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Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House) (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Palmers - Copper Ale |  | 2 |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | | 3 |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Redwood Colorado American IPA | | 1 |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! |  | 1 |
| Sharp's - Sea Fury | | 1 |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | | 1 |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | | 1 |
| Wadworth - 6X | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Imperium | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Cascade IPA | | 1 |
| Otter - Bitter | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | | 1 |
| Larkins - Porter | | 1 |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | | 6 |
| Greene King - Abbot | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Bingle Jells |  | 1 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Buford Abbey | | 1 |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Junction | Not Tried | 0 |
| Long Man - Inn Keeper | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Tomahawk | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Wandle | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Moonstruck | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Inferno | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Tetley Original Cask | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies | Not Tried | 0 |
| Butcombe - Original | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Eagle Bombardier | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brother Rabbit | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorking - Black Noise | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Velvet Raven | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Acre - Amarillo Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Theakston - Old Peculier | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
01 Apr 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. The unrequited hope was for Tally Ho!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As good as expected |
| Wantsum - Imperium | 4.00 | | Basic bittering |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | 3.90 | | Good dark mild |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | New cask came on late on |
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Three Acre - Amarillo Pale Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | Ran out |
17 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Well packed and noisy with TV European football and St Patrick's Day united.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | | Better Abbot than I have had in several Wetherspoon's houses of late, albeit it at twice the price |
| Sharp's - Sea Fury | 5.00 | | Good condition although not a favourite beer of mine |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | 4.10 | | Basic bittering |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brother Rabbit | 4.00 | Not Tried |
04 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Redwood Colorado American IPA | 5.40 | | Excellent condition and very full-on flavour,. Best here tonight |
| Palmers - Copper Ale | 3.70 | | Holding very good head and lacing |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | Came across as mediocre |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Butcombe - Original | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Eagle Bombardier | 4.10 | Not Tried | Amazed to see this still being brewed |
04 Feb 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As expected top notch condition |
| Palmers - Copper Ale | 3.70 | | Delightful half |
| Mighty Oak - Cascade IPA | 6.20 | | Good condition 6.2% nightcapper |
| Dorking - Black Noise | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Tetley Original Cask | 3.40 | Not Tried | Handmade pumpclip at 3.4% and amazingly £6 a pop - no no |
23 Jan 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | In first rate nick. I delayed my departure to have a second one |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | | First pint out of a new cask just put on. A tad fresh but delicious |
| Otter - Bitter | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Wandle | 3.80 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Hop Back - Citra | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - Moonstruck | 5.50 | Not Tried |
15 Jan 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | As it should be, all best attributes came through |
| Palmers - Tally Ho! | 5.50 | | Edging towards excellent |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Junction | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Long Man - Inn Keeper | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Tomahawk | 4.20 | Not Tried |
03 Jan 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. All seats taken.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Porter | 5.20 | | Good but have had better |
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | Good condition, flavour always intriguing |
| Theakston - Old Peculier | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried |
15 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Close darts match on TV screens.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - 200 Premium Ale | 5.00 | | Top notch. Floral hopping came through |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | 4.60 | | First rate condition. Not my favourite Surrey Hills though as this uses a more sour tasting hop |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Dorking - Black Noise | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Velvet Raven | 5.20 | Not Tried |
05 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. The Holy Grail of Palmers Tally Ho! not on. Sighs.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | A lively pint |
| Mighty Oak - Bingle Jells | 5.20 | | Good on taste, flat in glass |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Buford Abbey | 5.00 | | Another one good on flavour, flat in glass |
| Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - British Bulldog | 4.10 | Not Tried |
25 Nov 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Well patronised as usual.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wadworth - 6X | 4.10 | | Good condition but I felt lacked the depth of flavour 6X has had |
| Otter - Bitter | 3.60 | | Basic job |
| Palmers - IPA (Best) | 4.20 | | In very good form |
| Oakham - Inferno | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies | 4.40 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Mighty Oak - Solstice | 4.10 | Not Tried | Came on at last knockings |
About the Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 5 |
| 280 |
| 165 |
| 23 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Addiscombe, Greater London, CR0 7AA.
Small low ceilinged pub close to Addiscombe Tram Stop in Bingham Corner, Lower Addiscombe Road. This pub is a regular outlet for Palmers beers. In November 2012 Palmers awarded the pub a certificate for having sold a total of 1,000,000 pints of Palmers Best Bitter (IPA) exceeding any other of its free trade outlets and in later years further greatly exceeded here and similarly certificated with 1,250,000th in 2019. 6 handpumps dispense the real ales and always at least 2 ciders served by a walk to the ground floor cellar, the latter of late not being real ones however. Beers in the cellar and due to come on are listed on a wallboard. Changed hands in 2016 with slight change of name from Claret Free House to Claret & Ale but little else has changed. 6 handpumps. Regular winner of the local CAMRA branch Borough Pub of the Year award. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2024.
We have visited this pub 220 times, seen 314 different beers and tried 104 of them.
Postcode: CR0 7AA