How to Do a Pub Quiz Night (Step-by-Step for Beginners)

How to Do a Pub Quiz Night (Step-by-Step for Beginners)

Apr 14, 2025

Thinking of running a quiz night at your pub but don’t know where to start?

Whether you’re a pub landlord, bar manager, or event organiser — this beginner-friendly guide breaks down everything you need to run a brilliant quiz night that keeps customers coming back every week.
No experience required. Just follow these steps, add some personality, and let SmartPubTools help with the heavy lifting.


📅 Step 1: Choose the Right Night

Midweek is best. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are classic pub quiz nights. You avoid the busy weekends, and you give customers a reason to come out midweek.

Bonus Tip: Test different nights and stick with what works for your crowd.


📆 Step 2: Decide Your Format

A simple, balanced format works best:

  • 5 rounds (10 questions each)
  • General Knowledge, Music, Picture, Food & Drink, Wildcard
  • 1 break in the middle
  • 1 tie-breaker in case of a draw

Use paper answer sheets or go paperless with quiz software or QR codes.


📊 Step 3: Promote It (Early + Often)

Start promoting at least 7 days ahead:

  • Posters inside the venue
  • Facebook and Instagram posts
  • Add it to your pub's Google Business profile (under Events)
  • Create a Facebook Event

Need help? SmartPubTools can generate your posters and social media captions in seconds.


🚀 Step 4: Prep the Questions (The Smart Way)

You’ve got options:

  1. Write them yourself (takes time)
  2. Google and piece things together (can be messy)
  3. Use SmartPubTools Quiz Generator (easy + tailored)

Just tell it your theme, number of rounds, difficulty, and style — and it builds a full quiz instantly.

👉 Try the AI Quiz Generator Tool → 👉 Go Directly to the SmartPubTools Quiz Studio →


🎤 Step 5: Host with Confidence

Your quizmaster sets the tone. You don’t need to be a stand-up comedian — just confident and friendly.
Tips:

  • Read each question twice
  • Don’t rush the rounds
  • Make a few jokes or local references
  • Keep energy up with music in the breaks

Bonus: SmartPubTools can give you a full MC script for each round!


🏆 Step 6: Choose Great Prizes

You don’t need to break the bank. Simple prizes work great:

  • Bar tab or drinks voucher
  • Free burger and pint combo
  • Bottle of bubbly or novelty trophy

Offer a loyalty bonus: free entry or a drink next week for returning teams.


📈 Step 7: Build Momentum

After the quiz:

  • Take photos of winners
  • Post them on social (tag the teams!)
  • Announce the next quiz date on the night
  • Encourage feedback or round suggestions

SmartPubTools can help you automate follow-up posts and build a regular crowd.


🫰 Bonus: Download Free Quiz Tools

Need a score sheet? Tie-breaker? Poster template? You’ll find it all inside SmartPubTools:

  • Editable Quiz Score Sheet
  • Social Media Toolkit
  • Full Quiz Night Planning Checklist

👉 Explore Quiz Tools → 👉 Launch the SmartPubTools Studio →


Final Word

You don’t need experience or a team of writers to run a brilliant quiz night.
With a great format, a welcoming host, and a few smart tools, you can pack your venue, boost midweek sales, and build community.
So grab a mic (or just your loudest voice), load up SmartPubTools, and give it a go!

👉 Run Your First Quiz Night With SmartPubTools → 👉 Access the Interactive Quiz Creator Tool →