Many years ago, in a place and time long forgotten thr Court was the meca for up and coming bands and bands that needed a place to play..they were cruel but fair...if you had a following and didn't trash the place you had a slot. No food...service was spotty and the place was rock personified. If dive was you ambiance it was just the place. 3 rules...no dancing on the tables...no open drug use and no public sex. I moved away I the mid 80s before everyone got strung out... read more

Being born and raised in New Brunswick, I have always heard of Court Tavern, but have never stepped foot inside, surprisingly. So, when I saw that one of my faves, Cece Peniston, was going to be there and the tickets were so reasonable, I had to jump at the chance. I know that promotion for specific events are separate than the venue itself, so this is for the space, drinks, and vibe only.. Since I read such reviews about the place being in need of a good cleaning and other not so good things, I was actually pleasantly surprised when I found it not to be as skeevy as I'd expected. The bartender was nice looking, friendly, and made a great drink. Wonderful cosmo! The DJ was playing great music.. great old New Brunswick college town vibes with the pool table and Rutgers paraphernalia around. I wasn't too happy about the downstairs area where they put on the shows.. it seemed like an old church basement, just sorta bootleg. They said that they remodeled, so not certain how it was before. I'd much rather be upstairs. I would probably return to enjoy a laid back round of a pool during happy hour. It's really a vibe to me. read more

The Court Tavern is a true dive bar in New Brunswick. It wasn't as gross as I thought/heard it would be, but I'd still give is 2.5 stars and an "Okay." rating. Drinks are cheap, the basement is a little scary and smelly, the bathrooms don't have soap. They usually have bands or a deejay playing on certain nights and they're cool with outside food being eaten at their bar, which is nice. This isn't really my scene, but I'd go back if I had to. read more

This is a neighborhood club where local and nonlocal bands sometimes play. It tends to be really noisy both inside and outside and be warned people smoke outside if that kind of stuff bothers you. Sometimes people get sick outside and do all kind of other stuff especially at 3 in the morning. I think they serve food here during the daytimes sometime I think like mostly on weekdays but Ive never been inside during the daytime. read more

Court Tavern - #thecourttavern - Dive Bars Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

I love going to see my friends Spiraling (http://www.spiraling.net) play here. It is a really cool music venue. The upstairs is a pretty standard bar, but downstairs, there are lots of cool events to check out! Downstairs boasts a bar of its own, a stage area, and lots of room to dance and groove -- as well as a "back room" area with couches -- perfect for veggin' out. This is a great place for seeing music. Great acoustics, lots of room, and amazingly, you can pack a LOT of people into that space. Also, convenient bathrooms with more than one stall! A+! read more

I am surprised at some of the reviews about the Court. Yes the cover can be a little much some times AND the place is loud AND it is a dive bar AND the kids working there are WAY too full of themselves, but those are the markings of a great, local band bar. There used to be a bunch of these all around New Brunswick like the Melody and the Roxy. They are all gone now. The Court is all we have! Yes you will see some terrible bands here but you could also run into the future Smithereens. Some great bands have come through the Court and onto huge careers. You owe yourself a trip here if only to taste a piece of NB history. So put on your big boy pants and make the pilgrimage. read more

Being in the music scene around New Brunswick, I really appreciate Court Tavern doubling as a local music venue. I wanted to love the place, as it seems some folks do, but I just can't. Even after 3 tries. What the reviews say about it being dirty and dusty and disgusting are true. I don't mind some dirt and a grungy scene, but this is pretty bad. Beer even tastes funny...(dirty tap?) But what really has made me from wanting to return is the staff. The last two times I've come here, I feel I dealt with uptight staff...it really kills my vibe especially if I'm just there to chill with a beer and enjoy some music and support. And no, they can't mix a drink for their life. The set-up when the music upstairs is also awkward. Small, small space near the "stage" area, and the back area of the bar where it's too dark to see the dirt and too far to see who's playing. Maybe this was the place to be back in the day, but I will not be returning. I'll stick to New Brunswick basement shows. read more

