer and Cider selection
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rother Valley - Hoppers Ale | 4.40 | | Proper English hopped bitter |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild | 3.50 | | Good malts |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | 4.00 | | Characterful English bitter |
| Kent - Vista | 4.50 | | New single hopped beer cracking condition |
| East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Soundwave IPA | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Revival | 4.80 | Not Tried |
09 Apr 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rother Valley - Anthem | 4.30 | | 4½* Exceptional condition with superbly balanced six hopping |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | 4½* This ale is addictive enough without being in this condition! |
| Lakedown - Harmonium | 5.70 | | A powerful taste in top notch form |
| Turning Point - Lucid Dream | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Marble - Mild | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Future You | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About the Nelson Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 4 |
| 84 |
| 25 |
 | - |
 | - |
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 and 2024. 10 handpumps plus 2 unused (dummy) ones and 10 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 then Kent Regional Pub of the Year 2024.
We have visited this pub 32 times, seen 180 different beers and tried 88 of them.
Postcode: TN9 1UP