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Nelson Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Rother Valley - AnthemExcellent1
Mad Cat - Unsinkable SamExcellent2
Three Acre - Extra Special BestExcellent1
Kent - GalaxyExcellent1
Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGBExcellent1
Surrey Hills - CollusionExcellent1
Kent - Old SkoolExcellent1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBExcellent1
Cerne Abbas - Danny's BrewExcellent1
Larkins - PorterExcellent1
Kent - No Kinda PlanExcellent1
Lakedown - HarmoniumExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Excellent1
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)Excellent1
Rother Valley - 50 (CAMRA SE Sussex Branch 1974-2024)Excellent1
Harvey's - Bonfire BoyExcellent1
Brunswick - Father Mike's Dark Rich RubyExcellent1
Kent - Beyond the PaleExcellent1
Ledbury Real Ales - Ledbury DarkExcellent1
Kent - Old JamaicaExcellent1
Kent - MaiaExcellent2
Triple fff - Comfortably Numb (spent a while at 5.4%)Excellent1
Durham - Chocka Mocha Milk StoutExcellent1
Surrey Hills - Gilt TripExcellent1
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APAExcellent3
Kent - VistaGood1
Cerne Abbas - Community Green Hop 2024Good1
Bradfield - Farmers Cherry BeerGood1
Rother Valley - Hoppers AleGood1
Kent - Born To Be MildGood1
Two by Two - Nelson IPAGood1
New Bristol - Bristol BitterGood1
Hop Union (formerly Great Western (GWB)) - Maiden VoyageGood1
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - RevivalNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3Not Tried0
Titanic - First ClassNot Tried0
Five Points - Citrus PaleNot Tried0
Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale AleNot Tried0
Kent - Wai-ItiNot Tried0
Sambrook's - Night ShiftNot Tried0
Good Chemistry - Chinook SmashNot Tried0
Anarchy - Citra StarNot Tried0
Brighton Bier - MildredNot Tried0
Triple fff - Pressed Rat & WarthogNot Tried0
Good Chemistry - Storms PassNot Tried0
Brew York - Empire ESBNot Tried0
Rother Valley - AllianceNot Tried0
Lakedown - Spring AleNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark PorterNot Tried0
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Devils Dyke PorterNot Tried0
Hop Shed (formerly Unity Brew House) - Pecking OrderNot Tried0
Black Country - Pig on the Wall MildNot Tried0
Moor - ResonanceNot Tried0
Turning Point - Lucid DreamNot Tried0
Uttoxeter - UxonianNot Tried0
Triple fff - SundownNot Tried0
Siren Craft - MementoNot Tried0
Fell - Light MildNot Tried0
Mad Cat - Green & GoldNot Tried0
Marble - MildNot Tried0
Iron Pier - BitterNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Whispering GrassNot Tried0
Kent - Green Ernest Not Tried0
Verdant - Future YouNot Tried0
Three Acre - Pineapple DreamNot Tried0
Moor - BitterNot Tried0
East London (ELB) - NightwatchmanNot Tried0
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Dangerous GroundsNot Tried0
Brew York - TonkokoNot Tried0
Mad Cat - Big Stik!Not Tried0
Kent - The Quiet AmericanNot Tried0
Kent - Juice JunkieNot Tried0
Siren Craft - Soundwave IPANot Tried0
Lakedown - Magic HourNot Tried0
Picture 1. Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent
Picture 2. Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent
Picture 3. Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Visits Details

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
21 May 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Couple of milds on in readiness for this forthcoming weekend's mild festival here including Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Porter5.20ExcellentFirst rate, keeping superb head and lacing until the end
Kent - Maia5.00ExcellentMost drinkable 5%er
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Evening Star Revival APA4.80ExcellentSuperb with a tongue rasping dry bitterness. Not quite sure if this is revival of a Dark Star beer per se. Moreish
Bradfield - Farmers Cherry Beer4.20GoodGood but needed more cherry flavouring
Titanic - First Class3.80Not Tried
Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale4.20Not Tried
Sambrook's - Night Shift3.50Not Tried
Brighton Bier - Mildred3.70Not Tried
Brew York - Empire ESB5.40Not Tried
19 Apr 2024 (Ian)
Friday lunchtime. Everyone saying what a great pub this is. Relaxed welcoming lovely. Great beer and Cider selection
BeerABVScoreNotes
Rother Valley - Hoppers Ale4.40GoodProper English hopped bitter
Kent - Born To Be Mild3.50GoodGood malts
New Bristol - Bristol Bitter4.00GoodCharacterful English bitter
Kent - Vista4.50GoodNew single hopped beer cracking condition
East London (ELB) - Nightwatchman4.50Not Tried
Brew York - Tonkoko4.30Not Tried
Kent - The Quiet American4.20Not Tried
Siren Craft - Soundwave IPA5.60Not Tried
Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Revival4.80Not Tried
09 Apr 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Rother Valley - Anthem4.30Excellent4½* Exceptional condition with superbly balanced six hopping
Surrey Hills - Collusion5.20Excellent4½* This ale is addictive enough without being in this condition!
Lakedown - Harmonium5.70ExcellentA powerful taste in top notch form
Turning Point - Lucid Dream5.30Not Tried
Siren Craft - Memento3.80Not Tried
Marble - Mild4.10Not Tried
Verdant - Future You4.50Not Tried
03 Apr 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit until close. Never not worth the effort of the journey here. Harvey's Easter Ale waiting in the wings to be put on tomorrow.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50ExcellentJust proves how good ESB can be
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentSuperbly balanced with lasting head and lacing
Kent - Beyond the Pale5.40Excellent4½* Exceptional with an addictive bitterness making two mandatory
Durham - Chocka Mocha Milk Stout5.50ExcellentA smooth stout to round the evening off
Anarchy - Citra Star4.10Not TriedCame on late on
Good Chemistry - Storms Pass4.30Not Tried
Lakedown - Spring Ale3.80Not Tried
Hop Shed (formerly Unity Brew House) - Pecking Order3.60Not Tried

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About the Nelson Arms

The pub sign. Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional4
Excellent80
Good25
Acceptable-
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 and 2024. 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 31 times, seen 174 different beers and tried 85 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN9 1UP