We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to a good old pub quiz in Manchester, but now an extra element is set to be added thanks to a local lad turned celebrity. Pub chain Marston’s has teamed up with Bolton‘s own Paddy McGuinness on a search for the UK’s smartest pub the ‘Big Pub Quiz‘, with the man himself set to present the prizes.
Marston’s Big Pub Quiz will welcome locals into over 200 pubs across the country to put their general knowledge to the test, including 31 in the North West. From 1st May until 22nd May, weekly quizzes will take place with one location each week being crowned as the Smartest Pub in the UK.
The brainiest pubs will win up to £1,000 from Marston’s Charitable Foundation, to donate to a local cause or project, which will be presented in person by Paddy. The top scorer from the winning pubs will also get their hands on a £50 voucher to get the drinks in.
Players can take part in all four quizzes for free, with their cumulative score being logged across the month if they take part every week. The individual quiz-goer with the highest overall score from across every quiz night will bag a £5,000 cash prize and the chance to join Paddy for an in-person congratulations.
The audio-based quiz will kick off each Thursday night at 8pm, with guests invited to log on via QR codes and play four rounds via their phones, with Paddy’s questions and a live compere being played for all to hear, via the pubs sound system.
While pub quizzes are usually played in teams, the Marston’s Big Pub Quiz is every man for themselves, giving the chance for groups to engage in some friendly competition to reach the highest score, add to the pub’s average score and claim ultimate bragging rights.
Ahead of the Big Pub Quiz beginning, participating pubs were tasked with nominating a local project close to their heart to donate to, should they be crowned as Smartest Pub of the Week. Each week, the top-scoring pub will receive a grant of up to £1,000 from the Marston’s Charitable Foundation to give to their chosen cause – a member of the successful pub teams and a representative from the local causes will be invited to meet Paddy, to receive the donations in person.
Voice of the Big Pub Quiz, Paddy McGuinness, said: “I’m so excited to be working with Marston’s to find the smartest pub in the UK, and support some amazing community causes while we’re at it.
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting the winners and community projects to congratulate them in person.
“We want as many people as possible to head down to their local to join in each week and give the quiz a go. To the pub!”
The Marston’s Big Pub Quiz is taking place on 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd May at 8pm, in local pubs across the country.
The Greater Manchester pubs participating in the Big Pub Quiz with Paddy McGuinness are:
- New Moston Inn, New Moston
- Houghton Arms, Failsworth
- Radclyffe Arms, Middleton Junction
- Bridge Tavern, Radcliffe
- Bate Hall Hotel, Macclesfield
- Whistling Wren, Leigh
- Weavers Whistle, Northwich
Find your nearest participating pub here.