The best film quizzes in London

David Jenkins puts aside his well-thumbed film encyclopedia and rounds up the city’s best film quizzes

Everyone likes a pub quiz, but it can be disheartening to trundle along to some lager-soaked dive in Rotherhithe hoping for questions on Oscar winners of the 1930s, and end up having to wrack your brains about tube stops beginning with ‘K’. So here we give you six of the best film quizzes in London.

Roxy Bar and Screen
Where? Roxy Bar and Screen, 128-132 Borough High Street, SE1 1LB.
When? 7.30pm, last Thursday of the month.
Admission? £2 each; maximum of six per team. It’s busy, so book ahead.
Themes? Past highlights included questions on Jennifer Aniston and the infamous ‘Dead, Gay or Both?’ round.
Prizes? Anything from £15 to £150.

The BFI film quiz
Where? BFI Imax Café, Waterloo
When? 8pm, second Wednesday of the month.
Admission? A modest £1 per player (which includes free popcorn), with a maximum of six per team.
Themes? Eclectic, with rounds on current and classic cinema, plus the odd BFI-related question.
Prizes? Books, DVDs and subscriptions to Sight & Sound.

The Phoenix Cinema quiz
Where? The Bald Faced Stag, 69 High Road, East Finchley, N2 8AB.
When? 7.30pm, every third Monday of the month.
Admission? £2 per person.
Themes? Film music, quotes and new releases crop up, and the winning and lowest-scoring teams get to pick a theme for one round the next month.
Prizes? Tickets and Champagne.

The Curzon’s Ten Rounds With De Niro Film Quiz
Where? The Curzon Soho Bar (see Central Cinemas for address).
When? 7.30pm, third Wednesday of the month.
Admission? £10 per team, with a maximum of six members per team. Again, each team gets free popcorn.
Themes? Each quiz is linked to a new film.
Prizes? Books, DVDs and the occasional surprise.

The McGuffin film pub quiz
Where? The Rose & Crown, 55 Hoe Street, E17 4SA.
When? 8.30pm, first Saturday of the month.
Admission? £1 each.
Themes? Questions on all genres.
Prizes? £50 cash prize, spot prizes between rounds and usually some TV and film memorabilia.

You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat film quiz
Where? The Boogaloo, 312 Archway Road, N6 5AT.
When? 8pm, usually the first Wednesday of the month, but check.
Admission? A slightly astronomical £2.50 per person per team.
Themes? A very high-tech (and often tough) quiz, with a picture round. Many questions are based on clips.
Prizes? Spot prizes of DVDs, with bigger prizes for the top three teams.

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