There is something about a quiz that brings out a competitive streak, and it is wise to keep that in mind before stepping into the ring with friends, family, or work colleagues. The opportunity arises at Quiz Boxing, an attraction a little hidden away opposite Camden Road station. It has been open since late 2023, and now has venues elsewhere too, giving players a quiz show experience without having to make a fool of yourself on The Chase.
Once checked in, you are led into a dimly-lit arena set up like a boxing ring. There is a chance to try on some gloves, but no physical training is required to compete. You head to one of the six podiums—so that is six players playing individually, or 12 if you want to cram in teams—and stare across at your mates. It is all conducted with screens and buzzers, once the voice of the big bout hypeman has finished explaining the rules.
Then comes an hour of questions based on the subjects you cheer loudest for at the beginning. Boo if you do not want any on anything that happened before 1990. There is a fog machine to add drama, a few drum rolls, and a system of “jokers” which let you steal points from rival players and boost your own scores. It does not take long for alliances to crumble and for people to lament loudly about how they are being targeted.
There is probably some clever strategy to all of this, but the timer ticks down and everybody is shouting “I know this” or groaning at being stumped. A “name that tune” music round will probably prove popular with most guests, although be warned it is fastest finger first. While some of the rounds lacked the pace of a true knockout, stretching to more than 20 questions, others, like the quick-fire true or false rounds, kept things moving. Points were won, points were lost.
The end winner was announced as our boss, Richard Osley, who had chosen his competition name to be ‘Big Scoop’, without a shred of humility. He had drowned everybody out by barking for more sport questions before we started. The winning prize is a championship belt to laud in front of the losers.
Ultimately, whether you enjoyed the experience may be linked to how well you do with the questions. With tickets starting at £15 per player, Quiz Boxing is certainly a lively and slightly chaotic way to spend an hour in Camden if you have the chance. It is worth a go—if only to settle, once and for all, who is the ultimate quiz master.
