The Banner Cross Quiz, Sheffield

We ask our friends to review quizzes they attend in order to provide useful guidance to others. They usually oblige and we are very, very grateful. However, sometimes they come back with a review of such epic proportions, thank you just is not enough. The following is a review of the quiz from The Banner Cross, written for us by our friend Liz:

I struggled up the hill on a very wet, cold and windy night, to the Banner Cross pub on Ecclesall Road South, Sheffield. Possibly looking for glory again, I met the group, hoods up, tired and with that same feeling.

The footy was on and loads of Real Madrid (apparently) fans were in, shouting and swearing, enjoying the cheese sandwiches for sale at £1.50 per pack, with no other filling choices left. Bar-maid Jennie, ventures over about 9.30, “Anybodiee wont t' dut quiz? Quid a sheet “, we scurry for our purses before they sell out.

Real fans clear the pub, quite a big quiz audience has appeared around the velour seats in the big, bright living room. Excited, nervous, iPhone fully charged and waiting. Most of the pub nip out for a quick smoke, in the freezing tornado-ridden smoking area, some of the outdoor rope lights have gone and the lavender bush and geraniums are dead. The outdoor TV doors are hanging on the hinges.

Quiz started 10.00 pm on the dot, tellies off as only 'go compare' advert and pre-lim for Saturdays XFactor was playing to itself.

This is a bingo-style quiz with prizes for all four corners, line, full house – I'm sure you get the gist. The questions were quite good and varied, which kicks out the group of 19, average age 25, students studying higher Rumanian Economics. 30 questions in total, but answers given at the end when the numbers on the bingo card were called.. .you still with me? Lots of trivia, TV, old/new music, geography, history and my favourite - the anagram question! On this occasion it was something like anlerio laltmlcih erplninsantt - and it was a 'big place to go when you go on holidays?' No free food. The prize was £11 for first line, 4 free pints (taken within a week) for full house and 2 pints for best quiz team name. The quiz it quite a late finisher at 11.00. Cue lots of arguing, then lights went up.

Rating 3.5/5 - Great, entertaining quiz for a wet night, which makes the brain cells kick in - but finishes a bit late for a school night.

Liz, we thank you for your clear dedication to the quiz cause.