The Bell House

Rustic. Don't expect modern. But this place has character and is a fun venue. Came here for a comedy show and it was a great small, intimate setting. Lots of personality in this old girl. Expect typical high city prices for drinks though.

This was one hell of a way to spend an Easter. More appropriate way to spend a 4/20 though. I had been a fan of kaiju big battle during my high school years and forgot about it. Until a random email from stub hub jogged an old memory of foam on foam wrestling. The bell house itself was very well suited for the venue. They have a bar area out in the front when you enter. Then a decent sized event space in the back for the show. It was pretty much only standing room but easy to maneuver for a good view and far from cramped. This was theater of the absurd at its finest. The edibles hit right when they needed to and honestly couldn't imagine a more entertaining night.

Saw a comedy show here. Great venue. Good ventilation and layout. They could have had a few more seats for a comedy show. Standing room to watch comedy was a bit brutal, especially considering the ticket prices.

Love this venue for comedy shows, I haven’t been here for live music but I can imagine it’s great for that too. The drinks are good and they have a large draft selection. For the not-so-good things: the food is frozen and overpriced, I would def recommend eating before coming. Depending on the show, it can be intense trying to get seats (people crowd by the doors and push their way in). Love the quality of the shows I’ve seen here and the variety of people they book!

A Brooklyn Gem – The Bell House is Always a Great Time! The Bell House is one of Brooklyn’s true hidden gems when it comes to live music, comedy, and private events. The space has a cool, vintage-industrial vibe with high ceilings, exposed brick, and an atmosphere that perfectly blends relaxed and electric. Whether you’re catching a live band, laughing through a comedy set, or attending a private celebration, the venue delivers every time. The acoustics are excellent, the lighting is on point, and the bar is well-stocked with a solid selection of drinks. The staff is friendly, the events are well-organized, and there’s always something interesting on the calendar. It’s also a fantastic spot for private events—stylish, spacious, and unique. The layout is versatile, and the team is great to work with. If you’re looking for a memorable night out or a distinctive place to host your next event, The Bell House should be at the top of your list. Always a great vibe, always a good time.

Awesome venue. Simple, efficient layout. Spacious w/o feeling cavernous. Ample bar service, so no long lines. Friendly staff. Cool event space. Only drawback is if you're there for a comedy show the folding seats are not comfy + don't sit in the first 3-4 rows, otherwise your neck might get sore from looking up at the stage.

Can get cramped, but good for a small show. Staff can be very friendly and helpful. Get the early, about 15 minutes, to get thru security check and grab drinks at the bar.

Really nice staff, very cool looking venue. That's about where the positives end. I can only recommend going here if you're attending a standing room only event, like a band. However, Bell House constantly books events like comedy shows and "The Moth", where 50% of the audience gets to sit, and the other 50% stands- except all the tickets are GA. Because the shows are GA, you're forced to get there an hour early so you have a shot of grabbing a seat, and once they open the doors, it's a mad house. Either sell less tickets, or sell tiered tickets with a more expansive ticket guaranteeing a seat, and a cheaper ticket for standing. No one wants to stand for a 60-90 minute comedy show. Drink prices are absollutely outrageous. $8.50 for seltzer water from the soda gun? Not cool.

really cool venue, had a fun time the drinks and snacks were great. We especially liked the security guard Phillip who was extremely friendly, generous, caring, and most of all funny. He truly made it an extra great night on top of the great show!

As far as entertainment venues go, The Bell House is decidedly average. The location is what it is, I won't hold that against them. But the main room, while a beautiful space, lends itself to an awkward setup for shows. Roughly half the audience ends up standing in the back. In fact, there's such limited seating among the folding chairs that you should likely plan to stand, which is such a shame. Jockeying for a view of the stage shouldn't be part of the experience here. The logistics are awkward at best, with a strange process at the entrance and a weird flow from the bar to the main room. To top it off, despite not being a major venue, they charge almost $20 for a beer. Yikes. Not my favorite venue in Brooklyn, unfortunately.

