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Nelson Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny Rebel - Oh Apricot |  | 1 |
| Hobsons - Champion Mild | | 1 |
| RedWillow - Faithless 162 Amarillo Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Hobsons - Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Into Chaos | | 1 |
| Saltaire - Black Forest | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - KPA Kent Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | | 2 |
| Larkins - Premium Bitter | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | | 3 |
| Gun - American Brown | | 1 |
| Oakham - Fruit Crumble | | 1 |
| Kent - Comfortably Plum | | 1 |
| St Austell - Hicks |  | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hoodwink | | 1 |
| Titanic - Raspberry Pale | | 1 |
| Titanic - Classic Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Only With Love - Yacht Rock | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cwrw Iâl - Pocket Rocket | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Woodlands IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Prohibition | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Yellow Tail | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Lemon Love | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goffs - Black Knight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anarchy - Citra Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goffs - Cheltenham Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Return to Flight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goffs - White Knight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - West Coast Light | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
01 Aug 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Bemused to find the place so busy but it was the reduced beer price night for the members of the exclusive Nelson Arms Crew Team, several of whom engaged me in conversation during most of my stay.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobsons - Best Bitter | 3.80 | | Spot on form |
| Gun - American Brown | 5.00 | | An interesting take on the brown ale style |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hoodwink | 5.30 | | Good enough but not sure what flavours it was trying to express |
| Titanic - Raspberry Pale | 4.70 | | Overfobbing massively on pouring and tasted rather fresh to me |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Only With Love - Yacht Rock | 3.80 | Not Tried |
04 Jul 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. A magnificent array of ales for all tastes surely.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | Another customer had earlier alleged this was in its sweet stage in the cask |
| Larkins - Premium Bitter | 5.50 | | A heady brew new to Larkins this year |
| Oakham - Fruit Crumble | 4.00 | | Superb bittering in this porter |
| Tiny Rebel - Oh Apricot | 4.60 | | Well balanced but one half was quite enough for my palate |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Only With Love - Yacht Rock | 3.80 | Not Tried |
21 Jun 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Only several in by close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | 4½* Superb full bodied ale with heavy floral hopping, one to drown in |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | | Very good but overshadowed for condition by the Collusion |
| Goffs - White Knight | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - West Coast Light | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Classic Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Into Chaos | 5.40 | Not Tried | 6th day on |
14 Jun 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. The ambience and beer quality make this a difficult place to leave oasis.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobsons - Champion Mild | 3.20 | | A rare beast, a traditional dark nutty mild and a reason to go back to it later in the evening |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Into Chaos | 5.40 | | First out as came on just before last orders time |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - KPA Kent Pale Ale | 5.20 | | Best Canterbury Ales I have had in a very long time |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goffs - Black Knight | 5.30 | Not Tried | Barman / cellarman too this off near end of sesh as past its best, with no customer prompting |
| Anarchy - Citra Star | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Goffs - Cheltenham Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Best Bitter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Return to Flight | 5.00 | Not Tried | Taster was very pale, thin and citrus so no go |
30 May 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Even though cask ales were moving slowly all tried were in tip top condition. In view of Magnus Greel's epithet of Whinger's Craze Pubs for the late lamented ChrisE's penchant for suddenly adopting a favourite pub this could easily become a Philip Pirrip's Craze Pub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | | In great quaffing condition, everything right |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | 4½* One to drown in, should be an award winner, maybe it is |
| Kent - Comfortably Plum | 4.90 | | Always makes me think of the Little Jack Horner nursery rhyme. Much drier than Titanic Plum Porter and a superb after-bitterness |
| Wantsum - Yellow Tail | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Hicks | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Lemon Love | 4.40 | Not Tried |
16 May 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. A visit to see what all the fuss was about, having never been on my radar before. All I can say it is a most deserving recent multiple winner of local CAMRA Pub of the Year. Obvious care for ales and cider, friendly family atmosphere and eclectic seating areas in a difficult to find (first time) area of the town.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RedWillow - Faithless 162 Amarillo Best Bitter | 4.10 | | In fine form |
| Saltaire - Black Forest | 4.70 | | Very dry cherry stout |
| St Austell - Hicks | 5.00 | | Very malty |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Cwrw Iâl - Pocket Rocket | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Woodlands IPA | 4.80 | Not Tried |
About the Nelson Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 4 |
| 92 |
| 31 |
 | 2 |
 | - |
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 then Kent Regional Pub of the Year 2024.
We have visited this pub 36 times, seen 203 different beers and tried 102 of them.
Postcode: TN9 1UP