PubsandBeer
History: Home > Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House) (Free House)
[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Titanic - Plum Porter |  | 2 |
| Westerham - Family Stout | | 1 |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | | 9 |
| Downton - Oatmeal Stout | | 2 |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | | 7 |
| Tiny Rebel - Cwtch | | 1 |
| Cellar Head - Fireside | | 1 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Four Grains | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Spirit of Kent XXX Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Spring Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Red Sky | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Summer Perle | Not Tried | 0 |
| Otter - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Batemans - St George's Glory | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Mad Hare | Not Tried | 0 |
| Long Man - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Elderquad | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Dragon I.P.A. | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bedlam - Benchmark | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Shamrock | Not Tried | 0 |
| Long Man - Old Man | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Red India Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anarchy - Blonde Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Butcombe - Rare Breed (or Adam Henson's Rare Breed) | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Austell - Anthem | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Sheep - Respire | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
01 May 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 |  | Rare to not be up to scratch, something not quite right with this one |
| Downton - Oatmeal Stout | 4.20 | | A little lost since Saturday's examples |
| Downton - Mad Hare | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Four Grains | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - Apple Blossom Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Long Man - Old Man | 4.30 | Not Tried |
29 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. A superb ale drinking environment.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | No need to comment on its excellence |
| Downton - Oatmeal Stout | 4.20 | | Nourishing from first sip to last slurp of the lacing remnants |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Four Grains | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Long Man - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Anthem | 3.80 | Not Tried | Ran out and its line left clear for rest of evening |
| Downton - Dragon I.P.A. | 4.50 | Not Tried |
24 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As it should be |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Superb |
| Westerham - Summer Perle | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Family Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Red Sky | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Batemans - St George's Glory | 4.20 | Not Tried |
22 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. The relaxed drinking up time is a pleasure to behold.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Could well be a higher score |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Probably an even higher score |
| Westerham - Summer Perle | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Spring Ale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Family Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Red Sky | 4.10 | Not Tried |
21 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit to this ale haven until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Dream came true when the succession beer board showed another beer would be next on to replace British Bulldog. Simply 4½* quality, superb |
| Westerham - Family Stout | 4.50 | | Full bodied, virtually jet black and nourishing |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Four Grains | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Spring Ale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | 4.10 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Red Sky | 4.10 | Not Tried |
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 |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 273 |
| 148 |
 | 19 |
 | 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 209 times, seen 304 different beers and tried 99 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA