I was a little disappointed with this place. It was super crowded and they had tape on the floor with different rules around where you could stand. It was hard to see the stage from where we were and the podium was positioned right in front of the screen so we couldn't always see what was being displayed there. It's nice that they offer snacks and drinks though. read more

The Bell House - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I used to come here years ago when the DJs The Rub would host events. Always had a good time. I was recently here earlier this month for the fast and the furious musical parody. The show was in their main room. Not sure how many guests can fit in, but there weren't enough seats for everyone, so it wasn't fun to be standing around for 2 hours. The staff is friendly and the bathrooms are clean. They also sell some food and good drinks, of course. I wouldn't mind returning here if there was a show or event. It was easy to get in and out as well. But we did leave slightly before the show finished to avoid the crowds. read more

The Bell House - Hallway art. - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I came here recently for a comedy show. Despite arriving 30 minutes early, every seat was taken and the show was clearly overbooked. I ordered a soda, which was $7. The comedy was good, but I have little desire to come back. One of the staff members was quite rude, as well. read more

Loved this place before they were bought by LiveNation / Ticketmaster, but I've been running into issues ever since. After the last one (unable to get a refund for a rescheculed event that I couldn't attend because I have to be with a sick family member) I doubt I'll return again. read more

This place is great. Went here to watch Welcome to Night Vale. The staff was friendly and helped seat everyone without cause a rush. The place was clean and enough walking space. Though i didnt get any food, I did get drinks which were delicious. I hope to return to watch more shows. This place felt so great with so many fans. read more

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Have come here and Union Hall about a dozen times this past year and a half, and I always love the experience. It feels local and intimate while still being able to hold 400+ people. I usually arrive at door opening time for bigger comedians (like Michelle Buteau) since seats can fly by quickly, and standing for 90 minutes in the back is no fun. They have a good selection of draught, frozen drinks, and your standard well-drinks. I've never tried the food, but it smells great. Only downside is that this is deep Gowanus, so plan your transport wisely. read more

I went to the Bell House for a comedy show. It is easily accessible by subway. Maybe 8-10 minutes to walk from F or R train. End of a street in a light industrial area. If you walk down the street and think, "Am I going to be murdered?" You are on the right street. I thought the staff I interacted with were lovely. They have a big bar out front. Did not try the food. General admission I think all the time. I don't see how they can mark those seats. Cushioned benches off to the side that seemed like a nice option. Sort of a padded folding chair? Maybe they didn't fold. I did not try to fold them. I sat in the second row and so I had no problem seeing or hearing. The floor is flat so the further back you sit the more problem you would have seeing. There is a full bar inside too. read more

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. read more

The Bell House - Performers at the end of a show at The Bell House. - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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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 read more

The Bell House - Stage - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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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. read more

I love the Bell House. Maybe a little less since it was sold to the big boys at Live Nation, but the programming is excellent. I have to love any place that ensures I get a regular dose of Maria Bamford. read more

The Bell House - Kate Berlant at the Bell House. - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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 read more

Honestly, Bell House? Fix your life. How you get the nerve to charge $17.25 for a draft beer and $9 for a box of Costo popcorn with no butter is beyond me, but the ever-present puddles of leaky toilet water in the women's room are just beyond. And no, it's not a one-time problem. Someone needs to replace the seals and is being lazy about it, so bear that in mind when choosing your footwear for the evening. read more

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. read more

This place is amazing! Love the vibe and layout. The workers are all so friendly, from the ID checkers, ticket takers, bartenders to the ushers. We love Phillip! He helped us get great seats and was so caring. We will definitely be back! read more

The Bell House was a fantastic spot and host for my friends event! Big shoutout to Philip for helping us navigate and being so kind and attentive towards my and my guests needs! We really appreciate you Philip and The Bell House staff for everything read more

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! read more

The Bell House - Monet Exchange - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The whole staff was so nice and the venue is cute and intimate ish! I think anywhere you'd have a great view. Huge shoutout to Phillip and Rebecca for their organization, hospitality and customer service overall - they are running a tight shop in the best way! I'd see a show here again any time. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

The Bell House - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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. read more

They oversell shows and blame you for not showing up early and making you feel dumb for it apparently being written on the ticket. Well I say it's a very unprofessional establishment. I've never been to a comedy show venue where they don't have seating for everyone. My girlfriend couldn't even see the comedian over everyone because she's only 5 ft tall. Worst venue ever. Will never go back. They should be ashamed and close. Don't waste your money. read more

Amazing venue, such a fantastic place to watch and host comedy! The entire staff was so knowledgeable and friendly, especially Phillip! He really went above and beyond to make sure everyone was taken care of and really cemented my opinion of the staff here! The bartenders were amazing as well, so sweet and kind! Cool vibes, loved the lighting! read more

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! read more

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. read more

The Bell House - View Of Stage - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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. read more

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 read more

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. read more

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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

The Bell House - Cellino v. Barnes the play - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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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 read more

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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

The Bell House - BH Mule and Spicy Margarita - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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! read more

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. read more

The Bell House - Daniel Yudkin...is it right or wrong? talk - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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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. read more

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 read more