Brighton has officially crowned its first-ever Pub Quiz Awards winners, as quizmasters from across BN1, BN2 and BN3 came together at The Mucky Duck on December 1 for a night dedicated to the city’s thriving quizzing community.
Founded by Brighton-based quizmaster and writer Dean Harrington, the Pub Quiz Awards is the first UK ceremony created specifically to celebrate the people behind the country’s best-loved pub quizzes.
Dean, who runs Quiz Face at The Mucky Duck, said: “Pub quizzes are more than a night out – they’re a mental workout, a midweek buzz, and a brilliant way to connect with others.
“At the heart of it all are the quizmasters who can turn strangers into teammates and make every quiz night unforgettable.”
The Awards were born after Dean received his first TripAdvisor award for Quiz Face and realised there was no national recognition for pub quiz hosts. He added: “I was surprised to find there wasn’t an award just for pub quizzes! Shows like The Chase and Richard Osman’s House of Games get the spotlight on TV, but the quizmasters delivering that same joy live, in person, deserved their own celebration.”
A Night of Celebration – and a Plot Twist Quiz
The event kicked off with a special Pub Quiz Awards Quiz – with a twist. The entire quiz was created using the real questions submitted by finalists for the Best Pub Quiz Writer category. “Everybody had a lovely time… all the speeches were nothing short of lovely,” Dean said.
Seven awards were handed out on the night:
- Best Pub Quiz Award: Tom Skinner – The Black Dove
- Best Quiz Writer Award: Mark Stack – The Hove Park Tavern
- Best Question Award: Felix Le Freak – The Actors
- Best BN1 Pub Quiz: James Boyle – The Pub at Five Ways
- Best BN2 Pub Quiz: Tom Skinner – The Black Dove
- Best BN3 Pub Quiz: Christopher Dodd – The Robin Hood
- Best Team Award: The Robin Hood
Brighton at the Heart of It
Dean, who moved to the city 20 years ago, added: “One of the many reasons I love Brighton is that it has all the good ‘-ivity’s’ – creativity, inclusivity and positivity. And that’s because of its Brightonians.”
Alongside running Quiz Face, Dean has written questions for the BBC, major brands like Picturehouse and Pizza Pilgrims, and recently contributed to the Brighton-created trivia game The Fast and the Curious.
Read more: Brighton People: Felix Le Freak
What’s Next? Bigger, Better, and Beyond Brighton
After the success of the inaugural ceremony, Dean already has his sights set higher.
“We look to go bigger and better next time – ideally the whole of BN, London, and quiz podcasts. We’re also looking to get some sponsorship for the next one.”
He added: “To all the quizmasters who entered, all the people who voted, the judges, and the Mucky Duck crew – thank you so soooo much! Let’s make quizzing history, guys!”
Website: Pub Quiz Awards