After closing, opening, and then closing a second time, it seemed as though New Brunswick's beloved Court Tavern, the legendary music venue that helped break beloved NJ bands the Gaslight Anthem, Thursday and Bouncing Souls, and - back in the day - played host to up-and-comers like Pavement (!) and Flaming Lips (!!!) was finally gone for good. The scene would have to survive on the outskirts of the law, down the basements dotting the shadier streets of this mixed neighborhood. The Court is dead. Long live The Court. Not so fast. Just when it looked like the last link to the New Brunswick of old was about to be broken, The Court crowned a new Queen: Brittney Dixon. Since 2012, Brittney has been trying earnestly to create a sense of community between the insular Asbury Park and the up-and-down New Brunswick music scenes by working with a variety of venues across the state, but none quite so big or important as this (which now receives her full attention). She's been given an opportunity to revive this legendary place and is clearly making the most of it. The shows themselves (which started back up this past Fall) are typical Brittney fare which is to say extremely high quality across all genre's. Her heart is in punk/hardcore (never more evident than when she takes the stage with her own band, Wolfasaurus Rex, who's raucous new EP is great), but the blinders are off at all times. Indie, Folk, Hip Hop, Singer/Songwriter, Emo; it's all there and it's all generally wonderful. The best part, though, is seeing people from other bands out and about, showing their support on night's they're not playing. The staff are super-friendly, too! Behind the bar, Kate greets you with a wink and a hi-five. Rhonette works the door and - with a smile like that - could convince the most hardened Country purist to check out the Hardcore show downstairs. Brittney is quickly becoming a luminary around the scene and if she continues to do this right, that is, to balance the financial needs of the building with the excellent caliber of bands we are used to seeing her work with, well...let's just say that someday someone might go ahead and write a book about it. read more

I've never been to a venue with worse vibes than this. My band traveled over two hours to play a show here and we were treated horribly. Not only was the staff disrespectful, the sound was atrocious. What a joke. This place is so bad it made us never want to play a show in New Jersey again. If your band is touring, you're better off playing at a truck stop bathroom... at least it would be cleaner and smell better. I think the sound guy is on crack or something... he nearly freaked out on us because he thought we were trying to steal his microphone. Pathetic! read more

Wow, they redid the place! It's actually kinda clean now. I loved the old Court Tavern, filth and all, but even with the re-do, it still feels like Court Tavern. Good music, decent drinks, and a generally good (if young) crowd. Nice to see this reliable old dive bar still kicking it. read more

I've frequented the Court Tavern over a few years, but I have to say that the quality of the venue has definitely increased since their latest reopening. While the music isn't so much to my personal tastes anymore, the actual venue seems much more open and inclusive. Before the reopening, the scene there seemed to be tailored to whatever band was playing there for the hundredth time, but now it feels like an actual punk venue. I don't know what incited the change, but I like it and will keep coming back. Also- cheap drinks, great location, and way cleaner from previous years. Any good dive needs to be a little grody, but the dust and dirt was getting way out of hand last year. I like that the Court Tavern still feels authentic to its history, but the beer taps taste awesome and the decade of filth is gone. Keep on keepin' on, guys! read more

I don't think it's fair to review the Court Tavern as simply a bar, per say... That's not really the #1 reason people go there. The Court Tavern is first and foremost a music venue (always has been), and it's a good one. On any given Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday evening, you can walk in there and find some musician up on stage that's going to blow you socks off with talent... some band that's going to be huge one day, that you can just walk right up and talk to, take pictures with, and get your albums signed. It's full of friendly regulars that are always willing to make new friends. The sound system is pretty good (great for a small venue, really), and the stage provides you plenty of room to get up close and personal with the bands during their sets. No barriers, or bouncers between you and the music. a very intimate place to experience live music, yet being there with over a few hundred people doesn't feel "cramped". Wednesdays there's a no-cover open mic, that's always full of friendly and talented musicians and music lovers just hanging out drinking downstairs. It's basically a weekly party where you'll get to know a lot of new people. It's generally not a loud environment that provides a lot of opportunities for conversation as well as entertainment. Sundays tend to be dedicated for the softer, often acoustic, acts. It's a more chill, less loud environment. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are when the rock and roll comes out. Punk, Metal, Ska, Emo, Folk, Indie, Prog... Whatever your thing is, there's likely to be at least one show that caters to it each month. On these nights, for rarely more than $10, you'll see some incredible talent, up close and personal here. Low and mid-level touring acts come through pretty regularly. I often find my self surprised by how good some of the bands I've never heard of before can be. It's a great way to find a new favorite band. The environment can get very loud on these nights, which is to be expected, as the focus of the night is really the bands. That said, I guess if you wanna get drunk for cheap, this is as good a place as any. Practically like VFW or American Legion Hall prices. Staff is quite friendly, they'll probably learn your name after a few visits. There's a larger bar upstairs, away from the music, if you want to talk and hang out in a more quiet environment, and a small one downstairs if you just wanna grab a beer without missing a song. read more

