Three weeks ago, my wife and I were in Bowling Green to visit with friends and reminisce about the bygone days of our collective Falcon splendor. Of course, as part of our agenda, we paid a visit to our habitual favourite haunt, Howard's. Now, keep in mind, kind reader, we attended BG nearly 30 years ago. The fact that Howard's was still there was a given. The business was a mainstay even back then. Kind reader, I will not offer my age but do feel free to extrapolate given the timeline afore mentioned. Walking through the doors was akin to walking through a time machine. Howard's was remarkably preserved - as if in formalin. Every detail that I had recalled - from the hand carved bar to the colourfully decorated bathroom walls - were exactly as I had remembered. The surreal experience was further augmented when the bartender took my order and said "hey man...do I know you?". As it turns out, this gentleman was the same bartender who poured my Pabst Blue Ribbon all of those years ago -Dan - still working hard at Howard's! Remarkable! He is a superstar! (He didn't really recognize me). Now, kind reader, to the fifth and final star. As Howard's is (and always was) an establishment that features live entertainment, the bar has an individual that "works the door" and collects a "cover charge" to help the business to afford the best talent. The night of which I write was no exception. As we approached in a dusky northwestern Ohio light drizzle, we were politely greeted by a charming young man named Cameron. A far cry from the brutish "bouncers" of my experience, "Cam" was nicely dressed and kindly. He calmly and professionally requested our cover charge and then smoothly opened the door for us. It doesn't end there though, kindly reader. Cam walked us in, no doubt taking pity on us as "elderly" patrons, and escorted us to seats at the bar. He pulled out a bar stool for my wife and dusted the seat off with a perfectly pressed handkerchief. He then seamlessly returned to his work welcoming patrons young (and old!). Well done Howard's for keeping on keeping on, for hiring consummate professionals such as Cameron, and for convincing the brilliant Dan to continue to deliver the coldest, purest Pabst in all of Wood County!! Cheers All!!! read more

The bar itself is very fun and very full of personality! There is graffiti and stickers all over the wall and polls that show a rich history of happy patrons and bands who have had joyous times here! The bar staff were incredibly friendly and very attentive! The only critiques I have are that there are many many tables for watching and not much room for dancing ( or in my case moshing since I visited to see a metal show) which was a bit sad, they do not serve food here which again was a bit sad ( I should have looked up though) BUT!!!!! They do have a popcorn machine so that was a very happy surprise! This bar has good vibes and character! read more

Howard's Club H - Fun Bathroom - Music Venues Near Me - Bowling Green, Ohio

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A Beautifully Filthy Rock & Roll Dive If you love a good, grungy, rock and roll dive bar, Howard's Club H is the place for you. It's got all the essentials: cold beer (only slightly overpriced), bartenders who are usually nice enough, and a smell that can only be described as shame with a hint of stale beer. The bathrooms? Perfectly disgusting, just as they should be in a place like this. The walls are covered in layers of graffiti and stickers, some of it actually pretty interesting if you take the time to look. Live bands crank out music that ranges from surprisingly solid to who let them on stage? But that's part of the charm. This is the kind of bar where you go to lose track of time, drink with strangers who might become friends, and soak in the glorious decay of a true dive. It's not for everyone, but if you appreciate a bar with character, history, and just the right amount of grime, Howard's Club H is a must. read more

Howard's Club H - Empty beers at Howard's - Music Venues Near Me - Bowling Green, Ohio

Howard is a BG institution. Basic bar, nothing special but I go there for the music. Always live and outstanding performances.

I love Howards and I really don't understand anyone who leaves a bad review. It's a dive bar and one of the less dingy ones. I have been coming here for over a decade. They offer a lot of different beer and they have plenty of liquer. They could use some other flavored beverages like ciders or those new alcoholic water things but they have a good variety. They also have free popcorn. They no longer have pinball but they still have pool. The only gripe I have is their tiny little patio is basically taken over by smokers and every time they open the door ALL that nastiness comes right to the bar. I really detest smoke. I miss the days where the smokers had to go out the back door and huddle together by the dumpster. I have always received pretty decent service from the bartenders. It's a great place to just chill with friends. read more

Howard's Club H - a woman in front of a painted wall - Music Venues Near Me - Bowling Green, Ohio

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It ranks up there with the late CBGB's in NYC . All out music, unpretentious bathrooms and maneuvering room. It is the penultimate college rock bar. read more

