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Nelson Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Kent - No Kinda PlanExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Excellent1
Kent - Starry NightExcellent1
Ledbury Real Ales - Ledbury DarkExcellent1
Green Jack - Gone Fishing E.S.B.Excellent1
Harvey's - Bonfire BoyExcellent1
Brunswick - Father Mike's Dark Rich RubyExcellent1
Kernel (The Kernel) - Bitter Simmonds 1880 with GoldingsExcellent1
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APAExcellent2
Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best BitterExcellent1
Kent - MaiaExcellent1
Kent - Old JamaicaExcellent1
Cairngorm - WildcatExcellent1
Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (spent a while at 5.4%)Excellent1
Hammerton - City of CakeExcellent1
Kent - GalaxyExcellent1
Surrey Hills - Gilt TripExcellent2
Kent - Twelfth NightExcellent1
Mad Cat - Unsinkable SamExcellent2
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster StoutExcellent1
Cerne Abbas - Danny's BrewExcellent1
Three Acre - Extra Special BestExcellent1
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGBExcellent1
Kent - Old SkoolExcellent1
Harvey's - Southdown HarvestExcellent1
Rother Valley - 50 (CAMRA SE Sussex Branch 1974-2024)Excellent1
Pig & Porter - Jumping FrogGood1
Triple fff - Pressed Rat & WarthogGood1
Two by Two - Nelson IPAGood1
Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Maiden VoyageGood1
Kent - ProhibitionGood1
Cerne Abbas - Legless JesterGood1
Cerne Abbas - Community Green Hop 2024Good1
Black Lodge - Grimble GrumbleAcceptable1
Triple fff - Alton's PrideAcceptable1
Lakedown - Magic HourNot Tried0
Left Handed Giant - Dark MildNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3Not Tried0
New Bristol - Cinder Toffee StoutNot Tried0
Five Points - Citrus PaleNot Tried0
Liquid Light - Ramble OnNot Tried0
Kent - Wai-ItiNot Tried0
Green Jack - Ripper TripelNot Tried0
Good Chemistry - Chinook SmashNot Tried0
Rother Valley - BluesNot Tried0
Rother Valley - AllianceNot Tried0
Surrey Hills - Greensand IPANot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark PorterNot Tried0
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke PorterNot Tried0
Mad Cat - Crispin AmberNot Tried0
Black Country - Pig on the Wall MildNot Tried0
Moor - ResonanceNot Tried0
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPANot Tried0
Uttoxeter - UxonianNot Tried0
Triple fff - SundownNot Tried0
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - 1984 Sweet StoutNot Tried0
Fell - Light MildNot Tried0
Mad Cat - Green & GoldNot Tried0
Kernel (The Kernel) - Small Pale Ale ChinookNot Tried0
Iron Pier - BitterNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Whispering GrassNot Tried0
Three Acre - Pineapple DreamNot Tried0
Kent - Green Ernest Not Tried0
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Dangerous GroundsNot Tried0
Moor - BitterNot Tried0
Mad Cat - Big Stik!Not Tried0
Kent - The Quiet AmericanNot Tried0
Sambrook's - Night ShiftNot Tried0
Rother Valley - Valley BitterNot Tried0
Kent - Juice JunkieNot Tried0
Left Handed Giant - Mosaic PaleNot Tried0
Picture 1. Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent
Picture 2. Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent
Picture 3. Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Visits Details

