The Beginner's Guide to Pub Trivia: Everything You Need to Know
New to trivia nights? This complete guide covers how pub trivia works, what to expect, essential etiquette, and how to find great trivia near you.
You've heard your friends rave about trivia night. You've seen the photos of teams celebrating wins with beer and high-fives. Maybe you've walked past a packed bar on a Tuesday and wondered what all the energy was about.
Welcome to the world of pub trivia—a weekly ritual that combines competition, social connection, and just enough pressure to make random facts feel important.
What Is Pub Trivia?
Pub trivia (also called bar trivia, quiz night, or trivia night) is a live, team-based question-and-answer game hosted at bars, breweries, and restaurants. A host reads questions across multiple categories, teams write answers, and at the end of the night, winners get bragging rights (and often prizes).
The Basic Flow
- Arrive and register: Show up, grab a table, register your team name
- Rounds begin: Host reads 6-10 questions per round, usually themed
- Answer and submit: Teams write answers on a sheet and turn it in
- Scoring and standings: Host grades answers and announces standings
- Repeat for 4-6 rounds: Different themes each round
- Final results: Winners announced, prizes awarded
Total time: 90 minutes to 2.5 hours.
What to Expect at Your First Trivia Night
Most trivia nights happen at casual bars, breweries, or pub-style restaurants. The atmosphere is relaxed. Expect moderate noise.
Common Categories
- History and Politics
- Science and Nature
- Pop Culture (movies, TV, music)
- Sports
- Geography
- Literature and Arts
- Current Events
- Miscellaneous/Random
How Scoring Works
- 1 point per correct answer in standard rounds
- Bonus rounds may be worth 2-5 points each
- Some hosts award half-points for partial correctness
Essential Trivia Night Etiquette
No Phones (Seriously): This is the cardinal rule. Using your phone to look up answers is cheating.
Respect Volume Levels: Discuss answers at conversational volume, not shouting.
Turn In Sheets On Time: When the host calls time, stop writing and submit.
Celebrate Wins Graciously: If you win, celebrate with your team, not by rubbing it in.
Tip Your Host and Server: Hosts work hard. Servers deal with large groups. Tip accordingly.
How to Find Trivia Nights Near You
Search Online Directories: Use MyTriviaTeam's venue directory. Search by ZIP code or city.
Ask Locals: Post in local subreddits, neighborhood Facebook groups, or Nextdoor.
Google + Call Ahead: Search "trivia night near me" and confirm details.
Building Your First Team
Most venues allow teams of 4-8 players. Aim for 4-6. Recruit for knowledge diversity, not just "smart friends."
What to Bring
- Pens (2-3): Venues usually provide one, but bring backups
- Cash for tips
- ID: Most trivia venues are 21+
- Enthusiasm
Common Beginner Mistakes
Overthinking Easy Questions: When a question feels too simple, trust your gut.
Debating Every Answer to Death: If you're stuck for 90 seconds, just pick one and move on.
Ignoring Team Dynamics: Create space for quieter teammates to contribute.
Next Steps After Your First Game
Commit to a regular schedule. Track your performance with MyTriviaTeam. Explore other venues using our venue directory.
See you at trivia night.
Need a team name? Browse our trivia team name generator for hundreds of ideas by category.