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Nelson Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) |  | 1 |
| Dunham Massey - Chocolate Cherry Mild | | 1 |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy |  | 1 |
| Wantsum - Green Hop Ernest | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | | 5 |
| Iron Pier - Fruit Cake | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - "25" Gold | | 2 |
| Rother Valley - Brew 3800 | | 1 |
| Dancing Duck - dcuk | | 1 |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Raven Ale | | 1 |
| Musket - Flash in the Pan | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - West Coast IPA | | 1 |
| Kent - Hygge | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Storm Surge | | 1 |
| Larkins - Porter | | 2 |
| Kent - Starry Night | | 1 |
| Two by Two - Azacca Mosaic |  | 1 |
| Saltaire - YSB | | 1 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Mister Watson's Decade | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Boadicea Ale | | 1 |
| Three Legs - E S B | | 1 |
| Larkins - Premium Bitter | | 1 |
| Larkins - Traditional | | 1 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | | 1 |
| Wilde Child - Dutiful Supremacy | | 1 |
| Siren Craft - Recurring Dream | | 1 |
| 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 |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cairngorm - Trade Winds | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Imperium | Not Tried | 0 |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Red MacGregor | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Old Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Velvet Raven | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lakedown - Kicking Donkey Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Green & Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Little Critters - Turtley Tropical | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Suspended in Eclipse | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Shed (formerly Unity Brew House) - Dual | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Fairytale of Brew York | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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) - Evening Star Revival APA | 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. |
05 Sep 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. Many conversations with many.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Porter | 5.20 | | Top form |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | 4½* Not really sure why I haven't given this a 5* |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - "25" Gold | 6.80 | | 4½* Just a half for the road and really a flavour burst hard hitter. Pumpclip called it Gold but was more mid brown! |
| Larkins - Traditional | 3.40 | | Came across as fobbing on pouring and rather fresh on the palate |
| Dunham Massey - Chocolate Cherry Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Suspended in Eclipse | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Mister Watson's Decade | 5.70 | Not Tried |
About the Nelson Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 5 |
| 126 |
| 43 |
 | 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 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 49 times, seen 271 different beers and tried 138 of them.
Postcode: TN9 1UP