We went for the gay spooktacular and had a wonderful time. Show was great and that's the coolest space I've ever seen comedy in Very hip very welcoming and the drinks wet super fairly priced w fun bartenders. For sure would see another show here

The Bell House is a lovely performance space. I attended a burlesque show there this past Sunday night. Very spacious with a stage just big enough for all types of entertainment. Sound quality and lighting were excellent. There was a bar at the main entrance and inside. Each bar area was full-all of the boozy goodies and faves were in stock! Bartenders are top notch. Minus one star for really icky restrooms (major pet peeve.) Good looking place overall. I'd go back for another event. Great night out with the girls.

Saw a show here and the venue was pretty disorganized -- we waited in a moshpit "line" that funneled into an actual line eventually but was sort of a mess, which, whatever. The venue overall was fine -- unremarkable but served its purpose. Impressively, we paid $22 for burned Celeste pizza and burned + freezer burned bagged frozen fries. Worse, I sat in ADA seating that said you'd be asked to move if necessary. A security guard asked me to move and upon being told I met ADA criteria made me "prove it" by showing my 1 week post-op surgery scar, which is *highly* illegal.

I came here for a comedy show on a Friday night and was so pleased! The line up of comedians were great overall! The quality was pretty variable but on a whole, I came out with some great laughs. The space is very cool. I loved the vibe of the bar area - it's pretty large and has cool brewery-esque vibes. The theater space is in the back and that space is pretty large! There is a bar there too, although it was closed for the night. This definitely seems like a local spot and I am excited to check out more shows

Came here for a live podcast recently and was pleasantly surprised with this super intimate venue! We arrived early for some snacks and drinks. They had a full bar with specialty cocktails, local beer and wine. The prices were reasonable and the bartenders were very friendly. I wished they had more options for food, but they did have some different pizzas available. The venue itself had bathrooms and another full bar located inside for easy access throughout the show. We were so close to the stage it was actually crazy! Well worth it for the money spent. Do be aware there is not much parking in the area, but we didn't have a problem with street parking. Just be aware of the street signs when doing so. Great little place! I would definitely return.

The drinks are terrible. The security at the door stole my personal belongings after insisting that they would be at the entrance by the metal detectors. Before the night ended I was told they threw everything out & there was no way of getting back whatever that was left. I was there on a Saturday for a Dj Mike Nasty event & they purposely made people wait online despite there being space inside. Beware of the security at the door, they say No Smoking but as soon as you get inside everybody is smoking. The management, security & whoever works their doors on Saturday nights is discriminatory.

Great service, amazing bookings. They have the best, and best variety of, shows in Brooklyn. And the staff is kind and accommodating. Went to a show and needed a little assistance due to a disability and I received the most considerate response and aid. Been there many times and always loved it but being offered such thoughtful help really puts them over the top. Thanks Bell House!

The Bell House was, is, and will always be one of the best venues to see live alternative comedy and burlesque. It's well worth the trip, even if it's a little out of the way. Definitely catch Paul F. Tompkins and Varietopia if you see if on the calendar.

Generally a great venue I've been going to for years and years now! The 90s party is a long-time running show, and a fun one as simple as it is to throw on a playlist in a large room -- though everyone who attends agrees: the DJ (Reynolds) just awkwardly stands there on stage looking annoyed like he'd rather be anywhere else on earth. Older guy just scanning the crowd (a little creepy) and presses Play on a playlist but there's a spotlight on him. It's super cringe, ngl

