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Nelson Arms (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam |  | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip |  | 1 |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Heritage Range 18th Century Porter | | 1 |
| Good Chemistry - Rolling Thunder | | 1 |
| Kent - Black Forest - Stout | | 1 |
| Left Handed Giant - Golden Mild | | 1 |
| Newbarns - 60/- Darklight | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Copper Ale | | 1 |
| Duration - Citra & Cascade Golden Ale | | 1 |
| East London (ELB) - W.P.B. Walthamstow Beer - Green Hopped Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | | 1 |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - India Double Porter Columbus Chinook | | 1 |
| Good Chemistry - Into Darkness | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Masham Ale | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Brewed at Hackney Wick) - Knock the Corners | | 1 |
| Cairngorm - Santa's Sledgehammer | | 1 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | | 1 |
| Black Iris - Nail In The Coffin | | 1 |
| Church End - Fallen Angel | | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 1 |
| Old Cannon - Gunner's Daughter | | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | | 1 |
| Triple fff - Moondance | | 1 |
| Kent - Nutcracker | | 1 |
| Mad Cat - 9th Life Noir | | 1 |
| Verdant - Penpol |  | 1 |
| Electric Bear - Bob's Your Uncle | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Level Best | | 1 |
| Moor - Bitter | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Coast Sting IPA | | 1 |
| Kent - Rakau | | 1 |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Victorian Mild | | 1 |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | | 1 |
| Langham - Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | | 2 |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Complex | | 1 |
| McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Bridgefield ESB |  | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Brewed at Hackney Wick) - Stand and Deliver Dark Mild | | 1 |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | Not Tried | 0 |
| Langham - Hip-Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tempest - The Pale Armadillo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Gun - Zamzama IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| Castle Rock - Black Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Ninth Life (a.k.a. 9th Life) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Verdant - New November | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Attic - Marry & Bright Red IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Olympia | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lakedown - Extra Special | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Loral | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Krush | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Golden IPA (previously Meaney's Golden India Pale Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Celebration Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Langham - Arapaho | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Hopping Special | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - East India Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Woodshedding - The Jump | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Harlequin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tempest - Vermont Sessions | Not Tried | 0 |
| 4T's - SPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Green & Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Valley Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lost and Grounded - Autumn Protagonist | Not Tried | 0 |
| Good Chemistry - Bob's Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Zeitgeist | Not Tried | 0 |
| East London (ELB) - Foundation Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Chelmsford (also branded as Blueshack) - Superdelic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
03 Feb 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. How many places can you visit and just expect every ale to be in excellent condition like here?
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triple fff - Moondance | 4.20 | | Good basic bitter - quite different hopping taste to the Gilt Trip preceding it |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Trip | 4.60 | | Spot on - uses sour hopping |
| Newbarns - 60/- Darklight | 3.40 | | 3.4% dark mild with superb head and lacing |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - India Double Porter Columbus Chinook | 7.80 | | Delightfully smooth, no harshness of taste. Ideal nightcapper |
| Mad Cat - Ninth Life (a.k.a. 9th Life) | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tempest - Vermont Sessions | 4.40 | Not Tried |
03 Jan 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
6th and final visit of the outing: Almost mid-evening now and not as busy around the bar when we arrived as I often see it. What a contrast with the Shep House with 10 cask no less now on in this award-winning CAMRA-rated backstreet drinking hole. They do thirds which aids sampling almost a third of their range. They also do homemade steak and ale pie though the crusty pastry should be treated with caution as a bit like a pork scratching and so not readily crunched. Sucking the pastry crust aids it all suitably going down and ably assisted by some fine real ales. A table became available on our arrival and so all was well!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rother Valley - Copper Ale | 4.10 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Very good head and lacing and lasting on this bitter brewed north-west of Rye in Sussex. A hoppy bitterness in its first bite. A dry hoppy bitterness rising aided by its floral Goldings hops. A malty note or two joining in with notes of caramel. A moreish hoppiness slithering downwards. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Masham Ale | 6.50 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Very good head and lacing and lasting on this strong ale from Bakewell, south-west of Sheffield, and a collaboration with Theakston Brewery, north of Harrogate. A dry moreish bitterness in its first hit. A pleasant hoppiness rising care of its Fuggles hops. A fruited bitterness winning over with a maltiness emerging. Fermented on Theakston's Burton Union set*, resulting in a deep amber, rich, malty beer. A dark fruitedness bobbiing along with hints of caramel. A delectable hoppiness saddling out. *A traditional and historic system of interconnected wooden casks used for fermenting beer, originating in Burton-on-Trent in the 1830s. |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Victorian Mild | 5.90 | | 1st beer of this visit: One to lose its head and so downed this Bermondsey mild first. A dark fruited first bite. A sherry-like flavouring rising with lots dark fruitiness in on the act and hints of caramel and dark chocolate in among its spiciness. Maris Otter, Vienna, Crystal and Chocolate malts all playing their wonderful act. A dry moreish bitterness sliding downwards having been hopped with fruity hops like Cascade and El Dorado, lending it for me hints of damson. The Kernel Brewery celebrated its 16 years of operation in September 2025. |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Golden IPA (previously Meaney's Golden India Pale Ale) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Langham - Arapaho | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - 9th Life Noir | 5.70 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Harlequin | 4.50 | Not Tried |
