How to Run Christmas-Themed Quizzes for Your Pub, Restaurant or Hotel

Christmas is one of the busiest and most profitable times of the year for hospitality venues. 

Guests are looking for festive fun, cosy surroundings and memorable experiences to share with family, friends and colleagues. 

A Christmas-themed quiz night ticks all the boxes: it’s affordable entertainment, easy to host, and brilliant for boosting footfall and dwell time.

Whether you run a local pub, a family-friendly restaurant or a boutique hotel, or are in charge of Christmas entertainments at a hotel that's part of a chain, here’s how to host a festive quiz that keeps guests returning year after year.

Why Christmas Quiz Nights Work So Well

They attract groups

Office parties, club socials and family get-togethers, all love a quiz. It’s an ideal pre-Christmas event that appeals to mixed ages.

They encourage longer stays

Teams ordering sharing boards, puddings or an extra round while the quizmaster tallies scores is great for revenue.

They create a warm community feel

A quiz night adds atmosphere and gives you a chance to showcase your venue’s personality.

They’re easy to run

With a bit of preparation, you can host a brilliant evening without needing specialist equipment.

Choose a Format That Works for Your Venue

★ Traditional Pen-and-Paper Quiz

Perfect for pubs and casual restaurants. Keep it simple: several themed rounds and a picture sheet on each table.

★ Christmas Bingo-Quiz Hybrid

Guests fill in bingo cards with answers instead of numbers. It’s fast-paced and great for families.

★ Big Screen Quiz

If you have a projector or large TV, add picture rounds, music clips and film stills. Ideal for hotel lounges or larger restaurants.

★ Charity Quiz Night

Partner with a local charity, hospice or foodbank. It strengthens community ties and boosts turnout.

Festive Quiz Round Ideas

Mix easy and harder questions to keep all teams engaged. Popular round themes include:

The 12 Days of Christmas

Questions about birds, meanings, and origins of the song.

Christmas TV Specials

From Morecambe and Wise to The Vicar of Dibley, this always goes down well.

Food and Drink at Christmas

British festive traditions, unusual global practices or guess-the-ingredient challenges.

Name That Christmas Tune

Short clips or even hummed intros if you want to add some humour.

Christmas Toys Through the Decades

Nostalgia always sparks lively conversation.

Christmas Around the World

Perfect for hotel guests or venues with an international crowd.

Add On-Brand Prizes

You don’t need to spend much to create excitement. Choose prizes that also promote your venue:

Free dessert or coffee for each team member

A gift card for the pub or restaurant

A Christmas hamper featuring local produce

A bottle of fizz for the winning team

A “booby prize” such as a wooden spoon or novelty reindeer antlers

Many venues also offer a “rollover jackpot” for a bonus question, encouraging repeat visits.

Make It Special With Festive Touches

A Christmas quiz should feel magical, not just another Thursday night. Small details make a big difference:

Serve mulled wine, hot chocolate or Christmas cocktails

Offer a quiz-night festive platter or sharing board

Add fairy lights, table candles or music to set the mood

Invite teams to wear Christmas jumpers for a prize

Use decorative answer sheets or scorecards

Promote Your Quiz Effectively

Good advertising ensures a full house. Try:

Posters in-venue and on your entrance door

Daily posts on Facebook, Instagram, X and Threads

An event listing on your website or Google Business page

Sharing details with local community groups

Adding a “Book your table for our Christmas quiz!” button online

Always encourage teams to reserve tables early to manage capacity.

Keep the Night Running Smoothly

Start on time to respect early arrivals

Keep rounds short and lively

Use a microphone if the room gets busy

Allow a short break for ordering drinks

Check answer sheets in full view for transparency

Announce results with plenty of cheer and humour

A friendly, upbeat quizmaster makes all the difference.

Make It a Seasonal Tradition

If your first quiz goes well, turn it into a Christmas tradition. Many venues run:

Weekly quizzes throughout December

A festive “Big Quiz Night” just before Christmas

A New Year quiz to kick off January trade

Guests love rituals, and a well-run quiz night becomes something they look forward to each year.

Hosting a Christmas-themed quiz night is an easy, low-cost way to generate excitement, increase bookings and bring people together. With clever theming, good promotion and a welcoming atmosphere, your pub, restaurant or hotel can become the go-to venue for festive fun in your community.

Helping Your Customers (and Your Business) Through Tough Times: Why a Christmas Savings Club Makes Sense

As the cost of living continues to rise and economic uncertainty looms, both businesses and their customers are feeling the pressure.

In the face of these challenges, forward-thinking retailers are looking for practical ways to offer real value and build long-term loyalty. 

One such initiative is the Christmas savings club — a modern take on a trusted tradition that can make a significant difference for families planning ahead for the festive season.

But it doesn’t stop there. There are several ways your retail business can support customers while strengthening your own resilience in the market. Here's how.

1. The Christmas Savings Club: A Simple Solution with Big Impact

Christmas savings clubs have been a community staple in the UK for generations. The concept is simple: customers put aside a small amount of money each week or month throughout the year, then redeem it as vouchers, credit, or goods in your store in time for the festive season.

Benefits for customers:

Spreads the cost of Christmas, avoiding last-minute debt. For example, putting £10 a week into your savings club would, over a year, give your customer £520 toward the cost of their Christmas.

Offers peace of mind and a sense of control.

Encourages savings habits in a manageable, low-pressure way.

Benefits for your business:

Builds year-round engagement and customer loyalty.

Increases guaranteed footfall and festive period sales.

Helps with inventory forecasting and cash flow planning.

Tip: Make your club flexible — offer digital tracking, low minimum contributions, and rewards like a bonus for early sign-up or regular saving.

2. Offer Interest-Free Payment Plans

With many households watching every penny, flexible payment terms can be a lifeline. Offering interest-free instalment options on bigger-ticket items or bulk Christmas purchases (like toys, hampers, or electronics) can make your products more accessible without devaluing them.

Tools like Klarna, Clearpay, or your own in-house payment plan can be a practical way to support customers in spreading the cost over time.

3. Introduce a Loyalty or Points Scheme

Give something back to customers for sticking with you. A simple points-based system (e.g., spend £1, earn 1 point) that leads to discounts, vouchers, or even exclusive access to Christmas offers can foster loyalty and repeat visits.

In tough times, every little saving counts — and your customers will appreciate a retailer who recognises and rewards their custom.

4. Host Budget-Friendly Events and Workshops

Use your retail space (or online platforms) to host community-focused events. This could include:

Free festive craft or gift-wrapping workshops.

Christmas cooking on a budget demos.

Toy swaps or charity donation drives.

These low-cost or free events not only drive traffic to your store but also strengthen your role as a supportive part of the community.

5. Create a ‘Value Range’ or Highlight Budget Buys

Not every customer can splurge, especially in current times. Create a dedicated value section in your store or on your website featuring budget-friendly items for Christmas — whether it's gifts, décor, or food.

Clearly labelling multi-buy offers, value bundles, and affordable alternatives will help shoppers feel confident that they can celebrate without overspending.

6. Partner with Local Charities and Food Banks

Show your business’s commitment to the community by partnering with local organisations. Consider donation bins, "pay it forward" schemes, or matching customer donations with a small business contribution.

This kind of involvement builds goodwill and trust — and can make a real difference to those in need.

Running a Christmas savings club and offering thoughtful, community-minded support isn't just the right thing to do — it’s good business. In uncertain times, customers are more likely to stick with retailers who understand their reality and offer solutions that ease financial pressure without sacrificing the joy of the season.

By becoming a partner in your customers’ wellbeing, your retail establishment can build loyalty, generate goodwill, and secure a more stable, community-focused future.

Craft Gin Club Launches Gin Advent Calendar to Welcome in Christmas 2023

The Craft Gin Club (www.craftginclub.co.uk) is to launch its fabulously festive Craft Gin Advent Calendar for 2023 at a price of £94.95 from 1st September (pre-sale) and on general sale from 1st October on the Craft Gin Club online shop.

The calendar features 25 miniature bottles, each containing a double shot (50ml) of craft gin, so you'll get to enjoy a special G&T on Christmas Day, also!

All the craft gins are new to the calendar for this year, and the selection includes seven exclusive gins created just for Craft Gin Club by master distilleries from all over the UK

For example, the massively popular Cornish craft distiller, Tarquin's, has created an exclusive Mince Pie Gin recipe. This gin can't be purchased anywhere else.

The gins come from the finest craft distillers from around the UK and also from across the globe.

Featuring a fun and fabulously retro hand-drawn design, the calendar will take pride of place in any festive gin-lover's living room!

The advent calendar also has three tasty cocktail serving suggestions to try at home: a 'Claus-mopolitan', a 'Festive Snowball' and a 'Sloe Gin Negroni'

The back of the calendar also outlines a suggested mixer and garnish to pair with each individual gin, as chosen by Craft Gin Club's in-house mixologist, so you can enjoy the perfect G&T with each and every door opening; a 'pairing bundle' of mixers will be available on the online shop to accompany the advent calendar from September.