This venue is lovely. I'm leaving this review because I tried to contact the venue in multiple ways but did not receive a response. I'm also posting this for anyone who may be uncomfortable with only having " all gender" bathrooms as an option for reasons posted below. Before I walked into one of the restrooms, I didn't realize both were "all gender." While I was washing my hands , a man ( large being with a male skeleton, face and clothing) walked into the bathroom , smiled at me and began unbuttoning his pants on his way to the urinal behind me. I didn't see the urinal when I walked in because there was a small "privacy " wall in front of it. It was deeply uncomfortable to have someone with their penis out directly behind me. Even though I couldn't see it with the wall, I could still see him a few feet behind me holding it and urinating as I quickly dried my hands and exited. I've been attacked in my life. I've also been flashed many times. This felt deeply unsafe. Again, when I went back into the other bathroom after the show, I chose the one that only has stalls , however when I entered this bathroom, there was a man urinating with the stall door wide open so everyone could see him and his penis. It seems like initiating this "all gender" policy has made some people forget common decency and manners. Like closing doors and thinking it's ok to unbutton your pants and urinate in front of a woman. Maybe people need a reminder that "all gender" doesn't mean "do whatever you want" I understand wanting to make things more fair and comfortable for everyone . I believe there's a better way to do this without forcing people to see other people's genitalia or have male bodied people urinate directly in front of or behind them . We can have freedom and equality without sacrificing manners and respect for others' personal feelings of safety . Please offer a safe space for women or at least enforce closing the stall doors so people can be able to use a bathroom without having to see a stranger's genitals . I suggest making the bathroom with the stalls a woman identifying only bathroom . There should be an enforced rule about displaying your penis in public. Period. Trans woman or otherwise. If you can't do that, at least please suggest that people in the stalled bathroom take a second to close the stall door and those in the urinal bathroom behave in a more respectful way like " oh, there's a woman standing right there- maybe I'll use the stall or wait five seconds for her to leave before urinating right behind her " etc. etc. Please impose some codes of conduct for they are necessary in this new, nuanced, confusing and often creepy landscape . I'm happy to communicate with you more about this issue. Thank you for considering my feedback

overall a fun atmosphere. we went for a "improv but make it good" show and it was one of the funniest things I've seen in my life. pizza was mid, but not too bad. just really expensive for the size, and isn't something I would order again.

Staff was UBER friendly... however everything else was a NO! The have pizzas for sale that resemble cardboard discs covered in sauce and cheese for $18 each. Eat before you come, or after your show, somewhere else. Monet Exchange was on point! But the seating is foldable metal chairs, mad uncomfortable and they don't put out enough chairs for the shows. There were many people standing during the show and it was odd for paid tickets, but it seemed like the this is more of a "band" space. I could picture a concert for sure. Get there early for a seat!

Saw a show at The Bell House on Tuesday night. The space has a very simple setup, which has its downsides, but I was impressed by the multiple bars and food available. Quality: Went to The Bell House for a comedy show. It was a fun time, with some enthusiastic comedians and a good crowd. There were some sound issues, and it was pretty cold inside, so I had to wear my coat all night. I also did not love the metal folding chairs, but it is a small temporary operation.  Quantity: Designed for smaller shows. Value: Tickets depend on show, but are reasonable. $7-$9 for a Draft Beer. Ambiance: The Bell House is a small event venue located in Gowanus. They have a bar area in the front, which had a temporary pizza stand the evening I visited. The main room also had a long bar, staffed during the show. The venue has an old west design to it, which is a bit strange. It is not the most temperature controlled, so if it is cold outside, it will be cool inside. Crowd: Decent crowd for Tuesday comedy show. Service: Quick bartenders. Parking: Tons of easy street parking.

I loved this bar! Though it's not in a very central location, it is more than worth the trek. It has a very welcoming, neighborhood vibe. You can come as you are, casual or dressed up, and have a great time. On a Saturday night, it wasn't very packed at all. They checked IDs at the door, but there was wonderfully no cover. Only the main bar area was open but I believe they have a larger back room for bigger parties. There was no line to get drinks. The DJ played an 80s themed set. This is definitely a place to dance like no one is watching. The patrons were diverse and a wide range of ages. I would love to check it out again on a busier night.

Just wanted to give a shout-out to Phillip and Sergio, the two Security/venue guys who helped us out in a huge way last night! A friend and I arrived late to a show last night. At that point, it was standing-room only. Of course, our arrival time is our fault, but my friend has a disability that causes intense pain if she stands for too long. When she asked if it might be possible to find a seat, Sergio never questioned her. He excused himself, then returned just a few minutes later with Phillip, who immediately reassured my friend that it was fine, saying, "Mi casa, su casa," (so nice) and carefully leading her to a space beside the tech booth where he pulled up a stool for her. I motioned that I would stand just in front of that area, but Phillip insisted that I join my friend with a seat of my own. My friend's diagnosis is new, so she's still navigating interactions like this and adjusting to advocating for herself. Phillip and Sergio were accommodating and kind and made her feel at ease. Thank you both so much!

