What you need for a pub quiz

A pub quiz needs more than questions and a projector. You’ll need drinks and serving equipment, coffee supplies, answer forms, prizes and the cables that keep the presentation running. Buy or collect the consumables a few days ahead, then chill drinks and test the laptop, projector, microphone and speakers before guests arrive. This checklist helps you cover the easy-to-forget items without duplicating the full task and equipment lists below.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 10
Chairsqty 70
Presentation table
Reception desk
Stoolsqty 4

Tableware

Drinking glassesqty 80
Coffee cupsqty 50
Teacupsqty 30
Platesqty 80
Cutlery setsqty 70
Serving plattersqty 12
Pouring jugsqty 6

Equipment

Laptop
Projector
Projection screen
Microphone
Speakersqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
HDMI cableqty 2
Power banksqty 2

Kitchen

Coffee makerqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Ice bucketsqty 2
Bottle openersqty 4
Corkscrewqty 2
Serving spoonsqty 6
Cutting boardsqty 2
Kitchen knivesqty 2

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 10
Team name signsqty 15
Score tableqty 2
Prizesqty 3

Lighting

Mood lightingqty 4

Cleaning

Vacuum cleaner
Mop set
Bucketsqty 2
Waste binsqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Lemon juice - 1 bottle
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Tonic - 3 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Beer - 8 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 2 crates
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Bubbly - 2 bottles
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 5 bags
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Snack nuts - 3 bags
- Olives - 4 jars
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Cheese cubes - 3 kilo
- Dry sausage - 2 kilos
- Toast rounds - 8 packs
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Chocolate bars - 30 pieces
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Lemon cake - 3 pieces
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Cleaning wipes - 2 packs
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls

Paper goods

Answer formsqty 250
Pensqty 80
Team badgesqty 20
Round sheetsqty 20
Programsqty 70
Name stickersqty 80
Tapeqty 4
Writing foldersqty 20
Staplersqty 2
Scissorsqty 4

Tips

Plan around two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add one drink per person for each additional hour. Buy a mix of soft drinks and alcoholic options, plus enough water for every round.
Allow one answer form per team for each quiz round, plus at least 10 spare forms. Keep pens together at the reception desk rather than leaving teams to search for them.
Test the laptop, projector, screen, HDMI cable, microphone and speakers at least one day before the quiz. Pack a spare HDMI cable and charge power banks before leaving for the venue.
For hot drinks, provide one coffee cup or teacup per expected drinker and fill two thermos flasks before the quiz starts. Buy milk, sugar, tea and coffee separately; these are commonly missed when drinks are planned.
Collect prizes at least three days before the event and bring them in one labelled bag. Pack bottle openers, a corkscrew, serving spoons, cutting boards and ice buckets with the drinks instead of assuming the venue has them.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks do I need for a pub quiz?: Plan for two to three drinks per person during the first hour, then one additional drink per person for every extra hour. Add water for the full group and allow extra soft drinks if the quiz lasts more than two hours.
What should I buy for a pub quiz?: Buy drinks, water, coffee, tea, milk, sugar, ice, paper answer forms, pens and prizes. Also check whether you need to bring glasses, cups, plates, cutlery, serving platters and pouring jugs.
How many answer sheets do I need for a pub quiz?: Prepare one answer sheet per team for every round, then add at least 10 spare sheets. For example, 8 teams playing 6 rounds need 48 forms plus 10 spares, or 58 forms in total.
When should I test the pub quiz equipment?: Test the laptop, projector, screen, HDMI cable, microphone and speakers at least 24 hours before the quiz. Do a second connection check when you open the venue, because cables and power supplies are often the first things to be moved or forgotten.

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