Worldwide interest in running one of the most unique pubs in the North West on Piel Island

Almost 200 people from around the world have shown an interest becoming 'monarch' of a remote island and running one of the UK's most unusual pubs.

The Ship Inn is one of the few buildings situated on Piel Island, off the coast of Barrow-in-Furness, and those who choose to stay there live largely in isolation to the rest of the North West.

To add to the uniqueness of the role, they will also be granted the title 'King of Piel' in a ceremony that involves pouring buckets of beer over their head.

Barrow Borough Council is looking to recruit the new "king" or "queen" on a 10-year lease ahead of the season starting in April 2022.

The job has featured in the New York Times and Radio Canada, and Barrow Borough Council, the custodian of the island, which has its own 14th century motte and bailey castle ruin, has had around 190 applicants.

The council's overview and scrutiny committee recently heard how the island had captivated audiences from around the world.

Cllr Frank Cassidy told the meeting: "I just know that former councillor John Murphy has been interviewed by the global media about the situation on Piel Island."

The applications are currently being considered by the king-makers at the Town Hall in Barrow.

The island is half a mile from the Furness peninsula and is only reachable via ferry running between April and September, or through guided walks across the sands.

On the 50 acre site stands a castle built in the middle ages, alongside the 300-year-old pub.

There is a seal colony on the sands nearby, and their population outnumbers locals by around 80 to one.

There is no mains gas or electricity and only a handful of people live there, but the island is steeped in history with an abundance of wildlife.

Coming back from the brink, the island is now busier than ever, says Mark Wilcock who runs the 12 seater ferry that goes to and from the island.

As well as running the pub, the new 'monarch' will also be required to manage and maintain the whole island.

The coronation ceremony is said to be due to the landing in 1487 of pretender to the throne of England, Lambert Simnel, and is most likely to have begun as a slightly mocking homage to this event.

Simnel's rebellion was crushed and he ended up working as a domestic in the royal household.

However, the tradition continued, and became an important part of local folklore and island history with recorded landlords of the Ship Inn dating back to 1746.