This place is the epitome of a sh-hole. The bar is disgustingly dirty and hasn't been wiped since god knows when. The beers all taste funky because they have never cleaned the tap. The bartenders cannot mix a drink to save their lives. They do not know proper proportions of any drink and tend to overpour (causing the owner financial losses). The only reason I went to this dump was to watch a friend's band play. The basement venue is horrid. There is asbestos, mold, and dust hanging everywhere and there is no proper ventilation. Also, the basement is a huge fire hazard as emergency exits are not clearly marked. There are way better bars in New Brunswick. You should never be caught dead in this sh-hole. For great music venues, just take the train up to the city. read more

Great spot for late night music, drinks and food. Some of the best DJ's in town. The downstairs area has the entertainment. I'm very impressed with some of the live acts they have! read more

Been here a few times before its closing and after its reopening. My brother's band played here between 6-7 years ago and it was a good time. Small venue but acoustics were good. Most recently, we came in for a few drinks on the tail end of a New Brunswick self-made beer crawl. We hung at the bar area and took in the eclectic mix of people. Our bartender was talkative and friendly. I'm drawn to this cool, grungy place for some reason. read more

$10 to watch a band play downstairs- NO THANKS! Bt besides that, the upstairs was a nice clean bar with a jukebox and semi friendly bartenders! Our drinks were very cheap - 8$ for a beer and a long island iced tea. Its a nice divey bar to come chill with your group- whether its just 2 or 20. Finger food type things were available when we were there- fries, burgers, etc -- which was much appreciated since every other food joint was closed at that hour. Ill return! its a nice alternative to those other bars along George st who forget they're not a NYC bar **cough cough** HOTOKE *cough cough** ;) ! +props for being right across the street from the parking deck ! read more

Went to Court Tavern for the first time since I was an undergrad (like 3 years ago)- nothing has changed! it's still the dive I remember it to be. Cheap drinks, but sometimes they'll tell you a tap is out so you buy a more expensive beer by the pitcher (they usually only have like 3-4 beers on tap). It's the very essence of a dive bar, and since Mccormicks closed a couple of years ago, if you're into a good juke box and that kind of scene, Court Tavern is where to go. They have lots of live music, but note that there is sometimes a cover. read more

Great Bar, Killer music, great culture.

I've known all of the bookers here since the Tom Crow' era and they always had good taste in national touring bands bands, always supported the local music scene and treat the bands well. What always frustrated me though is that 95% of the Rutgers population never set foot in the place. Which I guess is a good thing sometimes when you don't want to deal with a bunch of non-music fan knuckle heads. If you are looking for a wide variety of characters this place is right out of a movie. Also, one of my favorite places places to play on the East Coast. They don't make places like this anymore. Also known as the home of the floating chromosome, the punk rock eye patch and mostly cruel but Fair. Oh and i hear there is a new smell in the basement. Cheers, http://reviewstalker.blogspot.com read more

