The Step Inn in Stepaside, Co Dublin, was sold yesterday at a John Younge auction for £3,150,000 - the highest price ever paid at auction for a pub in the Dublin area. It is understood that it was bought by Brian Palmer, who also owns The Golden Bowl in nearby Kilternan. The Stepaside, which had a turnover of £1.76 million in 1997, is owned by Tony Weir, who previously owned The Regal bar in Hawkins Street.