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New Pub with Poohbear1863
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Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Thursday, 3rd September 2026
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Detail Pages
The Nelson Arms, Tonbridge
Tonbridge
TN9 1UP
Served areas
Reviews of The Nelson Arms (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
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 4910 recommendations about 4493 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 2409 recommendations about 2372 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 1985 recommendations about 1944 pubs]
View more reviews of The Nelson Arms (5)
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- Official site of The Nelson Arms - thenelsonarms.com
- Facebook page of The Nelson Arms - www.facebook.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Nelson Arms - whatpub.com
Hildenborough, 2.81 miles, 54 min walk (show)
Leigh (Kent), 3.08 miles, 59 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 01 January 2024 by paulof horsham
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 12 March 2026 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 12 March 2026 by Tris C
- Car Park : Yes last updated 01 January 2024 by paulof horsham
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 14 June 2015 by hondo .
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 01 January 2024 by paulof horsham
- Live Music : Yes last updated 01 January 2024 by paulof horsham
- Micropub : No last updated 01 January 2024 by paulof horsham
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 23 April 2012 by hondo .
- Quiz Night : Yes - Sundays, 19.00. - last updated 12 March 2026 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 23 April 2012 by hondo .
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 12 March 2026 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes - Code in a board opposite the bar counter - last updated 03 September 2026 by Will Larter