I find that bars in the New Brunswick area break down into two types. There are the places packed with undergraduates. These are the places with oomph-ch oomph-ch blasting from inside, and there's a line of jail-bait-looking girls coming out the door even in the dead of winter. I didn't even go to these places when I was an undergrad. The other type of bar is the "Bar of Sadness". Otherwise known as "Ye Olde Taverne of Woe" or "Bar of Forgotten Dreams". This is the kind of place where you can expect to get panhandled or hit on by a 50 year old with smoker's cough. I guess there are sports bars, too. That's a third category. The point is, if you're not an undergrad or ready to retire, it can seem as though there is a paucity of places to pull a pint. There's a good reason it seems that way: it's true. But I find the Court is a decent compromise. It's a bit of a mixed crowd. You get people who have been in the area since forever, but younger people stop in, too. It often depends what kind of music act they have that night. Unlike a lot of bars in the area, they have shows, and they sometimes have good bands. That's a plus. They have 16 oz cans of Hipster's Choice, I mean, PBR. They also sell cheap shots of this Irish whiskey called "Clontarf" which hardly tastes like gasoline at all. They sometimes open the side room which has a pool table in it and a separate bar. The few times I've hung out in there the bartender played old school punk rock. One time when I went in there with some friends, the computer behind the bar wasn't working, so I let them borrow my iPhone to play some tunes - and I actually got the thing back at the end of the night. Pretty amazing when you think about it. read more

as a musician and music lover, I've seen some of my favorite shows at The Court and it's always been an amazing experience. Great spot to play, to hear live music and to support the local scene as well as touring bands that come through. The staff is very passionate about music and treat musicians with the utmost respect no matter what. there's a great history in that building that you can not only feel, but see with the countless stickers bands have put on the walls over the years. it's been a big staple in the community for a long time and it's an absolute pleasure to play or see shows there. love the court!! read more

Court Tavern - a man playing a guitar on stage - Dive Bars Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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Great fucking bar. Friendliest crew of people on earth. I only come to Jersey a few times a year, and I NEVER miss grabbing a drink and show at the Court Tavern. read more

I lived in "No Funswick" a few years ago. The Court Tavern was always a good time. Good Shows and good people. It's a real deal dive and it's part of the stuff that makes up scene history I hope it's always there. read more

I can't believe I've never reviewed the Court Tavern before. I'm a Brooklynnite, but this is one of my most favorite places on earth. The drinks are cheap and super stiff, the music is great, the ambiance is total dive chill, and there's an awesome back room to veg out and booze up with yoru friends. read more

Highlights include live original music, $2.50 cans of PBR, and arguably the best juke box in the state. If there is a particular character to Old New Brunswick (pre-yuppification), it is alive and well and incredibly persistent at the Court Tavern. Standing in the shadow of the newly-built One Spring Street skyscraper, the Court Tavern looks like the diminutive old toad from a children's fable, the last rampart of the old guard. On any given night, The Court has two distinct faces. Upstairs, the local crowd swills cheap drinks, while yammering on about the latest trend in post-modern trepidation and hollering over soul, punk, or reggae blasting from the juke box. Downstairs, where all of the great Tri-state bands have performed at one time or another, the stench of stale beer and sweat permeates the air. You know in an instant, blood has been spilled here. The ghosts of the Court Tavern are pervasive. If it's 1977 or 2007, you can't tell. You can just as easily imagine Ween performing there in the late 80s as you would now see The Ergs. In fact, on occasion, you can still see Dean Ween performing there as his alter-ego, Mickey Moist. With ever-increasing upscale bars and luxury apartments devouring downtown New Brunswick, it's good to know that there is still some place for a music hound and helpless drunk to go to be himself. read more

So the Court Tavern is one of the last punk venues in New Jersey. There is a lot of music history here. Recently though, the Court has fallen on hard times when it comes to paying their taxes. For the second year in a row they have asked for people to help out and save them from foreclosure. At this point, even though it's a punk institution it appears as if they don't like the responsibility of owning a business. A shame but at least the Asbury Lanes is still around. read more

I have nothing but good memories from the Court Tavern. It's big and roomy and has an all-scene/no-scene vibe where everybody can just kinda gel with whomever. read more

Definitely a dive bar. Smelly, but not that much. Kinda laid back. Very cheap, and so I wish I went here more when I was an undergrad at Rutgers. Definitely don't go when its packed because its really dark. Bands play here often too. read more

