What you need for a pub quiz

A pub quiz needs more than questions and a laptop. Plan the items that keep teams comfortable, let everyone hear and see the quiz, and make scoring straightforward. Drinks, glasses, answer sheets and prizes are easy to underestimate, especially when shopping is left until the day itself. Use this list to check the room setup, serving equipment, technical connections and small items that are often forgotten before guests arrive.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 48
Quiz table
Buffet tableqty 2

Equipment

Laptop
Projector
Projection screen
Portable speaker
Microphone
Presentation clicker
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3
HDMI cable
Charging cablesqty 2

Tableware

Drinking glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 48
Platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 48
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving jugsqty 4

Kitchen

Corkscrewqty 2
Bottle openersqty 3
Coffee maker
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 3
Ice cube traysqty 4

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Team card holdersqty 8
Prize table sign

Lighting

Atmosphere lightsqty 4

Office

Pensqty 60
Spare paperqty 100
Scoreboard
Whiteboard markersqty 4
Prizesqty 3

Cleaning

Broom and dustpan
Mop and bucket
Cleaning glovesqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 3 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 2 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Spa Rood - 3 bottles
- Beer - 72 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- White wine - 4 bottles
- Red wine - 3 bottles
- Non-alcoholic wine - 2 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Mints - 1 box
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Snack mix - 3 bags
- Peanuts - 2 bags
- Olives - 3 jars
- Cheese cubes - 2 kilos
- Grapes - 2 kilos
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Cucumbers - 4 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Baguettes - 6 pieces
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Coffee filters - 1 pack
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces

Tips

Plan roughly 2 to 3 drinks per person for the first hour, then 1 to 2 drinks per person for each additional hour. Chill bottled drinks before opening the venue and keep extra drinks in coolers with ice.
For each team, prepare one set of team cards and enough answer sheets for every quiz round, plus at least 10% extra in case of mistakes. Print the quiz booklets and response forms before the event day.
Test the laptop, projector, screen, speaker, microphone and clicker at home at least 24 hours before the quiz. Pack the HDMI cable, charging cables, extension cords and power strips together so one missing connection does not delay setup.
Allow at least 1 glass per guest for drinks and keep 10% extra available. Add coffee cups, plates, cutlery and serving jugs if you are offering coffee, snacks or buffet food rather than only drinks.
Buy and wrap the prizes at least 3 days ahead, then place them on a clearly marked prize table. A corkscrew, bottle openers, ice trays and tablecloths are small purchases that are commonly noticed only after guests have arrived.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks do I need for a pub quiz?: Allow 2 to 3 drinks per person during the first hour, followed by 1 to 2 drinks per person per additional hour. Add around 10% extra for unexpected guests or higher consumption.
How many answer sheets should I print for a pub quiz?: Print one response form per team for every quiz round, plus at least 10% spare sheets. For 10 teams and 6 rounds, that means 60 forms and 6 extra.
What equipment do I need for a pub quiz?: You typically need a laptop, projector, projection screen, speaker, microphone and presentation clicker. Test all connections at home at least 24 hours beforehand and bring HDMI, charging and extension cables.
When should I buy prizes for a pub quiz?: Buy the prizes at least 3 days before the quiz so you have time to wrap them and check that you have one prize set for each planned winning category. Keep them together until the prize table is set up.

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