'I used to be a motorbike stunt rider - now I'm landlord at my town's last independent pub'

But the happy landlord had a much different career before he took to pulling pints and chatting to locals. He was a death-defying motorcycle stunt rider.

Now the publican of The New Inn in Selby has been honoured with a prestigious award to celebrate more than 20 years’ service at the helm of this much-loved town centre local, the last independently operated pub in town.

He says he enjoyed both careers but is now happiest behind the bar.

Mr Dyson says: “I can’t imagine not running a pub. I have had very hard and very good times in the pub business.

"Selby has seen 12 pubs close since Covid with five closing since Christmas, so we’re doing something right.

“You can’t have a successful pub without great customers.

"So, thank you to all our regulars for your support over the years and thank you also to Alison and our daughters, without whose help The New Inn wouldn’t be what it is today.

"For those worried about its future, you can rest assured I am here for the duration. I have no intention of retiring anytime soon. We’ll be continuing with our karaoke and disco for which we’re renowned.”

Mr Dyson was presented with a dedicated service award by Heineken owned Star Pubs in recognition of the contribution that he has made to The New Inn and the community.

For the last 12 years, he has been operating The New Inn together with his partner, Alison and their daughters.

He came to the pub industry via a circuitous route. He started out racing bikes and was part of a travelling stunt show and even appeared on BBC 1’s Late Late Breakfast Show.

From there he went on to run a motorbike shop, followed by a property development business.

Fate stepped in when a repossessed pub he bought in Barnby on Marsh failed to get planning permission for conversion into houses and a fall from a roof made him re-examine his career.

He decided instead to run the pub himself and there followed a lifelong love affair with pubs.

Bitten by the bug, at one time he had 10 pubs. Today he has The New Inn in Selby and The New Inn in Barlby, a village pub that at the time was facing closure which his daughters persuaded him to take on 10 years ago.

It played a key role helping the community during covid.

The initial impetus to take on The New Inn in Selby was because he wanted to socialise in town when not behind the bar himself, and couldn’t find his type of pub.

He took on the lease of The New Inn and it has been busy ever since.

Today the Grade II listed pub retains its historic character and has been recognised by CAMRA for preserving its authentic interior from a time when pubs were more of a social sanctuary, a living museum of British beer culture.

Says Rachel Greenley, Star Pubs’ Business Development Manager: “Steve has created the go-to pub in Selby.

“It’s somewhere where people of all ages come in to chat and socialise. Running pubs is evidently in Steve’s DNA.”