The court tavern has had great turnaround under new management. The staff is friendly, and attentive, there are always good drink specials, and the best part is there is almost always great live music playing. Yes, when you first walk in you will notice its a dive bar. However, the courts legacy is as one of the greatest music venus in new jersey. Not only have many bands from the past played here before "making it big" but a great many talented musicians continue to make the court tavern come alive. It is safe to say that without the court tavern the live original music scene of new jersey would surely take a blow, as it did. Now under brand new management the court tavern is back better than ever. read more

Old school! Cool vibe, cheap beer, time warp. Go during off-hours and enjoy what a pub used to be like. Just some locals sitting around, chatting. read more

Love it! They have a great jukebox upstairs, where you can hang with all sorts of cool people and then if you want to pay go downstairs and see a cool show! woo read more

It's a great dive bar. The people are nice, they have fun music and cheap beer. What more could you ask for?!

Came to see my brother in laws band and sat at the bar. Took the bartender NEVER to come ask us if we wanted a drink. We waved her down twice. Nothing. She was sitting down texting tho. Than the show was over. She comes like "u guys need a drink?" Ummmmm b**** we leaving. Whatever the the band was awesome. Screw the stupid 12 year old bartender that doesn't know what the hell she doing. Probably doesn't know how to pour more than a beer!! Next time tend to your damn guests !! read more

Good beer selection, awesome bands. I've never tried any of the food but I'm sure its decent. The shot and a beer special has become a tradition with me and my friends--it's disgusting, but obligatory. You'll learn to love this place. read more

Nice bands. Had a rude encounter while my brother was playing there with one of the employees. No one wants to deal with someone that thinks they're more than they are and this employee exuded that. Was just very unnecessarily rude and unhelpful. read more

The renovations are nice, but the only reason I really go here is to watch bands. The drinks are extremely inconsistent, as far as alcohol quantity and garnishes, but not too expensive. It's great that they got rid of the old door man that guarded the basement, he was always extremely rude and made inappropriate comments to me and my friends. The basement can be suffocating, even in the winter, but the sound guy is good. Another downside is that the doors to the stalls in the bathrooms have been broken for quite some time. They recently added a smaller bar in the basement, which is convenient but obviously has less drink options. The main reason I keep returning here is for the shows. read more

The Court Tavern is the BEST place to go to see live music in New Brunswick. As an active member of the local scene I can honestly say that the new management has provided the most amazing opportunity for new and local artists to perform live. Most shows are $10 and showcase incredible bands who are often amazing live. If you play open mic nights, there are sometimes even reduced prices to get into the shows afterwards. Ultimately, despite issues with the previous management and staff, the new management has created a great place for musicians to congregate, connect, build community, and get cheap drinks! I would recommend that everyone come to The Court Tavern because it is back with a vengeance. Lets keep the local scene alive! read more

I've been frequenting the Court Tavern regularly since the re-opening in 2015. I wasn't around when it was under the old management, so I can't speak for back then. However, I can tell you that I've never had a single bad experience in the months I have been regularly going there, whether I am visiting the court as a performing musician or a spectator. Covers are reasonable (never seen a cover over $10, and it's usually less), drinks are inexpensive and strong, and the staff is amazingly friendly and helpful, from the door to the bar to the sound board. Their Wednesday night open mic is one of my favorite days of the week - some serious talent in that basement. There is a real passion for live, local music at the Court Tavern that you don't see at every venue. Would definitely recommend. read more

The tavern is BACK! While keeping its traditional 'dive-bar' theme you can definitely tell this place has been fixed up! Not only that: AWESOME bands. I think alot of people don't know its back up but I'll tell you, band line-ups are sweet, AMAZING acoustics in the basement and did I mention drink prices are A+? Its a place you want to check out even if you've been there before, now that its not as dumpy. Definitely going to be coming back! read more

what a dump. I went here once to see a live band with the bf, and I won't ever go back. Hot, crowded, small and watered down mixed drinks, slow service. ugh. NB has alot of better places to go. read more