Visited here for a FEVER event for candlelight Jazz concert. Nice lounge area upon entering the venue with a bar and they had a pop-up pizza stand which the pizza was decent. We just ordered beer & wine, so not much to comment on the drinks/food. The inside of the venue was quaint and cozy for the evening with theater style set up of seating. The restrooms were conveniently located inside the venue area, so you didn't have to leave then come back in. I need to research what other events are held here to attend another event.

Great venue and wonderful service (particularly Phillip who really went out of his way to make us comfortable!)

Beer great. Ticket cost reasonable. Entertainment great. Location okay. Food meh. Metal folding chairs ouch. We came to see Maria Bamford recently and have been here before for other comedy acts. We showed proof of vax and quickly entered, arriving just as the doors were supposed to open but ended up standing for a half an hour. Everyone was crowded in the front room which was uncomfortable. Def eat before you come. They say they have "brick oven" pizza but it's pathetic frozen pizza. Mine was frozen in the middle. FYI: They use metal folding chairs which are very uncomfortable. Next time I think I'll bring some kind of cushion.

Very comfortable show venue. Every seat is good (if the show has seating - some shows are standing room). There are multiple bars and a relatively fast station that serves better tasting than expected pizza. The staff is helpful and attentive.

I apparently saw a show here recently. I say apparently as most of it was ruined due to the seating/standing/entry situation. This event offered both VIP and regular tickets. VIPs were allowed 6:00pm entry. Their other perks were to happen after the show. General admission ticket holders were allowed 6:30pm entry. Most shows I've been to over the years have low numbers who purchase VIP. I'm inclined to believe this show was no different. My ticket said the event was a mix of standing and sitting, with no other info other than to arrive early. I assumed standing might mean those who wanted to hang at the bar, or the last patrons in if they oversold on purpose. I've never seen a notice like this before, but as this was a non-music show, you should be sitting, right? I went with a general admission ticket. I'd been at the Bell House years before, so had a vague memory of the setup. I got there around 6:20pm, and only 10-15 people were in line before me. I was happy, as it would mean a great seat. Then I realized they were slowly letting people ahead of me in early, which I thought was odd, but I figured all VIP ticket holders must have already been accounted for. I got inside, saw the merch table, and nearly went to it - then I glanced into the theatre, and it was PACKED!! Huh??? How?? When?? Surely they didn't let everyone in at 6:00pm or before, did they? I went in and saw a few free seats, but they all had papers that said "Reserved" on them. For VIP? Friends of the performers? No idea. I saw people standing on one side of the theatre, then saw a bunch of chairs set up against the wall on the opposite side of the theatre. They were all filled except for one, which I took. It was near the back, and had a terrible view. This was confusing - why were chairs on the side rather than being placed in a more logical layout behind/next to the other chairs? This would have left room at the sides for people to stand/lean, along with leaving a path at the back, and would have ensured no one standing could block any views. As more people came in who had to stand, they started to block the view. I asked one couple if they could please move towards the center so to not block anyone's view (there was a ton of open space next to them), but the woman got rude with me claiming there were nowhere to go, which was laughable. They did move over, but once the show started, another couple stood pretty much in front of me. They should have been aware they were blocking 10 or more people behind them, but didn't care. The woman kept shifting, and blocked half my view at first - then my full view. At times they backed up, and I feared they'd fall on top of me! I ended up having to stand at times to see anything. As it got worse and she kept shifting, I had to contort my neck and move around both in my chair and then while standing to see anything behind her. I finally had to stand for the rest of the show so it wasn't a total waste. But I had to do the same shifting dance to see around her as she kept moving. People near me either stood or just sat and gave in to the fact they weren't going to see anything. From the start of the show, I was stressed over the seating and view. I showed early according to their rules, so why was this such a mess? I started to wish the show would speed up, as I was miserable and just wanted to go. I considered leaving early. I missed so much just trying to see! I technically was at this show, but didn't really take it in or get to enjoy it. Weeks later, I feel like I wasn't even there, and have been hoping the show tours again so I can actually see it this time. It was a ruined night. To top it off, one of the advertised actors wasn't there. Nothing was said about it. Yet another confusing thing. Obviously this is a successful long term venue, so they won't care about one person's misery due to their layout. But it would be nice if they tried to rethink their setup. Move the seating to a more logical layout, and make those they force to stand do it where they can't ruin the show for others. It's easy enough. Also, why not sell tickets that guarantee a seat without a blocked view? Why not have seats for every ticket holder? Why not do what you can to not allow someone's night out to be ruined?

