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Nelson Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Hop Back - Citra |  | 1 |
| Saltaire - Black Forest |  | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - "25" Gold | | 2 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - KPA Kent Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | | 2 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | | 1 |
| Larkins - Premium Bitter | | 2 |
| Larkins - Porter | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | | 5 |
| Gun - American Brown | | 1 |
| Oakham - Fruit Crumble | | 1 |
| Kent - Comfortably Plum | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Golden Valley Wheat Beer | | 1 |
| Tiny Rebel - Oh Apricot | | 1 |
| Hobsons - Champion Mild | | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | | 1 |
| RedWillow - Faithless 162 Amarillo Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Export India Porter | | 1 |
| Hobsons - Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Into Chaos | | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Expresso Martini | | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hoodwink |  | 1 |
| Larkins - Traditional | | 1 |
| Titanic - Raspberry Pale | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Blues | | 1 |
| St Austell - Hicks | | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Lemon Love | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Taiphoon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Langham - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goffs - Black Knight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Lightstorm | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anarchy - Citra Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Langham - Hip-Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goffs - Cheltenham Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Memento | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Wild Ones | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Return to Flight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Start Line | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goffs - White Knight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dunham Massey - Chocolate Cherry Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Suspended in Eclipse | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - West Coast Light | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Mister Watson's Decade | Not Tried | 0 |
| 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 |
| Kent - Prohibition | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Woodlands IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stonehenge - Danish Dynamite | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Yellow Tail | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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 |
29 Aug 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Now everyone can acknowledge it is CAMRA Kent Regional Pub of the Year.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout | 4.50 | | The head and lacing retention said it all |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | | First rate ale |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Expresso Martini | 4.50 | | Coffee infused version of Milk Stout or so it appeared to be to me |
| Langham - Hip-Hop | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Memento | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Wild Ones | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Start Line | 4.20 | Not Tried |
16 Aug 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. A busy time yip-yapping at the bar counter.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | | Doesn't get much better |
| Rother Valley - Golden Valley Wheat Beer | 4.20 | | Good condition, not really my beer of choice. Wheat with rather orangey notes |
| Larkins - Premium Bitter | 5.50 | | So very malty |
| Rother Valley - Blues | 5.00 | | Slightly fresh, only put on tonight |
| Hop Back - Taiphoon | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Langham - Best Bitter | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Lightstorm | 4.80 | Not Tried |
08 Aug 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Did not realise until later had been talking to the Guv who was seated drinking himself before going home.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hop Back - Citra | 4.00 | | Straight up astounding. Never had a Citra in this condition. Superb. First ale here of 3 in spot on condition |
| Iron Pier - Export India Porter | 5.90 | | 4½* 3rd absolutely superb ale in a row here. Wow |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - "25" Gold | 6.80 | | 4½* Apparently number increases each year on birthday of the brewer. Gold but really a darker ale than that. A powerful birthday brew from the CA brewer |
| Stonehenge - Danish Dynamite | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Titanic - Raspberry Pale | 4.70 | Not Tried |
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 |
| 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