THE potential new king of Piel Island is suspected to be knighted later this year after the island’s pub swings open its doors.
Shipyard worker Aaron Sanderson emerged as the Barrow Borough Council's choice for the role of landlord of Piel Island's Ship Inn pub last month.
The Barrow man said he is ready to give up his job at BAE Systems for the unique opportunity to run the well-known watering hole off the coast of the Furness Peninsula.
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'.
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.
Piel Island guide and historian, John Murphy, told The Mail that he suspects the new potential king to be knighted later this year after the island’s pub officially opens.
He said: “I have been told that the pub should be open to customers by Easter.
“I suspect the knighting itself will not be until later in the year.
“I imagine the new king will want to get into the business and learn the ropes first. It’s an exciting time.
“I am very much looking forward to the pub reopening and us having a king on Piel again.
“It’s definitely going to attract a lot of media coverage and hopefully more visitors to the island.”
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.
Read our previous stories about the king of Piel Island here:
https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/19975686.bae-worker-hoping-bring-glory-days-back-piels-ship-inn/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel