Welcome to the The Free House..

Now updated.... Live music and other events Free at The Free House - see them here

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Nelson is at the heart of New Zealand’s hop growing region and is the epicentre of the Kiwi craft brewing industry. The Free House is Nelson’s first pub of its kind*. Our motto “set the beers free” means we offer patrons an endlessly changing menu of local and national craft beers. We are the only pub in Nelson serving cask-conditioned real ales.

Only hand pumps in town ~ religious paint job ~ the amazing Free House Sound System.

Beers, wines and food currently available:
BRIGHT BEERS
Wanaka Cardroina Gold Lager (4.8%), Croucher The Hef (5%), Renaissance Paradox Blonde (4%), Emerson's 1812 IPA (4.9%), Renaissance Elemental Porter* (6%), Twisted Hop IPA* (6.4%), Wigram Harvard Honey Ale* (6%), Invercargill Biman Lager (5.2%), Monkey Wizard Pomona Cider* (7%), Green Man Strong Ale* (6.5%).

REAL ALES *
(Cask-conditioned served on hand pumps): Townshend's Cathcarts NTA (4.2%), Townshend's Old House ESB (5.3%), Townshen's Dinner Ale (4%).

* PLEASE NOTE real ales and bright beers 6% abv and over are priced the same as real ales.

WINES & SPIRITS:
A selection of fine local wines from Blackenbrook, Brightwater, Kahurangi, Stafford Lane, Siefried, Fossil Ridge, Richmond Plains, Te Mania, Tussock and Sunset Valley. Plus a superb selection of premium Whiskey, Vodka, Grappa etc.

JUICES, FOOD ETC:
We usually have Mussel Inn Lemming Aid and Mussel Inn Ginger Beer on tap plus bottled Phoenix Organic Cola and a selection of Benger juices. We also serve tasty gourmet snacks such as Dolmades and Olives, Ka Pies, L'Artisan Cornish Pasties, Traditional Ploughmans, Proper Crisps and more. Or bring your own food from The Indian Café over the road, Mumbai Mexico in Bridge St or anywhere else you like!

It's comfy.. and colourful..

here we are - see you soon!

Nelson’s first free house pub is the brainchild of Dead Good Beer Events, the creators of the ‘Nelson Beer Fêtes’ held quarterly at Founders Heritage Park and the annual MarchFest hops and music festival.

* What is a ‘free house’ ?
WIKIPEDIA: “Unlike a tied-house, a free house is a pub that is owned independently of the brewery (or breweries) that supply it. As a result, a free house can stock whichever beers it chooses from whichever breweries it chooses. Free houses are rare, the majority of pubs are tied-houses.”

The Free House was inspired by ...

Beery links we like: