A BARROW man says he is ready to give up his job at BAE Systems for the unique opportunity to run a well-known watering hole on an island off the coast of the Furness Peninsula.

Aaron Sanderson has emerged as the borough council's choice for the role of landlord of Piel Island's Ship Inn pub. 

It follows a search that saw more than 190 individuals register an interest in the position, with in excess of 30 submitting applications.

Mr Sanderson, 33, an electrical team leader at BAE Systems, said the prospect of taking on the Ship Inn presented 'both an incredible risk and a wonderful opportunity'.

“I have very happy memories of visiting Piel many times as a child and throughout my life," he said. 

"The prospect of me applying for the role was mentioned, and from that point I couldn’t get it out of my head.

"I am in a secure and well-paid role, but I am willing to give that up for the chance to bring the glory days back to the Ship Inn.”

Mr Sanderson is the borough council's preferred bidder for the 10-year pub lease now that the tender process has moved on to the next stage.

A partnership organisation - the Piel Island Pub Company - stepped in to ensure the pub reopened in July last year after the previous leaseholders, who ran the pub and maintained the island, terminated their contract.

However, this was a temporary arrangement that concluded in September.

The hunt for a new King or Queen of Piel - the title bestowed upon the landlord of the Ship Inn - has attracted global attention, with news outlets from Canada and the US among those to have taken on the story. 

Cllr Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Borough Council, which is the custodian of Piel Island and the Ship Inn, said Mr Sanderson, who would move to the 50-acre island with his partner, Anita Palfi, had a 'great understanding' of Piel and its traditions.

"We will now follow due process as we move through the official channels to confirm our partnership and very much look forward to the Ship Inn being open this year and to seeing Piel Island resplendent with visitors and holidaymakers," she said.