Howard's Club H - Howards Club H - Music Venues Near Me - Bowling Green, Ohio

Yes, Howard's is gross and dirty. But it is hands down my favorite bar in Bowling Green. It is the dive bar queen. It has also been a Bowling Green institution for at least 50 years. To the haters who snivel about how obscenely dirty it is- history lesson- it used to be across the street and according to local legend, had DIRT FLOORS. The staff are some of the nicest people you can run across and the clientele is generally pretty awesome as only the bravest of undergrads will go in there. This is the bar that allows townies to keep their collective sanity during the school year. They get some amazing acts and, I won't lie, some downright awful ones. But really, if you like meeting interesting folks, listening to great music, and having a great night- put up with the smelliest bathroom in Bowling Green and check it out! read more

Howard's is a filthy, nasty hole. There's no getting around it. It's quasi-affectionately (and with some "yuck" factor thrown in) as "Howard's Club Hell, and that nickname fits. For a place that depresses me to look at it every time I drive by, however, Howard's brings in a surprising amount of really good local and national acts. I've often visited the "tours" page of a band that I love to find that they've decided to make Howard's Club Hell in dinky Bowling Green, Ohio their Ohio destination. Don't know how that happens, but it's a good thing. read more

Good spot for live local music, pool, even a pinball machine. They do usually have a cover charge which is why I don't go there very often. Drinks are ok, but bartenders can be sparse considering they have two sides to the bar. The crowd is more locals or Toledoians who come down to relive their 20's, so older than your typical main street bar, which I like. We were there on St. Patrick's Day and they had some sweet cover bands, including a Beatle's cover band made up of some of the staff of the bar. The music was not great but they got an A for trying! My favorite thing about Howard's is that it's big, so you aren't all squished together on weekend nights. read more

3.5 stars. A dive bar where you can rest assured you won't run into any underage college students. The crowd tends to be locals and grad students. As others have mentioned, it's pretty grungy, like all good dive bars. There's a bunch of picnic tables spread out and a couple of pool tables. They often feature live music (usually a $5 cover). They don't serve food, just beer, and not a huge selection. Overall, not a bad place to grab a cheap beer but I much prefer the quieter, better-beer selection Clazel across the street. read more

Howard's is best if you're looking for a place to see a band, get loud & rowdy, and have lots of fun. 3 pool tables, couple video games, cheap drinks. Staff is "golden rule"; be nice to them, they'll make your night. Be a douche & word will travel fast. They could update the bathrooms better than just paint over the awesome graffiti, I suspect plumbing issues... And how bout a smoking patio? Crowd is "melting pot" rather than "scene"; college profs, gutter punks, students, townies, hipsters, philosophers, whatever, douche bag factor is LOW. Love this place! read more

03/20/2021 seen Saturnine Hello at Howard's. We had a great time watching a really good band. It was nice to get out and listen to live music again. They had a lot of energy, good vocals, talented musicians. They played a mix of their own songs as well as some covers. Shout out to the bartender who also rocked it out! We really enjoyed ourselves and can't wait to return for another live act! read more

Sure, it's a bit of a dive but that's part of the charm! Love that they have live music and it typically attracts some good local talent. Sort of a college draw since it's close to BG but overall a fun spot. read more

Filthiest bathrooms in America. Good place to see a friend's band that you're only half-interested in. Many a night of debauchery and self-abuse begins at Howard's, the crucible of the Bowling Green rock scene, such as it is. read more

This is the first bar I ever went into when I started attending BGSU. In all honesty, I think it was the first bar I'd ever been into PERIOD. Yes, I led a sheltered life. However, this bar has inspired me to try dive bars all over the world. I love a bar where you can sit next to a college professor, and the person next to them drives the snow plow for the city. It's unpretenious, cheap, fun, they used to have a good jukebox (it's been a LONG time since I've been back!), and it was just fun. If you're a fan of the dive, definitely check out Howards! read more

I've been to this bar as many times as i've been to bowling green. Twice. That is two too many. I have to go there for a wedding this week and I really am glad we don't have to partake in the drunken college student parade. I am way too old for that nonsense. The bar is rather spacious with ample seating. The drinks are cheap, the facilities not too awful (condom vending machine= classy) and the staff is nice enough. The bands are terrible! They want to charge you a $5 cover to see such crap as "the one-armed one- man drum circle band" or "crotch rotting crotch". But sadly, this might be the only thing to do in BG besides get date raped at a frat house. Call me a dumb hippie, but i don't think Athens, Ohio or even Kent are as pitiful as Bowling Green. read more

This place is in my opinion the best dive bar in the country! I have had many a fun/crazy night in this place! Live music and great people. besides my family it is my most missed part of BG read more

The second best craphole in town (see Checkers #1)! The good kind, I mean. Howards is an oasis away from the broski party type bars. You either get or you don't about this place. read more