The third annual Stew-Off bought 20 of the best stews to the one place for a shot at bragging rights for the best stew around.

What started as a friendly debate three years ago is now one of the Beechwood Hotel's major fundraisers with more than $1500 raised for the Port Macquarie Base Hospital's renal and dialysis ward.

After the smoke cleared and the judges' final decision was made, Mark Oliff's beef stew came out on top.

His name will feature on the big boiler that sits proudly at the pub and he has the all-important bragging rights for the next 12 months Following in second was Ray Hargy while Ben Little claimed third spot with his beef stew.

Organisers and Beechwood Hotel licensees Michael and Tracy Waind couldn't be happier the result of the fundraiser.

"It was a fantastic day for everyone," Tracy said.

"For us to raise as much money as we did is great for the renal unit. They will be able to purchase a dialysis chair from the proceeds.

"There is a lot of good that hotels do and we're proud to be a part of such a great fundraiser," Mrs Waind said.

The wide range of stews on offer featured from soup-like stews to modern-day stews, curries to the ever-popular traditional stews.

Once the judging was completed, patrons got to make up their own mind and tasted the fruits of the men's efforts for a gold coin donation.THE POTS were boiling, the crowd was salivating and competition was fierce at the Beechwood Hotel on Sunday.

The third annual Stew-Off bought 20 of the best stews to the one place for a shot at bragging rights for the best stew around.

What started as a friendly debate three years ago is now one of the Beechwood Hotel's major fundraisers with more than $1500 raised for the Port Macquarie Base Hospital's renal and dialysis ward.

After the smoke cleared and the judges' final decision was made, Mark Oliff's beef stew came out on top.