Bringing the Buzz Back to the Pub
We spoke to the team behind Hashtag Quiz about how they are transforming traditional quiz nights with interactive technology, fresh weekly content and engaging entertainment designed to drive footfall, boost dwell time and build loyal hospitality communities
Q: For readers who are new to Hashtag Quiz, can you tell us about the company and what inspired its creation
A: Hashtag Quiz was created with one simple goal: to provide a reason for guests to attend their local, favourite pubs. We have always wanted to help hospitality venues bring people together through fun, interactive entertainment that is easy to deliver and genuinely engaging for customers, by bringing community back. Having worked closely with pubs and bars for many years, we recognised that traditional quiz nights, while popular, often relied on finding and retaining great quiz hosts. That can be expensive, timeconsuming and increasingly difficult in today’s hospitality climate. We wanted to create a solution that removed those barriers while actually improving the customer experience. The result was the HQ.FM Pub Quiz Software, a cloudbased entertainment platform that powers Hashtag Quiz. Rather than replacing the social atmosphere of a quiz night, we’ve enhanced it by combining professionally written content with modern technology that guests already have in their pockets— their smartphones.
What started as an interactive quiz platform has continued to evolve into a complete entertainment solution. Today, venues can also offer interactive Bingo alongside quizzes, giving operators multiple ways to entertain customers throughout the week using one simple platform. Ultimately, our mission has never changed: helping venues create memorable experiences that encourage guests to stay longer, return more often and recommend their favourite local venue to friends and family.
Q: How has Hashtag Quiz evolved since launching as a small entertainment provider?
A: The journey has been driven entirely by listening to venues and understanding the pressures facing hospitality. Initially, Hashtag Quiz operated only as a hosted entertainment service, delivering quiz nights in person. While hugely successful, we quickly realised there was demand from venues wanting greater flexibility and control over their entertainment schedule. That insight led to the development of the HQ.FM Pub Quiz Software.
Today, venues can run professional interactive quizzes and Bingo themselves without requiring an external host, (although we can provide a fully-trained host if required). The software delivers everything needed from question content and scoring through to live leaderboards and player interaction. We’ve also significantly expanded our content library. Venues now have access to an ever-growing catalogue of themed quizzes, seasonal specials, music rounds, picture rounds, general knowledge, family-friendly events and interactive Bingo sessions. Most importantly, we’ve built a platform that continues to evolve. Customer feedback directly shapes new features, ensuring we’re always developing solutions that genuinely help venues succeed.
Q: How does your HQ.FM hosting software simplify quiz nights for venues that want a professional, gameshow-style experience without hiring external hosts?
A: Simplicity has been at the heart of our software from day one. With HQ.FM, venues don’t need specialist equipment, technical expertise or a professional quiz host. As long as the venue has an internet connection, they’re ready to go. Customers can either create a FREE player account or they can simply scan a QR code to enter the game on their phones. Questions appear on the player’s screen and answer directly from their own devices. The software handles everything automatically, including timing, scoring, answer validation, and live leaderboards. Because everything is automated, staff can continue serving customers instead of trying to manage paperwork or calculate scores.
One feature that venues particularly appreciate is the flexibility. Every pre-written quiz can be edited before play begins, allowing operators to personalise questions, add venue-specific content or tailor games for local audiences. The experience feels polished, interactive and professional, similar to a television gameshow, but without the cost and complexity traditionally associated with delivering that type of entertainment.
Q: What challenges do pubs, bars and hospitality venues face when it comes to keeping customers engaged, and how does Hashtag Quiz solve them?
A: Hospitality has never been more competitive. Consumers have more entertainment choices than ever before, while venues face rising operating costs, staffing shortages and increasing pressure to maximise quieter trading periods. The biggest challenge isn’t necessarily attracting customers once; it’s giving them a reason to return week after week. That’s exactly where Hashtag Quiz adds value. Interactive entertainment creates an occasion, rather than simply another evening at the pub. Friends will organise teams, colleagues will arrange nights out, families will meet up, and regular customers build routines around weekly events. Because players use their own smartphones, everyone feels involved throughout the game. There’s no waiting for answer sheets or wondering whether someone else has written the correct answer. The atmosphere becomes lively, competitive and incredibly social, which is exactly what successful hospitality should be.
Q: How does your technology help venues increase footfall, customer dwell time and midweek revenue?
A: Entertainment is one of the most effective ways to create repeat business. Customers rarely visit a venue solely for a drink; they visit because something is happening. By offering regular quiz nights and interactive Bingo sessions, venues create planned occasions that encourage groups to meet every week. Once guests are seated and engaged in a game, they’re naturally more likely to purchase additional drinks and food while waiting for the next round. The longer customers stay, the greater the opportunity for increased spend.