The show was awesome, great sound, cool space but I thought there would be food there for what was previously reviewed about The Bell House, if you go make sure you eat first. The drinks were waaaay too strong for my taste.

Came here for a themed night on a Saturday where they played music videos for popular music through the decades. The energy in the room was fantastic, fun, and very playful. There were several balloons with LEDs inside of them being bopped around the room by the crowd. Enough people to crowd up near the DJ, but not so much that there wasn't plenty of space around the bar to order a drink, chill, and take in the crowd from afar. Appreciated the drink prices here too.

Nice venue. I appreciate that for comedy they setup the seats theater style so they're all facing the stage unlike most comedy clubs that have seats at all types of angles. Had to take 1 star off for an $11 jamo & coke.

On the surface the venue seems fine enough, there's nothing wrong with it, but I never leave saying what an amazing night I had, or what an amazing show I saw. My nights here are lukewarm, middle of the road. The line situation has been written about here- it's unnecessarily long and convoluted. Even if you give yourself and extra 45 minutes you'll spend that much time freezing in the cold and somehow still without a seat if it's a seated show. The crowds are unenthusiastic, they don't get into it, whatever "it" may be. I've never made friends with strangers here - I make friends with strangers everywhere. 90's night I'll throw on some flannel and a side pony tail, nothing crazy, but it's just another dance venue to the people who come. Mardi Gras celebration with a live brass band? Yeah the musics great, but I'm the only one rocking anything festive. The gumbo they served was also the worst I've ever had (tomato soup, really) but that's to be expected in NY. At least they were trying to keep with the theme unlike the attendees. My last show here was a comedic play, Cellino v. Barnes, based off the famous local commercial. They oversold the tickets so it was standing room only and I was barely able to see the stage. Plays usually aren't standing room only, but I see from other reviews this is something they do often. Also, are there really only two bathroom stalls for women in the whole venue? I don't think I'll be coming back unless they have something incredible lined up, and even then I'd be really hesitant.

I will never return to the Bell House Great place to see an event but I had previously given a tip under another name which was my wife's. And I have decided to repeat the tip after so many thank you responses THE TIP: I had a Pre purchased ticket so when I arrived an hour early it was because I am disabled and need a seat. No problem right...wrong. Even though I asked numerous people no one told me that once the line quickly started to flow in I was pulled out of the line that I had been in for an hour and told that it needed to be stamped. Which was a different line which I had to stand in and watch everyone else flow into the event. Even now telling this story I am upset and hoping that you will not face the same

Every last Saturday of the month there's something called "The Rub" at the Bell House. It's a cool party and a good time. You can get tickets online, and i recommend it. A lot of great music (reggae, dancehall, hip hop, and blends too)/ Good: -Wide open space -Great music -Attentive bartenders Bad: -Lack of street parking -$4 coat check, yikes.

In the middle of friggin nowhere. If you're not taking a Lyft, make sure your phone is all charged up. Well worth the trek/hunt. Good space, drinks weren't too expensive. Had a great time.

Definitely a good venue for events and overall bar. We went for the moth event and not only was that event great but the set up for it worked well. It was also packed. I liked that they had two bars and a place for food. Served really good chili!

