12 pubs. One city. A little literary knowledge.
A lot of competitive spirit.
You know what we love almost as much as a good book? A good pub. And you know what happens when you combine the two with a group of wonderfully competitive readers? Organised chaos, apparently.
After last year's gloriously ridiculous 12 Pubs of Christmas, we're bringing it back for 2026. Only this time, we're taking things up a notch.
Introducing The 12 Pubs of Christmas: Our Readers' Race. A festive race across London, combining literary trivia, Christmas challenges, pub stops and a healthy dose of competitive spirit.
Think Race Across the World but London, with more books, more Christmas jumpers and considerably more opportunities to argue about the rules.
So, how does it work?
We'll kick things off at King's Cross St Pancras, where you'll be assigned to a team named after one of London's iconic Tube lines.
Armed with your first set of destinations, you'll have to work together to navigate London, visit pubs, complete secret challenges and collect as many points as possible.
The catch? You won't know what each challenge involves until you arrive.
Expect literary questions, festive photo opportunities, ridiculous team tasks and plenty of chances to earn bonus points. Christmas attire is very much encouraged. Subtlety, less so.
Halfway through, we'll reconvene at our Waterloo checkpoint for a surprise literary quiz, a chance to refuel and the next leg of the race.
Then it's back out into London, working your way towards a secret final destination in Clapham, where your hosts will be waiting to crown our champions.
And yes, there will be prizes. And yes, we expect some of you to take this far too seriously.
Books. Brunch. Booze. Big conversations.
At its heart, this is still everything Brunch Book Club is about.
It's about making friends, sharing stories, celebrating the year we've had, and finding your people. The ones who'll happily discuss a devastating novel over a glass of wine, then become absolutely insufferable when there are points at stake.
You don't need to be a literary expert, a London navigation genius or particularly competitive to join us. Just bring your sense of humour, your festive spirit and a willingness to get stuck in.
Coming on your own? Perfect. Teams will be randomly assigned, so it's a brilliant opportunity to meet more of the community.
Bringing a friend? They're very welcome too. Just be prepared for the possibility that you'll be competing against each other. Nothing says Christmas quite like a little friendly betrayal.
What does your £10 ticket include?
Entry into our 12 Pubs of Christmas Readers' Race
Your team assignment and race materials
A day of literary quizzes, festive challenges and ridiculous tasks
Entry into our Christmas competition, with prizes up for grabs
A chance to celebrate the year with the Brunch Book Club community
Your ticket contributes towards the event kitty, covering prizes, materials and event costs.
Drinks, food and transport are purchased separately. You'll need a drink at each pub to complete your stop, but that can absolutely be alcoholic or alcohol-free. Nobody earns extra points for drinking alcohol.
We'll also build in a chance to grab food and refuel along the way. Because even the most competitive reader needs feeding.
The important bits.
When: Saturday 12 December 2026, 12pm–9pm
Where: Starting at King's Cross St Pancras, with a Waterloo checkpoint and a secret finish in Clapham. Exact meeting details will be shared with ticket holders.
Tickets: £10 per person, plus any applicable booking fee.
Who: Brunch Book Club members and friends, aged 18+.
Dress code: Christmas jumpers, festive accessories, outrageous outfits — encouraged and potentially rewarded.
You'll need: A charged phone with WhatsApp, a contactless card or Oyster, comfortable shoes and a sense of humour.
This is a moving event involving a substantial amount of walking, public transport and visits to multiple pubs. If you have any accessibility requirements, please get in touch before booking so we can discuss the format and what adjustments may be possible.
Places are limited, and we'll be organising teams in advance.
So, readers, assemble your Christmas spirit, brush up on your literary knowledge and prepare to get competitive.
May the best readers win.
You can sit with us. You just might have to race us there first.