Welcome to The Free House

EVENTS: Coming up.. this Saturday (July 31) pianist Jaap Visser, another Fritz and Maria beer talk (Aug 8), CARMEN SALVADORE (Only Nelson gig) (Aug 14th), Drinking Liberally (Aug 16), Irish music sessions every Wednesday etc...

See full details for all Free House events here

The Free House has accepted the EcoFest Eco-Challenge! For a month starting on July 16th we will stock ONLY LOCAL BEERS AND WINES.

Beers, wines and food available:

BRIGHT BEERS
For a month we will have ONLY LOCAL BEERS - currently (29th July) they are as in the blackboard above i.e. Townshend's Three Piece Wheat, Mussel Inn Whit Pig, Captain Cooker and Golden Goose Lager, Redwood Boysencider, Monkey Wizard Savvy Blonde (finished now) and Abel Ale, Lighthouse Classic Stout, Founders Redhead and Long Black..

.. followed later in the month by Monkey Wizard Black Mass Stout, Fat Kelpie, Brass Monkey Lager, Lighthouse Summer Breeze, Renaissance Discovery APA and Stonecutter and Totara Drover's Draught.

REAL ALES
(Cask-conditioned served on hand pumps): All Townshends: ESB, Cathcarts and IPA1

WINES & SPIRITS:
A selection of fine local wines from Blackenbrook, Greenhough, Neudorf, Richmond Plains, Te Mania, Tussock and Weka Hill. Plus MULLED WINE from Redwood Cellars. Plus a superb selection of premium Whisky, Vodka, Grappa etc.

NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS:
ON TAP: Mussel Inn Ginger Beer, Mussel Inn Lemonade, filtered water.
BOTTLED: Totara Terrace Grape Juice, Phoenix Organic Cola, Benger Juices (Apple, Apple and Boysenberry, Apple and Feijoa, Apple and Raspberry, Apricot, Nectarine), soda water, tonic water, lime juice etc.
IN CARTONS: Charlie’s Pressed Apple Juice, Charlie’s Squeezed Orange Juice.

FOOD:
Pasta dishes and pizzas from ROME in Hardy Street (5-9pm only), L’Artisan pasties, Ka Pies, Ploughmans, bowl of dolmades + artichokes + olives, bowl of mixed olives, pickled eggs, Proper crisps, peanuts. OR Bring your own takeaways into the pub and we will usually provide plates, napkins and cutlery. (Sorry no McDonalds, Burger King or similar fast food outlets)

here we are - see you soon!

Coming soon... new opening hours on Sunday - probably 3-10pm-ish instead of Noon to 7pm - much better.. and we now have free Wi-Fi too. Sign up for Free House, Dead Good Beer Events and MarchFest news updates here.

Win a $50 beer tab - listen to Rural Delivery on Fresh FM Thursdays, 8 to 10pm, sponsored by The Free House.



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 goal is to 'set the beers free' - meaning we aim to offer you 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.

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:

Our address is:
95 Collingwood Street, Nelson (Opposite The Indian Cafe) or PO Box 1975 Nelson.

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thurs: 4pm to 10-ish, Fri: 4pm to 11-ish, Sat: Midday to 11-ish, Sun: Midday to 6-ish

Our tel nos are:
03 548 9391 (opening hours), 03 548 3887 (office hours)

back to top