What you need for a pub quiz

A pub quiz needs more than questions and a projector. You’ll need drinks, snacks, serving ware, answer sheets, pens and prizes, plus the cables and power supplies that keep the quiz running. Plan quantities around your expected attendance and team size. Buy chilled drinks and food close enough to the start that they can be served fresh, and check every technical item before guests arrive.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 64
Registration desk
Waste binsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable drinking glassesqty 80
Coffee cupsqty 30
Platesqty 80
Cutlery setsqty 80
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 6

Equipment

Laptop
Projector
Projection screen
Speakersqty 2
Wireless microphone
Extension cordsqty 2
Power stripsqty 4
HDMI cableqty 2
Timerqty 2

Game materials

Answer sheetsqty 400
Score sheetsqty 20
Pensqty 80
Team table numbersqty 16
Prizesqty 3

Office

Clipboardqty 6
Tapeqty 3
Scissorsqty 2
Markersqty 6

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Buntingqty 6
Balloonsqty 40

Kitchen

Coffee makerqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Ice packsqty 12

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 2
Spongesqty 6
Dishclothsqty 8
Broom and dustpanqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Pilsner - 72 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Red wine - 3 bottles
- White wine - 3 bottles
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Tonic - 3 bottles
- Ginger ale - 3 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 8 bottles
- Still mineral water - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Mints - 1 box
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Snack mix - 4 bags
- Salty sticks - 4 bags
- Olives - 4 jars
- Pickles - 3 jars
- Cheese cubes - 3 kilograms
- Dry sausage - 2 kilograms
- Vegetarian party snacks - 3 kilograms
- Vegan snacks - 2 kilogram
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Brownies - 4 boxes
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Straws - 100 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 2 packs

Tips

Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then about 1–2 drinks per person for each additional hour. Include non-alcoholic options and chill them before opening the venue.
Buy or prepare at least 1 answer sheet and 1 pen per team for every round, plus 10% extra. Keep spare pens, markers, tape and scissors at the registration desk.
For snacks, plan roughly 150–200 g per person for a quiz lasting 2–3 hours. Use serving platters and tongs, and keep plates, cutlery and napkins where teams can reach them without blocking the quiz.
Test the laptop, projector, screen, speakers, wireless microphone, HDMI cable and timer at least 60 minutes before the first question. Pack extension cords and power strips even if the venue says equipment is available.
Prepare one visible table number for every team and a prize for each winning team or category. Keep score sheets, the clipboard and spare stationery together so scoring does not stop between rounds.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks do I need for a pub quiz?: For the first hour, plan 2–3 drinks per person. For each further hour, add 1–2 drinks per person, with a clear share of non-alcoholic drinks.
How many answer sheets and pens do I need?: Prepare one answer sheet and one pen per team for every quiz round. Add at least 10% extra sheets and pens so late registrations or lost stationery do not cause delays.
How much food do I need for a pub quiz?: For a 2–3 hour quiz, allow about 150–200 g of snacks per person. Add plates and serving utensils, and provide extra food if the quiz takes place over a normal mealtime.
When should I test the pub quiz equipment?: Test the laptop, projector, speakers, microphone and HDMI connection at least 60 minutes before guests arrive. Check extension cords and power strips at the same time, rather than waiting until the first round.

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