I visited to listen to a talk about "Right or Wrong?" And Daniel Yudkin spoke about his research in social psychology about how the concept of "moral" can be different for different people. I found it interesting since he exclusively spoke about 3-4 years old and how it manifests in young children. He saw a difference even among political affiliations and also among different sample populations. Yudkin spent time analyzing the moral mind, focusing on in-groups and out-groups, the high costs of enforcing the rules, and how it all relates to human cooperation. I found it highly informative, and he even had question panel at the end which was sweet.

Nice intimate venue, been there several times for comedy shows. Nice setup. Nice staff.

Went here with a friend for the 13th Annual 50 First Jokes NYC event. The venue is in a place where there's not much street light in the evening, so I would be uncomfortable navigating the area if I were by myself at night. The venue itself is small. Doors opened an hour before the event actually started, and we arrived well before that time. Still, there was a pretty long line, and once we had our hands stamped and we entered the stage room, we found it already quite cramped. People had already taken all of the chairs in front of the stage, and the empty seating in the back was reserved for people who had paid for it in advance. My friend and I leaned against the wall (bordering the paid seating area) because after waiting for the doors to open, and now waiting for the event to start, we were tired. There was so much room between us and where the line of chairs formed that I started wondering why they couldn't make better use of that space and add a few more rows of chairs. By the time the event started, I was struggling to see over taller people who had squeezed in front of me. During the halftime break, our legs and back were hurting so much that we decided to call it a night and leave. Honestly, if we had seats, we would've stayed. If I had a better view instead of the backs of people that squeezed in front of me, I would've reconsidered. The jokes themselves were hit or miss. But the venue itself was definitely a miss. I hope they reformat it better in the future.

the good thing about this place is that they have great shows, but that's also... their job. what has been continuously irking me for years is the limited seating for shows when there is unarguably SO much space to put down a few extra rows of folding chairs. it is a huge bummer to have to stand for 2 hours for a comedy show you paid $30 for, no matter which you way you want to look at it. irk #2 is that i went to the taylor swift dance party last night which myself and what looked like ~200 other swifties bought $20 tix for, only to dance in a pitch black room aside from taylor swift videos being played (not very loudly) on a projector. no lights, no disco ball, no effort. i would have had a better time dancing in my living room.

I love this place. However, why don't they ever put the party "Tainted Love" in the bigger back room???? Why do they scheudle the 80's party every time they have an event in the back room? Quiet frankly, the ticket prices for their shows aren't fair and it's not broadway....Bell House, it was super crowded last night and I kept getting hit and bumped into. People didn't have SPACE. Please consider moving the "Tainted Love" party to that biggger back room. It's much more spacious...plus isn't there a limit on people for the smaller room? I didn't have any wiggle room last night. The workers are and bartenders are amazing. The DJ for Tainted Love was the BEST. Please keep having her come back, but put her in that bigger back room.

Disappointing to pay $40 for a ticket to a comedy show and find they did not plan enough chairs for the number of seats sold. Tip for first time visitors to this venue: You need to get there quite early if you don't want standing room.

This place is like in the middle of no where, but even so, it was worth it. Went to see Pete Davidson last night, sold out show tickets were all general admission with seating first come first served. Beer selection was average, my "sixpoint" never disappoints. Mac and cheese, and tortillas with pico de gallo weren't bad. The place is a bar/ music venue. When you walk in, there is the bar and a few high table and seating area. Towards the back is where the magic happens. A very big spacious area with a bar and a stage right in the middle. Upon entrance towards the back area, they gave us a magnet fabric bag to put our cell phones in. No-one was allowed to take out their cell phones. Pretty interesting concept. I cant believe it was successful, everyones phone was locked in this magnet fabric bag. Pete had like five people presenting before him. Was that really necessary? Really? Anywayz, he was pretty good. I feel like his jokes will get better in time, he needs to live life more for him to be on the "big boys" league. Overall, he did great ! This place did awesome with security. Deff. Will come back if Pete Comes back.

