A growing number of pub companies are supporting the quiz and encouraging their licensees to participate, including Admiral Taverns, Ember Inns, Punch Pubs and Austell Brewery. Individuals pubs are also signing up in significant numbers.
PubAid co-founder Des O’Flanagan said: "We're delighted with the response to the quiz, and with two months until launch, we're confident of many more hundreds of pubs signing up.”
For the first time, PubAid is working with online quiz platform Kwizzbit, which allows licensees to host a traditional pub quiz on their smartphone.
O’Flanagan continued: "After the pandemic forced us to take a break from the quiz last year, there's definitely renewed enthusiasm among licensees for events that bring people back into the pub.
“The quiz is completely free for pubs to run, offers customers a fun evening and raises huge sums for many charities, including Shelter. We are looking forward to the most successful ever quiz in May!”
Fantastic opportunity
Admiral Taverns chief executive Chris Jowsey said: “We're encouraging all our licensees to get involved in the World's Biggest Pub Quiz, which is a fantastic opportunity to hold an event that brings the community together and raises money for charity.” He added that he was pleased the quiz was sensible, allowing licensees to run it at a time it suits them.
Homeless charity Shelter was chosen as the quiz’s new partner following the Covid lockdown, with 91 families becoming homeless each day in England. Money raised in the quiz will help Shelter give information, advice and support to those facing homelessness.
Kevin Georgel St Austell Brewery chief executive, said: "Everyone loves a pub quiz and it's great to be hosting this one back in the pub rather than on Zoom! At a time when so many people are struggling with housing, there's more demand than ever for the services provided by Shelter; they are a worthy charity partner for the World's Biggest Pub Quiz this year and we're confident our licensees and customers will want to support them."
Charity backing
Pubs are encouraged to host the quiz in aid of Shelter, but have the freedom to support another charity, or divide funds raised between Shelter and a cause closer to home.
All pubs signing up to host a quiz will receive a free fundraising pack, including posters and social media assets, to help them host a popular quiz.
Samantha Rhodes, Ember Inns operations directors said the company was “delighted” to be supporting the quiz, with teams and guests looking forward to getting involved, having fun and raising funds for Shelter.
Shelter head of community fundraising said the charity was “really encouraged” by the response to the quiz, and hoped to see record levels of pubs participating in May. He concluded: “It's great to see that a majority of pubs are choosing to support Shelter: every pound raised will help us to be there for anyone facing homelessness."
The World’s Biggest Pub Quiz was launched in 2016 and has raised a total of £750,000 for hundreds of charities.
Pubs can register or find out more on the Quiz website: https://worldsbiggestquiz.pubaid.com/