Many operators specifically use Hashtag Quiz to strengthen quieter midweek trading, turning traditionally slower evenings into vibrant community events. Because the platform is easy to operate and affordable to run, venues can deliver consistent entertainment without significantly increasing staffing or operational costs. The result is improved footfall, longer dwell times and stronger customer loyalty.
Q: What feedback have you received from venues using Hashtag Quiz, and is there a particular success story that stands out?
A: The most rewarding feedback we receive is when venue operators tell us that quiz nights have become one of the busiest evenings of their week. Many describe seeing customers arrive earlier, stay longer, and bring additional friends after experiencing the atmosphere. We’ve also heard from operators who had previously stopped running quizzes because they struggled to find reliable hosts. With HQ.FM, they’ve been able to relaunch successful quiz nights using existing staff with minimal training.
One particularly satisfying trend is hearing that quiz teams become regular weekly customers rather than occasional visitors. That consistency is incredibly valuable in hospitality because predictable footfall allows venues to plan staffing, stock and promotions with greater confidence. While every venue is different, the common theme is simple: interactive entertainment creates loyal communities.
Q: How do you keep your content fresh and ensure customers return week after week for new quiz experiences?
A: Fresh content is absolutely essential. TWO brand new quizzes are written and made available to subscribers each week. Returning players expect something new every week, so we invest heavily in producing professionally written quiz content covering a huge range of subjects. From current affairs and popular culture to music, sport, television, history and themed specials, there’s always something different to enjoy.
We also produce seasonal events around major sporting tournaments, Christmas, Halloween, Easter and other calendar moments that naturally encourage additional customer interest. Our software also allows venues to customise existing quizzes or create their own content, giving operators complete flexibility when running charity events, fundraising evenings or venue-specific promotions. Adding interactive Bingo to the platform has also given venues another popular entertainment option that appeals to a wider audience and complements traditional quiz nights perfectly.
Q: How cost-effective is the platform compared to traditional quiz hosting methods?
A: One of the biggest advantages of HQ.FM is that it delivers premium entertainment without premium costs. Traditional hosted quizzes often involve ongoing host fees, travel expenses and scheduling challenges. Our subscription model removes those issues completely.
For one simple weekly subscription, venues receive unlimited access to professionally written quiz content, interactive Bingo, software updates and ongoing platform improvements. There are no expensive hardware requirements, no specialist equipment and no complicated setup. When operators compare the cost against hiring external hosts every week, many quickly recognise that the software pays for itself through improved customer attendance and increased food and drink sales. For smaller independent pubs especially, it’s an affordable way to deliver consistently high-quality entertainment while maintaining full control over their events calendar.
Q: Are there any exciting new features, integrations or developments on the horizon that users can look forward to?
A: Innovation never stops for us. We’re continually investing in new content, smarter automation and additional entertainment formats that help venues stand out. Future developments include expanding personalisation options, introducing more interactive game formats and giving venues even greater flexibility over how events are presented. We’re also exploring deeper reporting and analytics, allowing operators to better understand attendance trends, customer engagement and event performance. Our aim isn’t simply to provide quizzes, it’s to become the hospitality industry’s complete interactive entertainment platform. As customer expectations continue to evolve, we’ll continue evolving with them.
Q: As interactive entertainment continues to evolve, where do you see Hashtag Quiz positioned in the next three to five years?
A: We believe hospitality is becoming increasingly experience-led. People don’t just want somewhere to eat or drink; they want memorable occasions that justify leaving the house and spending time together. Hashtag Quiz is perfectly positioned for that future. Over the next three to five years, we see HQ.FM becoming the go-to entertainment platform for pubs, bars, clubs, hotels and hospitality venues looking to build loyal communities around regular interactive events.
We’ll continue expanding beyond quizzes into new entertainment experiences while keeping the platform incredibly easy to use. Our ambition is simple but exciting: whenever a venue wants to create an unforgettable evening that drives repeat visits, strengthens customer loyalty and increases revenue, Hashtag Quiz and the HQ.FM Pub Quiz Software will be the first solution they think of. For us, technology is only part of the story. The real success comes from helping venues fill tables, create laughter, build communities and give customers another reason to support their local hospitality businesses every single week.
Contact Simon at HQ.FM today on WhatsApp: 07941 322339 or email at: ops@hashtaghosts.co.uk
Please visit their website: www.hashtagquiz.co.uk