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Nelson Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Hammerton - City of Cake |  | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | | 2 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | | 3 |
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest Ale | | 1 |
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | | 2 |
| Three Acre - Extra Special Best | | 1 |
| Kent - Galaxy | | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 1 |
| Cerne Abbas - Danny's Brew | | 1 |
| Kent - No Kinda Plan | | 1 |
| Larkins - Porter | | 1 |
| Kent - Starry Night | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Gone Fishing E.S.B. | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - 50 (CAMRA SE Sussex Branch 1974-2024) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | | 1 |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Bitter Simmonds 1880 with Goldings | | 1 |
| Brunswick - Father Mike's Dark Rich Ruby | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Ledbury Real Ales - Ledbury Dark | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Jamaica | | 1 |
| Kent - Maia Springtime IPA | | 2 |
| Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (spent a while at 5.4%) | | 1 |
| Two by Two - Nelson IPA |  | 1 |
| Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Maiden Voyage | | 1 |
| Cerne Abbas - Legless Jester | | 1 |
| Cerne Abbas - Community Green Hop 2024 | | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog | | 1 |
| Bradfield - Farmers Cherry Beer | | 1 |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | | 1 |
| Triple fff - Alton's Pride |  | 1 |
| Black Lodge - Grimble Grumble | | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Whispering Grass | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fell - Light Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Green Ernest | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moor - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Acre - Pineapple Dream | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Dangerous Grounds | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Valley Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Big Stik! | Not Tried | 0 |
| Left Handed Giant - Mosaic Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Juice Junkie | Not Tried | 0 |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lakedown - Magic Hour | Not Tried | 0 |
| New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Liquid Light - Ramble On | Not Tried | 0 |
| Titanic - First Class | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Citrus Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cairngorm - Wildcat | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Wai-Iti | Not Tried | 0 |
| Green Jack - Ripper Tripel | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Night Shift | Not Tried | 0 |
| Good Chemistry - Chinook Smash | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Alliance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Blues | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brighton Bier - Mildred | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Surrey Hills - Greensand IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Empire ESB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moor - Resonance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Sundown | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Country - Pig on the Wall Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Green & Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Uttoxeter - Uxonian | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest Ale | 5.00 | | One of the best examples of this I have ever had |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout | 6.20 | | THE way to end a session with a spot-on nightcapper |
| 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 |
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 Springtime IPA | 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 Springtime IPA | 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 |
About the Nelson Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 141 |
| 48 |
| 5 |
 | - |
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, 2025 and 2026. 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, 2025 and 2026 then Kent Regional (latterly County) Pub of the Year 2024 and 2026.
We have visited this pub 54 times, seen 289 different beers and tried 150 of them.
Postcode: TN9 1UP