11 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Cairngorm - Wildcat5.10ExcellentAs smooth as silk on the palate
Kent - Twelfth Night7.40ExcellentBarley wine with no harsh notes whatsoever
Kent - Prohibition4.80GoodNew cask just on. Just a tad fresh
Mad Cat - Crispin Amber4.00Not Tried
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPA5.20Not Tried
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - 1984 Sweet Stout5.50Not Tried
Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild3.40Not Tried
Kernel (The Kernel) - Small Pale Ale Chinook4.20Not Tried
18 Jan 2025 (Ian)
Quiet Saturday lunchtime. A few groups in. Good beer list as always.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog3.80GoodTypical dark mild in good nock
Cerne Abbas - Legless Jester4.70GoodGood golden bitter
Pig & Porter - Jumping Frog4.20GoodCitrus apa
Triple fff - Alton's Pride3.80AcceptableMiddling bitter
Black Lodge - Grimble Grumble4.60AcceptableCollab with Only With Love. Odd aroma but rest of beer is fine
Cairngorm - Wildcat5.10Not Tried
Green Jack - Ripper Tripel8.50Not Tried
Rother Valley - Blues5.00Not Tried
Surrey Hills - Greensand IPA4.60Not Tried
10 Dec 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Seemed all the Barden community was in here for a Christmas sing-a-long. All only became sane again by 10.15!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout6.20ExcellentTHE way to end a session with a spot-on nightcapper
Harvey's - Southdown Harvest5.00ExcellentOne of the best examples of this I have ever had
Kent - Starry Night4.20ExcellentMaybe I just picked up on the hint of cinnamon or maybe not!
Kernel (The Kernel) - Bitter Simmonds 1880 with Goldings5.90ExcellentOnly a half but The Kernel quality shone through
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 35.00Not Tried
New Bristol - Cinder Toffee Stout4.00Not Tried
Liquid Light - Ramble On3.90Not Tried
19 Nov 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. The early knockings of a Green Jack tap takeover this week.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Green Jack - Gone Fishing E.S.B.5.50ExcellentA proper ESB oooooooooomph
Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter4.60ExcellentFirst rate bitter. Pub is having a Green Jack tap takeover
Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip4.60ExcellentSurrey Hills is a very competent brewer with consistency as illustrated on this one
Hammerton - City of Cake5.50ExcellentPerfect nutritious nightcap
Kent - The Quiet American4.20Not Tried
Rother Valley - Valley Bitter3.80Not Tried
Left Handed Giant - Mosaic Pale4.40Not Tried
Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild3.40Not Tried
29 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. Serendipity brought Ray, former Guv at The Door Hinge, Welling, and his son James and myself to reminisce old times. I also learned how Uber can not always provide a cab - for them home.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Bonfire Boy5.80ExcellentExcellent condition
Kent - Old Jamaica5.10ExcellentFull bodied
Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip4.60ExcellentSpot on with usual Surrey Hills quality
Three Acre - Extra Special Best5.40ExcellentBest Three Acre ale I have had
Cerne Abbas - Community Green Hop 20244.00GoodGood condition on what seemed a quite amateur brew
Mad Cat - Green & Gold4.10Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Whispering Grass5.50Not Tried
Kent - Green Ernest 4.60Not Tried
Moor - Bitter3.40Not TriedDuty reducer ale
01 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Lightest footfall I have known despite European football on TV. Where everyone? Soon just one!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam5.20ExcellentPowerful nightcap
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB4.10ExcellentKGB at its very best
Kent - No Kinda Plan4.90ExcellentGlorious. Smooth, magnificent head and lacing. Great to compare with last night's first out of cask gravity pour elsewhere. Excellent in different ways
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 35.00Not Tried
Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog3.80Not Tried
Rother Valley - Alliance4.20Not Tried
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke Porter5.00Not Tried
Moor - Resonance4.10Not Tried
Triple fff - Sundown4.30Not Tried
17 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. Half the customers left out within 5 minutes of me entering!! Nightcap provided by a half of keg "A beer for Zelenskyy" at 9.2% from Gyle59.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40ExcellentQuite a creamy head
Brunswick - Father Mike's Dark Rich Ruby5.80ExcellentSuperbly balanced
Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (spent a while at 5.4%)5.00ExcellentIndeed a numbing strength and flavour
Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Maiden Voyage4.00GoodOverly toffee / caramel. Good condition but was the taste right?
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 35.00Not Tried
Five Points - Citrus Pale4.20Not Tried
Kent - Wai-Iti4.50Not Tried
Good Chemistry - Chinook Smash4.80Not Tried
13 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. By my arrival just one or three in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam5.20ExcellentStronger dark bitter, time prevented more than an extra half
Kent - Old Skool4.10ExcellentEverything was right
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA4.80ExcellentSuperbly balanced
Mad Cat - Big Stik!4.40Not Tried
Sambrook's - Night Shift3.50Not Tried
Kent - Juice Junkie5.00Not Tried
Lakedown - Magic Hour3.40Not Tried
02 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Almost everyone out their coats on as soon as the Euro TV football was over! Impressive 20 taps on back bar now for cider and keg beer and still some ciders in boxes too.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ledbury Real Ales - Ledbury Dark3.90ExcellentTop quality condition
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA4.80ExcellentA massive flavour hit
Two by Two - Nelson IPA6.20GoodA massive flavour punch (in a murky beer I would usually choose not to try!)
Iron Pier - Bitter4.00Not Tried
Three Acre - Pineapple Dream4.10Not Tried
Three Acre - Extra Special Best5.40Not Tried
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Dangerous Grounds5.80Not Tried
11 Jun 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. 4 locals at the bar made for an entertaining tableau. The proliferation of very sharply hopped bitters here tonight was most pleasing.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Maia5.00ExcellentContinued the theme here of very sharp hoppy brews tonight
Kent - Galaxy4.50ExcellentGreat hoppy bitterness
Cerne Abbas - Danny's Brew4.40ExcellentAnother sharply bitter brew
Rother Valley - 50 (CAMRA SE Sussex Branch 1974-2024)4.70ExcellentDark and sharply bitter
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter5.60Not TriedMust have just ran out as I walked up the road
Black Country - Pig on the Wall Mild4.30Not Tried
Uttoxeter - Uxonian4.90Not TriedThe taster as so very bland compared with the others here
Fell - Light Mild3.40Not Tried

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About the Nelson Arms

The pub sign. Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional4
Excellent90
Good29
Acceptable2
Poor-

Website.

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 10 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 35 times, seen 196 different beers and tried 99 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN9 1UP