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Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House) (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Hop Back - Entire Stout |  | 1 |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | | 8 |
| Tiny Rebel - Cwtch | | 1 |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | | 7 |
| Cellar Head - Fireside | | 1 |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | | 3 |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | | 1 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning |  | 1 |
| Tonbridge - American Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Otter - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Mad Hare | Not Tried | 0 |
| Shepherd Neame - Late Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Elderquad | Not Tried | 0 |
| Palmers - Dorset Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bedlam - Benchmark | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Junction | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Red India Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Palmers - Copper Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anarchy - Blonde Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Butcombe - Rare Breed (or Adam Henson's Rare Breed) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Austell - Anthem | Not Tried | 0 |
| Batemans - Hooker | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Sheep - Respire | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Scrum Down | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Four Grains | Not Tried | 0 |
| Surrey Hills - Ranmore Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Spirit of Kent XXX Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
17 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As only one would expect |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | As expected |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | Perhaps bitterer than on Saturday |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Four Grains | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Anarchy - Blonde Star | 4.10 | Not Tried | Came on late |
| Westerham - Spirit of Kent XXX Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | 4.10 | Not Tried |
15 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Usual excellent condition |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | A must if it is on the board |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | 4½* Near perfect |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Four Grains | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Spirit of Kent XXX Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | 4.10 | Not Tried |
10 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. An entertaining babe in arms had more life in her than the rest of the patrons it seemed!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As always, reliable |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | 4½* Unmatchable |
| Anarchy - Blonde Star | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tiny Rebel - Cwtch | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Anthem | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Black Sheep - Respire | 4.00 | Not Tried |
08 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Superb and even the last half out of the cask was first rate - then ran out with 5 minutes to close |
| Tiny Rebel - Cwtch | 4.60 | | Never my favourite style or preferred brewery but a new cask just put on and in superb condition |
| Cellar Head - Fireside | 5.20 | | Dark and almost a dry barley wine in taste |
| Dorking - Red India Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Anarchy - Blonde Star | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Butcombe - Rare Breed (or Adam Henson's Rare Breed) | 3.80 | Not Tried |
18 Mar 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. An excellent house in every possible way.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Superbly subtle bitterness |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Superb |
| Otter - Bitter | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - Mad Hare | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - Elderquad | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Bedlam - Benchmark | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock | 4.50 | Not Tried | Just a taster was very dark and very oily |
11 Mar 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. A superb ale drinking house. No Palmers IPA on - had sold 3 firkins earlier in the day with so much TV sport, one went within 90 minutes.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | A perfect substitute for Palmers IPA being unavailable! Almost more than |
| Hop Back - Entire Stout | 4.50 | | Superb condition |
| Palmers - Dorset Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - American Pale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
18 Feb 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Wot no Palmers IPA! Would not put on as not quite ready and that is quite right.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Superb - almost tempted to give 4½* |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | First one in on but would have liked a starter Palmers IPA first |
| Surrey Hills - Ranmore Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | 3.90 | Not Tried |
11 Feb 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until closed. Packed with just one small vacant table. Pity the lined glasses have disappeared completely here of late.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Glorious |
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | This was spot on. Unusually for Titanic PP it really stressed that dryness that plums should give |
| Batemans - Hooker | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Palmers - Dorset Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Scrum Down | 4.10 | Not Tried |
04 Feb 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Assured superb condition ales here every visit. Only 20 minutes or so by bus and tram from The Real Ale Way West Wickham tonight.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | 4½* Astounding condition. Palmers as it should be |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | | Good nightcap but never as good as it once as |
| Palmers - Copper Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Back - Citra | 4.00 | Not Tried |
23 Sep 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Splendid form |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Good but not quite excellent |
| Shepherd Neame - Late Red | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Palmers - Dorset Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Junction | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 260 |
| 115 |
 | 15 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Addiscombe, Greater London, CR0 7AA.
Small low ceilinged pub close to Addiscombe Tram Stop in Bingham Corner, Lower Addiscombe Road. This pub is a regular outlet for Palmers beers. In November 2012 Palmers awarded the pub a certificate for having sold a total of 1,000,000 pints of Palmers Best Bitter (IPA) exceeding any other of its free trade outlets and in later years further greatly exceeded here and similarly certificated with 1,250,000th in 2019. 6 handpumps dispense the real ales and always at least 2 ciders served by a walk to the ground floor cellar, the latter of late not being real ones however. Beers in the cellar and due to come on are listed on a wallboard. Changed hands in 2016 with slight change of name from Claret Free House to Claret & Ale but little else has changed. 6 handpumps. Regular winner of the local CAMRA branch Borough Pub of the Year award. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2024.
We have visited this pub 184 times, seen 271 different beers and tried 85 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA