PubsandBeer
History: Home > Nelson Arms
Nelson Arms (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Mad Cat - Unsinkable Sam |  | 1 |
| Kent - Motueka Single Hopped Pale |  | 1 |
| Left Handed Giant - Golden Mild | | 1 |
| Kent - Twelfth Night | | 1 |
| Langham - LSD (Langham Special Draught) | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Level Best | | 2 |
| Duration - Citra & Cascade Golden Ale | | 1 |
| Oakham - Kingdom Stout | | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 2 |
| Kent - Black Forest - Stout | | 1 |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Brewed at Hackney Wick) - Knock the Corners | | 1 |
| Green Jack - Baltic Trader | | 1 |
| Church End - Fallen Angel | | 1 |
| Good Chemistry - Into Darkness | | 1 |
| Howling Hops (Brewed at Hackney Wick) - Saddle Up - Extra Special Bitter (Collaboration with Five Points) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | | 1 |
| Pig & Porter - Skylarking | | 1 |
| Black Iris - Nail In The Coffin | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 1 |
| Mad Cat - 9th Life Noir | | 1 |
| Cairngorm - Wildcat | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | | 1 |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Porter | | 1 |
| Electric Bear - Bob's Your Uncle |  | 1 |
| Moor - Bitter | | 1 |
| Kent - Rakau | | 1 |
| Rother Valley - Coast Sting IPA | | 1 |
| Vibrant Forest - Black Forest | | 1 |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | | 1 |
| Drop Project - Choppy | | 1 |
| Verdant - Penpol | | 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 |
| Grey Trees - Nectarbomb Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Ninth Life (a.k.a. 9th Life) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anspach & Hobday - Hop Pickers' Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Haffenden Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lakedown - Extra Special | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brass Castle - Morph - Brit Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Krush | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Crispin Amber | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Celebration Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Olympia | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Pamplemousse | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - 1984 Sweet Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Loral | Not Tried | 0 |
| Woodshedding - The Jump | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Small Pale Ale Chinook | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stonehenge - Sign of Spring | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Hopping Special | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Golden IPA (previously Meaney's Golden India Pale Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - East India Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Gun - Chummy Bluster | Not Tried | 0 |
| 4T's - SPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Whispering Grass | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Valley Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| New Bristol - Small Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Good Chemistry - Bob's Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Arbor Ales - Yakima Valley | Not Tried | 0 |
| East London (ELB) - Foundation Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Burton Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tempest - The Pale Armadillo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Woodshedding - By Furrow | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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 |
17 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy for our mid-evening visit for our party of three real ale enthusiasts. The FA Cup Final had brought the punters in by all accounts earlier as in late afternoon and now there was the Eurovision Song Contest on the tv. Just 7 real ales on compared to the usual 9 but still very impressive for this multi-awarding winning real ale house. No tv on now and so just friendly and attentive service from the barmaid and barman. Their home-made steak and ale pie, complete with mash and veg, was duly ordered and to be washed down with a flight of 3 x 1/3rd measures. But first a half to cool down with after the walk back to Paddock Wood from Brenchley and the train, just one stop and taking just 9 minutes, to Tonbridge Station and another similar number of minutes' walk to The Nelson Arms.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | In tip-top condition was this Ramsgate bitter with very good head and lacing and lasting the course. A bitter malty first hit. A slightly sweet malty mouthfeel aided by its red berry-flavourings but with a pleasant dry bitterness shining right the way through into the aftertaste. |
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | | Superb head and lacing and lasted to the end on this Lewes' brewery's porter. A bitter dryness aided by the hop grist, referring to ground or crushed hop, of Fuggles and Goldings, and a hint of liquorice on the first hit. A pleasant maltiness rising up and a combination of roasted pale, crystal and black malts pervading into its moreishly bitter aftertaste. The name, porter, is believed to be derived from its popularity with 18th century street and river porters and this ale follows Henry Harvey’s recipe of 1859. Very moreish indeed! |
| Langham - LSD (Langham Special Draught) | 5.20 | | Came with a superbly good head and lacing and lasted throughout on this auburn ale from Petworth, some 13 miles south-west of Godalming. A lovely bitter first hit with a touch of caramel sweetness. Could almost have been a good whisky with pleasantly oily and spicy hop-infused and sweet malty flavourings hitting the taste buds. A moreishly sweet maltiness continued to rise up and last well into the dry aftertaste. |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | | Presented with good head and lacing and lasting. A very dry bitter first hit on this Birling-based brewery's mild from north of West Malling in Kent. The bitterness continued to persist into the mouthfeel with a pleasantly moreish dryness lingering. |
| Surrey Hills - Collusion | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Haffenden Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brass Castle - Morph - Brit Hop | 5.00 | Not Tried |
26 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Heaven on Earth for my early evening visit as a range of 9 real ales on and just 33 minutes from London Bridge with one stop at Sevenoaks and 5 minutes trot from the station. The three real ales I tried were all in tip-top condition and very tasty. The helpful barmaid carried my paddle to a nearby table whilst I ferried the menu and navigated one small dog and a rucksack to that spot. The place was ticking over with many others dining but some also just sampling the fine range of real ales on offer. Not surprising to note that it was CAMRA Kent Regional Pub of the Year 2023 and 2024 and now also in 2025. It was also put forward as one of the last 4 in the CAMRA National 2023 Pub of the Year competition.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rother Valley - Level Best | 4.00 | | This East Sussex bitter from the Northiam-based brewing company, north-west of Rye, and set up in 1993, came with very good head and lacing and lasted throughout. This fine ale had a dry bitter first hit on my palate. A moreishly dry hoppy mouthfeel rose up from those British Phoenix hops and said to be high in oil content. I was left with a dry and slightly citrusy aftertaste. Could easily have done more but another two ales already with me now and to accompany my steak and ale pie, mash, vegetables and gravy. |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | Head and lacing was plentiful and lasted right to the end on this Sussex Old Ale from Lewes. A bitter and roasted malty first hit combined. A dry bitterness rising up along with a burnt-sugar sweetness from dried fruit and the odd date. A very moreishly malty aftertaste. The prospect of another was very tempting! |
| Howling Hops (Brewed at Hackney Wick) - Saddle Up - Extra Special Bitter (Collaboration with Five Points) | 4.80 | | This English bitter from Howling Hops in Hackney Wick came with superb head and lacing and lasted the whole course. Made with American hops, it hit you with its sweetness. A maltiness then presented itself with a spicy fruitiness lingering. |
| Arbor Ales - Yakima Valley | 7.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Burton Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Woodshedding - By Furrow | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Grey Trees - Nectarbomb Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
01 Apr 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Good crowd in on the Victory Sports Bar side for TV football.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Jack - Baltic Trader | 10.50 | | A sipping nightcap |
| Kent - Motueka Single Hopped Pale | 4.50 | | Clean on palate and mellow bittering. First rate |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | | One of the first if not the first out of a new cask. Slight haze, fresh and tasted of a sourer hop that I am used to |
| Drop Project - Choppy | 4.80 | | Lost head and lacing rather too quickly |
| Stonehenge - Sign of Spring | 4.60 | Not Tried | The green 'un |
| Mad Cat - Golden IPA (previously Meaney's Golden India Pale Ale) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Gun - Chummy Bluster | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Whispering Grass | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - Small Porter | 3.00 | Not Tried |
11 Feb 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairngorm - Wildcat | 5.10 | | As smooth as silk on the palate |
| Kent - Twelfth Night | 7.40 | | Barley wine with no harsh notes whatsoever |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | New cask just on. Just a tad fresh |
| Mad Cat - Crispin Amber | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Tripod IPA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - 1984 Sweet Stout | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kernel (The Kernel) - Small Pale Ale Chinook | 4.20 | Not Tried |
About the Nelson Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 5 |
| 113 |
| 38 |
| 4 |
 | - |
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 44 times, seen 242 different beers and tried 123 of them.
Postcode: TN9 1UP