9 of the best pub quiz nights in Manchester
- By Rhian Sugden
- Last Updated 7 months ago
Fancy yourself as a John Triviaolta or a Trivia Newton-John? Then look no further.
Everyone has an inner Quizzymodo that needs testing every once in a while. What better way to do that than with a few friends, a few beers and some mind-boggling quizzical questions.
Here’s our round-up of some of the best quizzes in the city with some decent prizes up for grabs.
Pen and Pencil
Ever-so-popular weekly quiz night Pencils Down consists of four rounds including film and TV, general knowledge, music and a special wildcard round. Each week the losing team will choose the wildcard round for the following week from a list of options. It’s £1 per entry, winner takes all and there’s a round of beers on offer for the best team name. Tuesdays, 7.30pm.
Sam’s Chop House
This is what we like to call a proper pub quiz in a historic city centre boozer. This fun-filled no-nonsense quiz is hosted by comedy queen Fi Abernethy every Tuesday at 6.30pm and costs just £1 to enter. There’s always a fantastic first prize, second prize and sometimes a booby prize too. If you’ve got a sense of humour and some good pub grub is your thing, this great after-work event should be right up your street. It tends to get pretty packed so do try and get there early to get a good table.
Bay Horse Tavern
Another Tuesday evening hot-spot for quiz fans is the Bay Horse Tavern where you could be in with a chance of winning up to a generous £50. Not bad for a Tuesday down the boozer. Complimentary drinks are also up for grabs – who doesn’t love a free drink? On Tuesday 18th December there will be a special Christmas Edition quiz hosted by their very own Santa. Not to be missed.
The Fab Cafe
Fab Cafe, one of the world’s first television and movie theme bars, have launched a quiz where you can go to test your grey matter and pick up a few interesting facts along the way. It costs £1 per person to play and there are five rounds of fun with questions ranging from the sublime to the absolutely ridiculous. Wednesday evenings, 8.30pm.
Abel Heywood
Known for having some of the best themed quizzes in the city, Abel Heywood definitely pulls out all the stops on Wednesdays when the Quizzly Bears hold a bi-weekly quiz. They’ve hosted some sell-out themed evenings recently including a Marvel-themed quiz and a Rocky Horror Show Quiz over Halloween. One that we can’t wait for is an Alan Partridge themed quiz on November 14th. Smell my cheese! There’s a generous winners prize of course and plenty of spot prizes to be won. And there’s free popcorn and some tasty themed cocktails on offer. It costs £2pp/£10 for a team and is one you need to book in advance as spaces sell quickly.
The Banyan Tree
The Banyan Tree over in Castlefield claim to host the most spectacular quiz night in all of Manchester every Monday at 7.30pm – that’s one bold statement – when charismatic Caddy takes over the microphone and invites you to pull up a chair and come up with a hilarious team name – the more outrageous the better. Perfectly pulled pints are on offer and a delicious choice of curry specials are available. What better way to beat the Monday blues?
Common
One of the most unique bars in the city has an ever changing roster of independent art, so it should come as no surprise that they have an ever changing quiz night too. The Common Knowledge Quiz (get it?) is free to enter – and there prizes are to be won. Who doesn’t love a freebie?? So get that big ol’ brain of yours down to Common for a bit of trivia and a yes or no grilling. Lots of fun to be had here.
Dive NQ
Currently hosting a monthly quiz, QUIZZin, on the first Thursday of every month. Making another appearance is quizmaster Fi Abernerthy who seems to be doing a fair bit on the Manchester quiz scene. To get you into the festive spirit Dive NQ are hosting a Christmas special on Thursday 6th December starting at 6.30pm. Tickets for this one are a little more expensive at £20. However you do get a food platter, a glass of prosecco plus lots of guaranteed entertainment. Or if you aren’t feeling hungry, you can just pay £5 to take part in the quiz.
Lass O’Gowrie
The Big Fat Stupid Quiz – also on Thursday – includes some of the strangest facts and weekly themes in town. It’s been described as ungoogleable because it’s designed to keep you from cheating your way to a win. Hosted in a much-loved boozer off Oxford Road, it features a mix of retro quizzing, the usual picture sound rounds, film rounds and some general knowledge. It starts at 8pm and it’s just £1pp to enter with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
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