An Irish-born Brisbane local is challenging the city’s trivia buffs to help decide which venue deserves to be crowned Brisbane’s Smartest Venue for 2026.
Ben Deverell, creator of the free online quiz Ben’s Trivia, has launched a six-week competition bringing together six Brisbane venues and a local YouTube channel for a battle of general knowledge.
Running from 18 October to 28 November, the competition gives players a fresh set of 25 questions every Sunday. The winning venue will be announced on 1 December.
The contenders are Soapbox Brewery in Fortitude Valley, THE Brisbane Channel, X Golf South Bank, the German Club at Woolloongabba, Sea Legs at Kangaroo Point and XXXX Brewery at Milton.
The format is simple. Players scan a QR code at their chosen venue, complete the quiz on their phones and submit their scores. Each venue’s standing is determined by its average score, rather than the performance of a single trivia champion.
There is one important catch: venues must attract at least 30 completed quizzes across the competition to qualify for the title.
A live leaderboard allows players to follow the contest, adding a little extra incentive to get those grey cells working.
Ben’s Trivia began with a straightforward idea: give people a free weekly quiz that anyone can play, then see how Brisbane’s venues compare. The project was being promoted through trivia coasters distributed to venues earlier this year, helping bring the quiz into the places where people gather.
The competition has also attracted THE Brisbane Channel, which is encouraging its audience to represent the channel and take on the five other venue contenders.
Players can compete individually or get family and friends involved. The quiz is free to play, making it an easy way to join the challenge without committing to a traditional pub trivia night.
Whether your strengths lie in history, sport, music, geography or general knowledge, the weekly questions offer a chance to test yourself while helping your chosen venue climb the rankings.
Will the German Club’s supporters prove to be the sharpest in Brisbane, will a brewery take the honours, or will the online team from THE Brisbane Channel surprise everyone?
There is only one way to find out.
HOW TO PLAY
Visit benstrivia.com and choose your venue by scanning its competition QR code. Complete the 25-question quiz each Sunday and submit your score. Only your first score each week counts towards the competition.
The six-week contest runs until 28 November, with Brisbane’s Smartest Venue for 2026 to be crowned on 1 December.
Top picture: Adam from the XXXX team with Ben Deverell (right). Picture: https://www.instagram.com/benstrivia/
