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The Nelson Arms, Tonbridge
Tonbridge
TN9 1UP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Nelson Arms
Solid-looking backstreet local, and not the sort of place you'll find by chance. Having been sold by Shepherd Neame, it was reopened in 2018 and now has a new lease of life as an Camra award-winning alehouse. The original saloon and public bars had previously been opened out to give quite a large 'L'-shaped layout, but this has been refurbished again. The furniture in the counter area and back room (also used for live music and featuring a very large sports TV screen) is still fairly simple (but tidy). You can also find Nelson's Saloon (intended for adults only) and the comfortable Trafalgar Snug on either side of the front entrance. On this visit, I found eight of ten handpumps in use, each offering a beer in a different style (priced between £5.40 and £5.60), and similarly from many of the twenty craft keg taps on the bar-back. Had Left Handed Giant x Tileys Hunters Moon, Styrian Wolf from Cerne Abbas and Walthamstow's green hopped Harvest Porter. Many boxed ciders and perries also available. Well worth a detour.
On 23rd October 2026
- rating: 9
[User has posted 9258 recommendations about 9258 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Nelson Arms
Sorry to have to disappoint Mr Duck, but those two extra hand pumps, ceramic with hunting scenes depicted, are purely ornamental. That's the only disappointment generated by my first visit to this iconic pub. There are eight beers on the 10 hand pumps, all but two of them selling at £3.50 per pint between 3 and 5pm. I went for Kent Brewery Five Hop, a 4.5% pale celebrating the five most popular hops in their single hop series, an Excellent beer indeed. And an excellent pub, just a shame that it's a long way from home.
On 3rd September 2026
- rating: 10
[User has posted 4937 recommendations about 4518 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about The Nelson Arms
A quite superb backstreet pub, reasonably near to the train station but good enough to easily make you miss your train. Traditionally laid out and once again recently and ably described by Mr Walton below. I thought I counted twelve handpumps, as opposed to a reported 10 in previous reviews, with a couple of separate handles around the corner away from the main set, however either way there was plenty of cask beer available that I didn't list with just two unclipped sticks but settled for a very good pint of Kent Brewers Reserve.
Along With The Fuggles Beer Cafe This is the other not to miss pub when in Tonbridge.
On 1st March 2026
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2410 recommendations about 2373 pubs]
David Walton left this review about The Nelson Arms
Visited 09/02/26
9 of 10 hand pumps operational and providing the BS3T Bitter from On Point Brew Co (replacing the Shere Drop bitter from Surrey Hills on the board), the Dark Munro single hop mild from the Swannay Brewery, the Centro session IPA from Attic Brew Co, Two for Joy pale ale from Electric Bear Brewing, For Fats Sake from Rother Valley Brew Co, the Kaleidoscope IPA and the Unsinkable Sam bitter both from Mad Cat, the Brewers Reserve IPA from Kent Brewery and the India Double Porter Columbus Chinook from the Kernel. The keg range was very impressive also and on my visit comprised the Schlurrrp fruited Sour from the Electric Bear Brewery, the Vermont Sessions hazy IPA from Tempest, the Skylarking session IPA from Pig & Porter, the Putty (2026) IPA from Verdant, the Pure APA from Drop Project, the Saisson Farmhouse Ale from Langham, the Laminar Flow porter from Gravity Well, the Dunkel lager from Kernel, the Lothian lager from Newbarns, the Bavo Pils and the Campus Premium pilsner both from Delirium. Non-AF options were the Junior pale ale from Howling Hops and the Tomorrow lager from Wiper & True. I counted around 16 ciders on tap so literally something for everyone unless you are into routine lagers or ciders! There is an excellent beer range by the bottle and can also, including a number from our German and Belgian friends.
This is an utterly superb beer venue. Corner plot, 10 min walk from Tonbridge station. Inside bare boarded with bar counter a three-sided affair just inside the entrance, the longer side opposite the entrance. To the left of the entrance are some tall tables with tall, backed stools and a dartboard in the front left-hand corner, interestingly with a large mirror to its immediate right - wonder if Luke L would be as good if he was looking at himself on the oche? There are tall tables as an extension of a drinking ledge opposite the longer part of the bar counter with some tall stools. There is a booth table in the front right-hand corner with some lovely, glazed tiles on the wall to its right. The right-hand side is carpeted and there are some nice seating options in the rear right-hand corner with wing back armchairs and small church style benches. This is a gem. Not huge but packs a gigantic beer punch. If the GBG was restricted to a single sheet of A4, this wouldn't even be a debate as to its inclusion in my honest opinion.
On 19th February 2026
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2073 recommendations about 2026 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Nelson Arms
The Nelson Arms is an L shaped local’s backstreet boozer that was playing some loud dance music during my visit on Friday evening. Only a handful of customers were in attendance and like their playful dog they all seemed harmless enough. To the right of the entrance is some sofa seating and some conventional pub furniture stretches around the exterior walls in the bar area. At the rear is a pool table and I spotted a plasma screen that was off, but live sport is advertised. Being a Shepherd Neame pub there was a small selection of standard draught alongside Oranjeboom. Shep’s Master Brew and Porter were the cask options. My chair and table were sticky suggesting that at some point beer had been spilled over them both.
I’m sure that the locals love this place, but I see no reason for me to travel to this pub again.
On 14th June 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6829 recommendations about 6790 pubs]