Pub quiz round ideas and a simple scoring plan

A memorable quiz has variety without making every round a specialist test. Try three or four short rounds, balance easier and harder questions, and check answers before inviting teams. Tell everyone the rules for devices, ties and disputed answers at the start.

Five round ideas

• Geography: capital cities, landmarks and rivers. Example: which river runs through Paris? Answer: the Seine.
• Science and nature: plants, animals and the solar system. Example: which planet is known as the Red Planet? Answer: Mars.
• Food and drink: ingredients and familiar dishes. Avoid questions that rely on a single regional recipe being the only correct version.
• Local knowledge: write questions about your town or community, then verify place names and opening dates against reliable sources.
• Connections: give three clues that point to a common theme. Explain whether teams must name the theme or answer each clue.

A fair way to score

Award one point per correct answer unless a round's rules say otherwise. Publish scores between rounds and allow a brief, consistent process for challenges. Keep one tie-break question in reserve and explain how the closest answer wins. Check venue rules and legal requirements before charging entry or offering prizes.

Run it with your group

Use a paper score sheet for these ideas, or explore GroupGames' ready-made quizzes. Medium and Large subscriptions include custom quizzes, and Large also offers a host-led team pub quiz where one team device counts as one room entry. The host counts towards the limit too.

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