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Nelson Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Dunham Massey - Chocolate Cherry Mild |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | | 1 |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - West Coast IPA |  | 1 |
| Kent - Hygge | | 1 |
| Gyle 59 - Shave X Beer | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Storm Surge | | 1 |
| Kent - Starry Night | | 1 |
| Larkins - Porter | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Green Hop Ernest | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Fruit Cake | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Kiss | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Brew 3800 | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - "25" Gold | | 1 |
| Dancing Duck - dcuk | | 1 |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Raven Ale | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | | 4 |
| Musket - Flash in the Pan | | 1 |
| Larkins - Premium Bitter |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | | 1 |
| Siren Craft - Recurring Dream | | 1 |
| Wilde Child - Dutiful Supremacy | | 1 |
| Two by Two - Azacca Mosaic | | 1 |
| Saltaire - YSB | | 1 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Mister Watson's Decade | | 1 |
| Swannay (formerly Highland) - Island Hopping | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Boadicea Ale | | 1 |
| Cerne Abbas - Tiger Tom Ruby Mild | | 1 |
| Three Legs - E S B | | 1 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lakedown - Kicking Donkey Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Velvet Raven | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Green & Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Purple Moose - Elderflower Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Little Critters - Turtley Tropical | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Memento | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Shed (formerly Unity Brew House) - Dual | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | Not Tried | 0 |
| By The Horns - Macaroon Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Fairytale of Brew York | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Valhalla | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Hotline Blend | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ilkley - Ruby Jane | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rudgate - Ruby Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Track - Sonoma | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anarchy - Gold Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Suspended in Centennial | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Revival | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cairngorm - Trade Winds | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Red MacGregor | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Imperium | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Old Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
21 Feb 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. It was the Swannay that was tonight's biggest seller.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | No 3 just as it should be |
| Harvey's - Kiss | 4.80 | | Quite floral hopping |
| Gyle 59 - Shave X Beer | 5.10 | | First rate and a good body to this |
| Swannay (formerly Highland) - Island Hopping | 3.90 | | Suspect nearing end of cask |
| Cerne Abbas - Tiger Tom Ruby Mild | 4.40 | | Basic dark mild |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Elderflower Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| By The Horns - Macaroon Stout | 5.80 | Not Tried |
06 Feb 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. The Guv had earlier in the day taken ownership of a treasure trove chest of old CAMRA paperwork and was musing how to make it available for general viewing.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dancing Duck - dcuk | 4.30 | | Unspectacular but in excellent fettle |
| Rother Valley - Storm Surge | 5.40 | | A nourishing 5.4% stout. Good nightcapper |
| Three Legs - E S B | 5.50 | | Found this rather cloying and certainly not a clean taste |
| Cairngorm - Trade Winds | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Red MacGregor | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Old Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Lakedown - Kicking Donkey Best Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried |
19 Jan 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Mid afternoon to early evening catching up with a couple of retired colleagues, quiet upon arrival much busier upon departure our table was instantly nabbed upon vacation!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Raven Ale | 3.80 | | A pale amber ale with a fruity and spicy hop aroma, with malt flavours both biscuity and toasty. |
| Iron Pier - West Coast IPA | 5.20 | | Juicy, tropical fruit & pine hop character with resinous citusy aroma. |
| Siren Craft - Recurring Dream | 4.60 | | Creamy with rich espresso undertones |
| Two by Two - Azacca Mosaic | 4.70 | | Did not seem like a beer to me more of a hazy alcoholic tropical fruit punch.. |
| Saltaire - YSB | 5.50 | | Full bodied well rounded hoppy citrus and deep caramel fare. |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Suspended in Centennial | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Revival | 4.80 | Not Tried |
22 Dec 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. The hubbub of a pre-Christmas plus good Friday turnout.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | | The very very best condition Brewers Reserve I have ever had |
| Kent - Hygge | 5.00 | | 4½* Absolutely superb condition - really should give a 5* |
| Kent - Starry Night | 4.20 | | One of a trio of 3 Kent ales in superb condition tonight |
| Iron Pier - Fruit Cake | 4.60 | | Only a half but spot on for flavour |
| Rother Valley - Brew 3800 | 3.80 | | Difficult to pick out where the flavours came from. An enigma |
| Ilkley - Ruby Jane | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Track - Sonoma | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Anarchy - Gold Star | 4.50 | Not Tried |
01 Dec 2023 (Ian)
Perfect back street boozer. Friendly. Great beer range.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | Best I've ever had this beer |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Mister Watson's Decade | 5.70 | | Lime and tangerine flavours. Hides abv well |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Fairytale of Brew York | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried |
31 Oct 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | 5.80 | | A classic example of this ale |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | Spot on |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Tasted rather tinny |
| Wantsum - Imperium | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | New cask put on |
| Tonbridge - Velvet Raven | 5.20 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Green & Gold | 5.40 | Not Tried | |
| Little Critters - Turtley Tropical | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Shed (formerly Unity Brew House) - Dual | 3.60 | Not Tried |
10 Oct 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. A 37 Gang night ensured heavy footfall and fast moving ales.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musket - Flash in the Pan | 4.00 | | A green hopper in peak condition |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | Difficult to beat an ale of this quality and in this condition |
| Rother Valley - Boadicea Ale | 4.50 | | A rather zingy golden ale |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Valhalla | 5.00 | Not Tried |
03 Oct 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Surprising quiet until the Guv arrived boosting numbers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | First two out of a new cask put on almost at closing time. I had earlier been disappointed to find the previous cask sold out before I arrived. Superb |
| Wantsum - Green Hop Ernest | 4.20 | | A compelling bitterness came through |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Excellent condition but not really to my taste |
| Rudgate - Ruby Mild | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%) | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Valhalla | 5.00 | Not Tried |
19 Sep 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close, on an autumnal night.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | Amazing depth of flavour, even in the head |
| Larkins - Premium Bitter | 5.50 | | No match for the Collusion tonight |
| Wilde Child - Dutiful Supremacy | 4.00 | | Badged as a Yorkshire Bitter, good condtion but rather bland and thin |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern Mild | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Valhalla | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Hotline Blend | 4.20 | Not Tried |
07 Sep 2023 (Dosser)
9 beers on. Here for Kent pub of year presentation. Wow. What a pub. Big crowd in. Some unusual beers tonight.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunham Massey - Chocolate Cherry Mild | 3.80 | | Lynne loved this and stayed on it. |
| Larkins - Porter | 5.20 | | Lovely pint. First pint on my way back from Crete. 2 hours ago. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - "25" Gold | 6.80 | | Powerful stuff. £5,20 a pint. |
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