Week nights downtown at the Harbour View Hotel have rarely been so popular – and there’s no question what’s pulling in the punters. It’s quizzing.
Trivia Tuesdays are drawing scores of locals from their homes, even mid winter, for the warmth and ambience of the old pub where the weekly ‘Believe It or Not’ syndicated quiz sets the scene for some lively if not raucous entertainment.
Quizmaster Kevin Holmes can vouch for the fact both bars are typically full on Tuesdays, formerly one of the pub’s quietest nights. He can see this for himself from his vantage point behind the counter of the public bar – where a dozen or so teams of amped-up quizzers sit noisily at reserved tables – through to the Veranda Bar where the non-quizzers are now relegated for that quiet, or not-so-quiet, drink.
Kevin – one-time chief of Raglan’s volunteer fire service, more recently Waikato fire investigator – reckons trivia nights are a lot of fun and have grown exponentially since starting up about two years ago, soon after publican Fiona Gates took over the establishment and aimed to “get the old girl firing again”.
She’s done that in spades with a full Monday to Sunday schedule of activities, ranging from a members’ draw on Thursday nights through to karaoke nights and a popular monthly science night on Wednesdays, all targeted principally at the Raglan community.
But the weekly quiz night has become the most consistently popular event, she says, attracting a “very loyal following” of up to 16 teams, including regulars like those from Raglan Radio, Four Square and the Kereopa whanau. There’s also usually a young team or two from the downtown backpackers hostel who are eager to mix with, and occasionally show up, the locals.
Kevin does an “amazing job” as quizmaster, Fiona enthuses, and is a big part of her own very committed pub team. He keeps things rollicking along, calling out the questions on his laptop screen. The questions are duplicated for all to see on several big screens high up around the public bar.
He also does the all-important marking, with teams of anywhere between two and eight members vying for first, second and third prizes of $100, $50 and $25 nightly.
A long-time local, Kevin was keen to step into the role of quizmaster and “give it a go”. He’s used to public speaking, which helps, and strives to make each quiz night a good one with more than a few quips bandied about.
He reckons he’s learned heaps himself from doing the quiz routine weekly. “And I enjoy it.”
Fiona’s starting up some new activities like a wine options evening, and is thinking about a singles night. Meantime a fairly recent rejuvenation of the all-weather garden bar has paid off with live music gigs booked right through to the end of the year.
The Harbour View will also be included in Radio Hauraki’s beer garden tour, Fiona says, for the alternative cricket commentary in October.
And the pub’s first Oktoberfest is being planned complete with roasted meat on a spit, specially branded HVH steins plus – if it can be found – a German oompah band. “I want people to dress up and have fun,” says Fiona spiritedly.
A Mudsharks “farewell tour” is on the cards too. That would see Raglan’s legendary old blues line-up performing where they started out – at the Harbour View – way back in the eighties.
Trivia Tuesdays kick off at 7pm. Good fun with good mates! Book your table from 6pm.
by Edith Symes