I've been to a number of fun events at the Bell House! I've primarily seen comedy shows here, including Two Dope Queens and last night's Maria Bamford's show. Overall, they offer a pretty great line up of shows. They have particular rules around getting in line that, if you've never been and therefore don't know how to navigate, can be frustrating. But, if you show up well in advance and therefore can get in line inside (because the line quickly moves outside) and therefore can get seats, then it's cool. If you have to wait outside or stand the full show - well, it's less cool.

Bartenders Bobby and Carolyn were ever so kind, allowing me to charge my phone when I was stranded (Bobby) and kindly keeping me entertained and hydrated while I waited (Carolyn), so I thank them, both! And The Bell House is a nice, big space, both inside and out (their Covid-born front patio area is nicer than most I've seen). Highly recommend The Bell House!

The venue itself is beautiful and it sounds great. I have seen rock shows, comedy nights, NPR game shows, movie nights, DJ parties, and more here and every time it has been a wonderful time. The staff are always kind and helpful, and the beer selection is just what the doctor ordered. The Bell House is a true Brooklyn gem and it is an essential visit for anybody who loves nightlife.

I saw my favorite band The Ocean Blue at The Bell House a few months ago before the Pandemic hit! Hopefully, it won't be the last concert this year. 2020 has sucked so far since all the venues, bars, and other businesses were forced to close. Hopefully, this venue survives these crazy times! My cousin Cristian went with me 'cause he lives in New York, so it was nice to have a place to crash when there's a great concert in town. The Bell House is huge, and the sound system was great. I ran into the band outside, and got my picture taken with them again! Haha....Then once inside, I recognized Glenn Kochan from the band Riverside in the crowd. (Not the current Polish band that is now using their name) Riverside, the band that got lost in the 90s. Drawing from the same influential well of Echo & the Bunnymen, the Smiths and the Railway Children, comparisons to the Blue were inevitable -- That was epic! I tapped him on the shoulder and told him that I saw their show in Philadelphia. Be sure to check them out on youtube with their album "ONE". Great band! This place is in a middle of nowhere in Brooklyn, but there are a few places to eat around there.

Great venue for music and comedy. Every seat is has a terrific view. They have a lot of beer options, some frozen drink choices, and fire oven pizza. If you are coming by car, the street parking is surprisingly easy, as it is a warehouse type area where you can park at night but have to move by early morning.

Sure, the Bell House boasts an impressive array of events--quirky, fun theme days, some great acts/performers--but I always cringe a bit and decide how badly I want to see said event before booking anything because... I know I'll have to put up with getting into the Bell House and enduring their haphazard service. A couple of lowlights: Came here for New Year's this year--arrived to a not-long line at around 10:50pm--on a frigid night--and still barely made it inside for midnight. At least I had my boiling rage to keep me somewhat warm. Also recently came for a Buffalo City Fair day event that was an incredibly slipshod affair--the lack of organization was palpable, as people milled about and waited on lines for 30-45 min for food or drink. I admit I've had some better times here for shows/under the radar events (Maria Bamford, a baseball writer's roundtable discussion), but that was still more the quality of the event itself than anything. Drinks are pretty much average at best, and service decent on these good days, unimpressive others. If there's something you want to see here, it can be endured, but as a venue itself/in a vacuum... you'll have a much better experience elsewhere.

The Bell House, come hear for fun rock shows, unique markets and once in a lifetime events! I came here this summer for the Mission of Burma show! As you walk up to the venue, it's tucked away in a dark street of Gowanus. In the summer there's outside tables where the smokers lounge. As you walk in the venue there's a long bar. Then there's a large room where the band plays. In the venue space there is also an elevated second bar. I like standing in this area, close to the bar and a great view of band. I'm so happy this Mission of Burma played at the Bell House. I find it easier to actually see the band and the sound is spot on. I have also been here for Bust Magazine's birthday party! It was 2 and 1/2 years ago and I had a blast! You buy a ticket but you get so much more. I got to see Cibo Matto, Broad City (before the success), Amber Tamblyn read while David Cross played music in the background. Awards were given to Bust icons like Margaret Cho and a fave of mine Kathleen Hannah. (From Bikini Kill, Le Tigre & Julie Ruin) And I can't forget to mention I also enjoyed free cupcakes and a grab bag full of cool goodies. The Bell House has recently been hosting the Morbid Anatomy Museum's flea market. This is a great market to find all your modern goth needs from taxidermy to Victorian goth cameos. I have noticed some 90's themed dance parties and some 90's bands coming trough. Keep your eyes open if you want to get nostalgic 'cause it's time to dust off the 'ole emo uniform and rock out to a mix of Pixies, Nirvana and the Breeders!

