Quiz Setup
Team Names
How to Run a Great Pub Quiz
A well-run pub quiz is one of the most enjoyable social events a British pub can offer. Whether you are a seasoned quizmaster or organising your first quiz night, this guide covers everything you need to host a memorable evening.
Structure of a Typical UK Pub Quiz
The average UK pub quiz runs for approximately two hours and follows a consistent format that regulars find reassuring and enjoyable. A standard quiz night typically looks like this:
- 6–8 rounds of 10 questions each (60–80 questions total)
- A picture round handed out at the start, collected at the end of the first half
- A music round where teams identify songs or artists from clips
- A half-time break after round 3 or 4 for drinks and score checking
- A bonus or joker round where teams can double their score for one round
- A tiebreaker question held in reserve if needed at the end
Scoring Systems
The simplest and most common scoring system awards 1 point per correct answer. Some quizmasters use variations:
- Standard: 1 point per correct answer, 10 points max per round
- Joker/Double round: Each team designates one round where their score is doubled
- Picture round: Typically scored separately, often 10–20 pictures at 1 point each
- Music round: 1 point per correct song title, optional 1 bonus point for artist
- Nearest number bonus: Tiebreaker-style questions within rounds for extra points
Popular Quiz Categories
Tips for Quiz Hosts
- Test your questions thoroughly — nothing kills a quiz like an ambiguous or incorrect answer
- Balance difficulty: aim for roughly 3 easy, 4 medium and 3 challenging questions per round
- Keep momentum — aim for one question every 30 seconds during a round
- Never let teams mark their own sheets (use peer marking between teams)
- Have a tiebreaker question prepared and sealed before the quiz starts
- Use a PA system or microphone in larger venues — clarity is essential
Average Team Sizes and Formats
Most UK pub quizzes permit teams of 4 to 6 people. Many venues charge an entry fee of £1–£2 per person, with prize money pooled from entries. Common prize structures include:
- First place: Cash prize (often 50–60% of the pot or a bar tab)
- Second place: Smaller cash prize or voucher (25–30% of pot)
- Spot prizes: Bonus prizes for specific rounds or correct tiebreakers
- Booby prize: A humorous prize for last place (very British tradition)
Music Round Guidelines
The music round is consistently voted the most popular element of a British pub quiz. To run one effectively: play the first 15–20 seconds of each track, give teams 10–15 seconds to write their answer, then move on. Common formats include:
- Name the artist and song title (2 points per track)
- Name the year the song was released (1 bonus point)
- Themed rounds: One-hit wonders, chart toppers from a specific decade, TV theme tunes
- Lyrics round: Read out lyrics and teams identify the song
How to Handle Tiebreakers
When two or more teams finish on equal points, a tiebreaker question must determine the winner. Best practice:
- The quizmaster reveals a previously sealed tiebreaker question
- Each tied team submits a written numerical answer
- The team closest to the correct answer without going over wins
- If all teams exceed the answer, the closest answer wins regardless
- Classic tiebreaker formats: "How many miles between London and Edinburgh?" (399 miles) or "In what year was Wetherspoons founded?" (1979)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many rounds does a typical UK pub quiz have?
A typical UK pub quiz has 6 to 8 rounds, each containing 10 questions, giving a total of 60–80 questions. Many quizzes also include a separate picture round of 10–20 images handed out at the beginning. Some venues add a music round, a food and drink round, or a specialist category round. The entire quiz usually lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours, including score-checking breaks between halves.
How do tiebreakers work in a pub quiz?
In a pub quiz tiebreaker, tied teams are asked a single question requiring a numerical answer. The team whose answer is closest to the correct number wins — some quizmasters use the "without going over" rule (like The Price is Right), while others simply award the win to the nearest answer regardless of direction. Common tiebreaker questions involve historical dates, geographical distances, population figures, or quantities. A good quizmaster always has a sealed tiebreaker prepared before the quiz begins.
What are the most popular pub quiz categories?
The most popular UK pub quiz categories are General Knowledge, Music, Sport, Film & TV and History. Geography, Science & Nature, Food & Drink, Literature and Current Affairs are also very common. Picture rounds — identifying celebrities, logos, landmarks or film scenes — are consistently one of the most enjoyed elements. The least popular categories tend to be Politics and Economics, though these often make for memorable difficult questions.
How many people are in a pub quiz team?
Most UK pub quizzes allow teams of 4 to 6 people. Some venues cap at 4 to ensure fairness, while others allow up to 8. Larger teams have a statistical advantage because a broader range of knowledge is covered — an 8-person team will almost always include at least one person who is strong in any given category. For a competitive quiz, teams of 4–5 provide the best balance.
What is a Joker round in a pub quiz?
A Joker round is a special rule where each team can designate one round where their score is doubled (or sometimes tripled). Teams must declare their Joker round before that round begins — they cannot apply it retrospectively. This adds a strategic element to the quiz, as teams must decide when to deploy their Joker. A team strong in music, for example, might save their Joker for the music round. Most quizzes allow only one Joker per team per quiz night.
How does the peer-marking system work?
Peer marking is the standard scoring method in UK pub quizzes. After each round, answer sheets are passed to a different team for marking. The quizmaster reads out the correct answers. The marking team scores the sheet, then hands it back to the original team. Scores are reported to the quizmaster (or entered into a scorekeeper like this calculator) to update the running total. This system prevents teams from marking their own work and maintains trust in the results.