Customers at the Woodvale Hotel in Gurnard were in a right pickle when it came to benefiting the RNLI.
Thanks to what was promoted as a Pickled Onion War, the life-saving charity was the beneficiary of more than £1,000.
The competition pitted 14 challengers' home-prepared pickled onion skills against each other.
Despite the subject matter, no tears were shed when Ginny Orrey, of Cowes was declared the winner — the Pickle Queen really knowing her onions.
The competition was revived after a three-year absence because of covid.
Nathan McGinty, the Woodvale’s general manager (below), said:
“Thanks to the selling of tickets for a large raffle manned by the RNLI’s Cowes Guild, and donations, we were able raise £1,075 for the RNLI.
“It was a very enjoyable event for a very good cause.”
Mark Southwell, Operations Manager of Cowes lifeboat station, said it was especially appropriate that the Woodvale looked over the Solent where lifeboats play a significant life-saving role.
He also praised members of the RNLI’s guild who staffed the raffle, which was packed with prizes provided by the Woodvale.