Creative Pub Quiz Ideas to Attract More Customers on Slow Nights
A well-planned pub quiz can turn a slow night into one of your busiest. Offering a unique quiz night experience will not only boost footfall but also encourage repeat visits and social media buzz. Here are some creative pub quiz ideas and tips to make your quiz nights a hit.
Themed Quiz Nights
A themed quiz creates excitement and encourages participants to dress up and engage more. Rotate themes monthly to keep things fresh.
Ideas:
TV & Movie Quiz – Focus on classics, cult favorites, or a popular franchise (e.g., Harry Potter, Marvel, 90s sitcoms).
Music Quiz – Play snippets of songs and have teams guess the title, artist, or decade.
Sports Quiz – A hit during major tournaments like the World Cup or Wimbledon.
Decades Quiz – Questions based on music, events, and pop culture from a particular era.
Local History Quiz – Test knowledge on your town’s or region’s history, landmarks, and famous residents.
Interactive & Multimedia Quizzes
Make your quiz night more engaging with video and audio rounds.
Ideas:
Picture Round – Show famous landmarks, celebrities, or zoomed-in objects and have teams guess.
Sound Round – Play snippets of famous speeches, songs, or sound effects for identification.
Reverse Music Quiz – Play a song backwards and have teams guess the original.
Emoji Quiz – Display a series of emojis representing a film, book, or phrase.
Speed Rounds & Mini Challenges
Break up traditional quiz rounds with fun challenges that keep energy levels high.
Ideas:
Fastest Answer Round – First team to shout the correct answer gets a bonus point.
Physical Challenge – E.g., first person to bring up an object (like a coaster from another table) wins.
Sudden Death Round – Eliminate teams after a wrong answer until one remains.
Food & Drink-Related Quizzes
These quizzes work well when paired with special menu items or drink deals.
Ideas:
Cocktail Knowledge Quiz – Identify ingredients in classic cocktails.
Beer Tasting Challenge – Blind taste test where teams must guess the drink.
Pub Trivia – Questions about famous pubs, drinking traditions, or historic bar moments.
Celebrity Guest Hosts or Themed Characters
Make quiz night more exciting by having a guest host or a staff member dress up as a well-known character.
Ideas:
Invite a local celebrity, sports figure, or radio host to run the quiz.
Have your quizmaster dress as a character from the quiz theme (e.g., Sherlock Holmes for a mystery quiz).
Host a “Drag Quiz Night” for extra entertainment.
Team vs. Team Battles
Increase competition and excitement with a showdown-style format.
Ideas:
Bar Staff vs. Customers – A round where customers challenge the bar team.
Regulars vs. Newcomers – Encourage new customers by setting up a friendly rivalry.
Couples vs. Singles – A fun pre-Valentine’s Day battle.
Social Media & Promotion Tips
Getting people in the door is only part of the equation—keep them coming back with smart marketing.
Promotion Ideas:
Create an Event Page – Use Facebook or Instagram to promote your quiz night.
Offer a Prize – Free drinks, a meal voucher, or a bar tab for the winning team.
Encourage Team Names – Offer a small bonus point for the funniest team name.
Post Leaderboards – Keep a running scoreboard online to encourage return visits.
Live Stream a Round – Share a short segment of your quiz night on social media.
By switching up your quiz format, adding fun twists, and promoting effectively, you can turn a slow night into a must-attend weekly event. Want more content ideas and social media strategies to promote your bar? Register now for exclusive tips and resources! 🍻
Which quiz theme would you try first? Let us know in the comments!