23 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Christmas packed with many comings and goings too.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairngorm - Santa's Sledgehammer | 5.60 | | Smooth and powerful. The nightcap |
| Kent - Nutcracker | 4.20 | | 4½* Best of what was a superb selection of ales here tonight. Up there |
| Iron Pier - Heritage Range 18th Century Porter | 5.10 | | Smooth, no harsh notes, easily downed |
| Langham - Best Bitter | 4.50 | | New cask on - second one out. Fresh but well condtioned from the start |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | Soon lost head and lacing in glass |
| Surrey Hills - Shere Drop | 4.20 | Not Tried | Ran out as I ordered |
| Langham - Hip-Hop | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Gun - Zamzama IPA | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Black Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Verdant - New November | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Attic - Marry & Bright Red IPA | 5.40 | Not Tried |
28 Oct 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Good, nay superb, cask house.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Cannon - Gunner's Daughter | 5.50 | | 4½* In superb condition - smooth, powerful and full on flavour |
| Good Chemistry - Rolling Thunder | 4.00 | | An exceptional stronger dark mild |
| East London (ELB) - W.P.B. Walthamstow Beer - Green Hopped Pale Ale | 4.10 | | Tasty and quite sharp tasting green hopper |
| Surrey Hills - Gilt Complex | 4.60 | | Good but did not hold a lively head or lacing |
| Kent - Porter | 5.50 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Mad Cat - Green & Gold | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Lost and Grounded - Autumn Protagonist | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Zeitgeist | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Chelmsford (also branded as Blueshack) - Superdelic | 4.50 | Not Tried |
19 Sep 2025 (Magnus Greel)
This month's venue for our Friday Evening Group, I arrived around 12.30 and met the others who'd been here since opening time. Already busy with other folk about and the lone barman coped well with keeping everyone's glasses full.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church End - Fallen Angel | 5.00 | | American hopped bitter ale with a lemony edge. |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | 4.00 | | Refreshing session IPA with hints of tropical fruit, mango, lychee and melon. |
| Left Handed Giant - Golden Mild | 3.40 | | Certainly golden for this complex flavoursome ale with notes of honey, barley and toffee apple. |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | 5.00 | | Smooth and full bodied with crisp fruit character. Notes of spice and cedar plus floral, herbal and grassy hints are regally crowned by a majestic, rounded bitterness. |
| Verdant - Penpol | 3.80 | | A moreish, hop bitter and aromatic single hop Citra cask pale ale. Don't know if it's meant to be hazy but didn't detract from the flavour. |
| Kent - Rakau | 4.50 | | Single Hop description on clip - meaningless to the casual drinker for this full bodied bitter piney fare. |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Woodshedding - The Jump | 4.10 | Not Tried |
30 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Very busy footfall for my evening pitstop here on the way back from Tunbridge Wells. Managed to share the only remaining table with one other already in situ and for my steak and ale pie duly ordered. A good selection of real ales as always with 8 on and two darks and a bitter ordered as thirds and placed on a paddle. Usual friendly prompt service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam | 5.20 | | Head and lacing, superb, and lasting, admirably. A pleasantly dry bitter first bite on this ale from just outside Faversham, Kent, in going south to Brogdale Farm. A hoppy-infused bitterness hiking upwards with a striking maple-infused syrupy sap-infusion. A dark fruitiness rising with its biscuity maltiness. A moreishly dry hoppiness sailing off ably assisted by its Pilgrim, East Kent Golding and First Gold hops. This micro-brewery, set up in 2012, first launched this strong bitter for export to the US to demonstrate what British beer is made of. It was named after a real life cat which survived the sinking of three Second World War ships: Bismarck, HMS Cossack and HMS Ark Royal. |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | 3.40 | | Very good head and lacing and lasting on this Bristol-based brew-pub's mild of a mahogany hue. A malty first bite. A dry bitterness rising up with a hint of smooth caramel-infused roasted maltiness winning over with English hedgerow berries pleasantly presenting themselves to my palate. A dry bitter note or two prevailing on its slide downwards with a hint of spiciness in on its mix. Very moreish! Their brewing first started in 2017 at their own outfit after beginning as a cuckoo brewery in 2014. Their first mild was brewed in early 2021 from a love of tradition at their brew-pub site on the grounds of the former Bristol brewery, Georges & Co, which then became the site of Courage. Georges & Co was founded in 1788 by Phillip George, the son of William George, a distiller. |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | 4.90 | | This thick London-style porter from Hardley, south of Southampton across Southampton Water, presented good head and lacing but sadly its head did not last. That was like my steak and ale pie which it ably washed downwards. A fruity maltiness in its first bite. Dark chocolate, espresso and roasted coffee notes tantalising my taste buds alongside toasted caramel-infusions. A dry bitterness and a fruity finish aiding its passage down my gullet. Vibrant Forest started in a tiny garage in 2011 and this porter is one of their oldest brews, created that year in starting life as a homebrew beer called "Dark Castle Porter" and inspired by old recipes for porters of 18th-century London. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tempest - The Pale Armadillo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Electric Bear - Bob's Your Uncle | 5.40 | Not Tried |
26 Aug 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Nearly swept the ale board "clean".
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Peak condition, rare for this ale to be served so full flavoured |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Prime condition |
| Mad Cat - 9th Life Noir | 5.70 | | Last out of the cask and could well be as good as the first out was. Best ale of the evening |
| Duration - Citra & Cascade Golden Ale | 4.40 | | Bordering on being a pure lemon juicer |
| Howling Hops (Brewed at Hackney Wick) - Knock the Corners | 4.80 | | Smooth well balanced hopping |
| Electric Bear - Bob's Your Uncle | 5.40 | | Apparently intended to have a slight haze |
| East London (ELB) - Foundation Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried |
16 Aug 2025 (Andrew)
Last pub in our tour. Walked around the backroads and then through a nice park to get here. Impressive pub on the inside Lots of snugs etc. Reminded me of the kind of pub you get in Norwich.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moor - Bitter | 3.40 | | Nice watery slightly tart bitter |
| Howling Hops (Brewed at Hackney Wick) - Stand and Deliver Dark Mild | 4.50 | | Dry, leather, plum skin, oak |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Ninth Life (a.k.a. 9th Life) | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Lakedown - Extra Special | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Krush | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Celebration Porter | 4.50 | Not Tried |
10 Jun 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | As it should be |
| Kent - Black Forest - Stout | 4.70 | | Tasty, good as a last one of a session |
| Rother Valley - Coast Sting IPA | 4.80 | | Good condition but a sourish hop I did not enjoy |
| McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Bridgefield ESB | 4.80 | | Rather unpleasant caramel tasting and smelling. Not sure it was meant to be brewed like this |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| 4T's - SPA | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Rother Valley - Valley Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Good Chemistry - Bob's Best | 4.50 | Not Tried |
24 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busier than the Saturday before and for my similarly timed mid-evening visit and from coming back one stop from Paddock Wood and its nearby Halfway House at Brenchley. I was met with the usual friendly, prompt service from the bar staff and it was my good fortune that their kitchen was still open and as I recall until about 8.30pm. A hearty steak and ale pie and mash with gravy and veg was ordered alongside a flight of three third measures so as to sample some of the nine real ales on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Chemistry - Into Darkness | 3.40 | | A pleasantly dry toasted malt-infused first hit on this Bristol-based dark mild. A hoppy fruitiness rising up in the mouthfeel aided by its subtle sweetness arising from its molasses and raisins. A bitter dryness pervading the aftertaste. Not tried a Good Chemistry brew before and they are now 10 years young in 2025. Look forward to trying them again. |
| Black Iris - Nail In The Coffin | 5.90 | | Never tried a Black Iris brew before and based in Nottingham and set up in 2011. A delight to try two new ones on this visit therefore. This extra special bitter came with very good head and lacing and lasting. A dry bitter first hit. A caramel-infused bitterness on the first hit. Chocolatey notes came to the fore along with a spiciness from its UK Progress hops. A pleasantly dry bitter fruity finish. |
| Rother Valley - Level Best | 4.00 | | Good head and lacing and lasting well on this Rye, in East Sussex, best bitter. A hoppy bitterness from its Phoenix hops on the first hit. A fruity bitterness rising up with just a hint of a citrus to my taste buds and a moreishly dry bitter aftertaste lingering. |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Olympia | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Loral | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Hopping Special | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - East India Pale Ale | 6.00 | Not Tried |
About the Nelson Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 5 |
| 125 |
| 41 |
| 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 48 times, seen 265 different beers and tried 136 of them.
Postcode: TN9 1UP