Cool venue for shows but, as other recent Yelpers have mentioned, pretty abrasive bouncers. I didn't come into any direct contact with any bouncers thankfully, but my friends and I did witness others getting yelled out for not abiding by a weird pre-show line up and others being chased into the bar area. Customers don't know your rules or what you do every day at this venue, and it doesn't mean they need to be treated like animals if they're not following rules that are not stated anywhere. With that said... the 2 Dope Queens show I saw this past weekend was laugh-out-loud awesome. If you're lucky enough to get a seat (because you stood out in the cold in the line), it was probably an even better experience, but more than half of the audience ends up with standing room tickets, at least for the 2DQ shows. Your best strategy, especially in these winter months, is probably to dart in line just before the line starts moving; from a 10:30pm show, that ended up being around 10:05pm. They had a hot toddy ($11), which really hit the spot though was probably a bit over priced. They also had a classic SingleCut on draft for $7, but the beer selection overall wasn't particularly inspiring. Bathrooms were pretty gross. I've seen worse, but I've definitely seen better at music venues.

Are my reviews being deleted? I could of sworn I've written a review for Bell House years ago... The Bell House is a neat venue for musical performances. I think I came here 3 or 4 times to catch the Sons and Heirs (Morrissey and the Smith's tribute band). They hold an annual show on Valentine's Day. The space is pretty decent. It's a pretty wide and large room, big stage, and plus two bars. One in the front by the entrance and one where they perform. The bar here is pretty decent. I think a large can of high life was $5 which is reasonable. They have plenty of other beers and stuff on draft. I ordered a cider for my wife and she said iy was good. I think it was $7-8 bucks plus tip. The service at both bars was great. Friendly, polite, and quick. My only complaint here were the ticket prices. Advanced sales were made available online but the fees were kinda ridiculous. After paying the online discounted price along with the fees and all, it came out around the same price as the day of the show ticket price. That's my main complaint. There's no cover charge or anything, just stupid fees, and high ticket price for cover band shows.

I love this place so much. It's one of the few places in NYC where I've actually have had fun dancing. I've been to their 80s, 90s, and 00s music nights were DJs actually play music you want to dance to. It's not an overcrowded gross nightclub where you have to dress to the nines to come in or pay $500 in bottle service or wait 1000 years to get service. Maybe it's the fact that it's slightly off the beaten path in Gowanus that it's not a shitty tourist spot or a douchey club. It's simply an awesome welcoming space with a variety of events- I've been to everything from dancing to standup to concerts to election night watch parties (been in the area a very long time). I don't get to go as often as I'd like anymore but when I do it's always the best. Love you Bell House!

I saw a really good show, but the process of the doors opening is unclear as the bar area opened for people to line up before it said it would on the ticket. The seating is abysmal. Be prepared to stand.

This is a great place ..don't get me wrong HOWEVER.. my sister and I came here for a Janet Jackson party that I seen advertised in a New York magazine that I subscribe to. Now in all fairness it did say in the article that the dj would play 10 Janet songs BUT upon walking in.. we waited about 45 mins before a Janet song came on. Then the dj played 3 Janet Jackson songs and then diverted to something totally different. We ended up leaving after a while when we realized it wasn't going to be a Janet party. Although this was a very nice venue, I highly doubt i will come back due to what I felt was false advertisement. The kicker!? Upon walking out, there was a HUGE flyer posted on the wall in the same venue about this being a Janet Jackson party..smh