David Gardiner

Journalist

If you’re after a regular, local fun quiz night – then Hemingway’s in Port Douglas reckons it has just the occasion for you.

Launched only this month, the brewery’s ‘Topics in the Tropics’ trivia night will now be a permanent entry in the popular venue’s weekly calendar – every Thursday night from 7pm to 9pm.

The new event manager at Hemingway’s, Ali O’Neill said the first couple of trivia nights have already proven a hit with locals, and host Brendan Dennis is “one of the most enigmatic, charismatic trivia hosts you’ll ever meet.”

So popular has the event already become, that Hemingway’s are advising to book ahead.

“Honestly, I could not be more thrilled,” Mr O’Neill said. “Not only did we completely book out our section in the first week, but we had to bring over two extra tables and we actually started using the deck..we got two or three teams in there as well," he said.

“We must have done a very good job on advertising, or marketing, or word of mouth has travelled very well about how fun these trivia nights are because for the last trivia night just gone, I think we only had a couple of bookings but it was a walk in, fully booked out section.”

There are no strict rules on team sizes, because as Mr O’Neill points out, it’s not a serious competition, just a night focused on fun.

“We wouldn’t recommend over 10 or 12 but who are we to judge? You want to bring along a team of 20, we wouldn’t recommend it, but if the people who want to book want to play as one big team – hey, come along, have fun!”

There are four regular trivia rounds and two “ad hoc”, with on-the-spot drink prizes and food vouchers.

“My favourite round – and I think this is what really gets everybody in a good mood – is when Brendan starts the night, we do just a quick round which is a free beer or free round of beers, for the team with the best roar (laughs).

In the meantime for New Year’s Eve, Hemingway’s Port Douglas is planning a party which the brewery aims to make a fun night for all ages and demographics.