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Nelson Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Rother Valley - 50 (CAMRA SE Sussex Branch 1974-2024) |  | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | | 1 |
| Brunswick - Father Mike's Dark Rich Ruby | | 1 |
| Ledbury Real Ales - Ledbury Dark | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | | 1 |
| Kent - Maia | | 2 |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | | 2 |
| Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (spent a while at 5.4%) | | 1 |
| Kent - Beyond the Pale | | 1 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | | 3 |
| Kent - Swing Low | | 1 |
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | | 2 |
| Durham - Chocka Mocha Milk Stout | | 1 |
| Kent - Galaxy | | 1 |
| Kent - Caramel Latte | | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Anthem | | 1 |
| Cerne Abbas - Danny's Brew | | 1 |
| Kent - Pilgrim Single Hopped Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Larkins - Porter | | 1 |
| Kent - No Kinda Plan | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 1 |
| Lakedown - Harmonium | | 1 |
| Bradfield - Farmers Cherry Beer |  | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Hoppers Ale | | 1 |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | | 1 |
| Two by Two - Nelson IPA | | 1 |
| New Bristol - Bristol Bitter | | 1 |
| Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Maiden Voyage | | 1 |
| Kent - Vista | | 1 |
| Three Acre - Pineapple Dream | Not Tried | 0 |
| Verdant - Future You | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Acre - Extra Special Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Dangerous Grounds | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Big Stik! | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Juice Junkie | Not Tried | 0 |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Dragonhead | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Soundwave IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Revival | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lakedown - Magic Hour | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titanic - First Class | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Citrus Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Verdant - Penpol | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Night Shift | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Wai-Iti | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lakedown - Kicking Donkey Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brighton Bier - Mildred | Not Tried | 0 |
| Good Chemistry - Chinook Smash | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anarchy - Citra Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Empire ESB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Good Chemistry - Storms Pass | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Alliance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lakedown - Spring Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Country - Pig on the Wall Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Shed (formerly Unity Brew House) - Pecking Order | Not Tried | 0 |
| Uttoxeter - Uxonian | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moor - Resonance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Turning Point - Lucid Dream | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fell - Light Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Sundown | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Memento | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marble - Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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 (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | | 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 |
03 Apr 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. Never not worth the effort of the journey here. Harvey's Easter Ale waiting in the wings to be put on tomorrow.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | | Just proves how good ESB can be |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | Superbly balanced with lasting head and lacing |
| Kent - Beyond the Pale | 5.40 | | 4½* Exceptional with an addictive bitterness making two mandatory |
| Durham - Chocka Mocha Milk Stout | 5.50 | | A smooth stout to round the evening off |
| Anarchy - Citra Star | 4.10 | Not Tried | Came on late on |
| Good Chemistry - Storms Pass | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Lakedown - Spring Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Shed (formerly Unity Brew House) - Pecking Order | 3.60 | Not Tried |
27 Feb 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Train delays to and from.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | Bordering on a 4½ mark |
| Kent - Swing Low | 4.00 | | Top notch condition |
| Kent - Caramel Latte | 5.20 | | Can Kent and the Nelson do no wrong tonight |
| Kent - Pilgrim Single Hopped Pale Ale | 4.50 | | Single hopper in impeccable form |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Dragonhead | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Lakedown - Kicking Donkey Best Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried |
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