What the Sunday papers say

The Observer

• Britain's pubs have failed to persuade ministers to approve a voluntary code for smoke-free areas in bars, signaling a move by the government towards an outright ban on smoking in public places.

The Sunday Express​

• The Sunday Express picks up the story of the pub conman who has tricked licensees out of thousands of pounds, as revealed exclusively by The Publican last month. Click herefor the full story.

The Mail on Sunday​

• Laurel has made it through to the second round of the auction for Wizard Inns, the 64-strong managed house chain put up for sale in March. It faces competition for Barracuda Group and a clutch of private equity groups.

The Sunday Telegrpah​

• The doors are about to be slammed shut forever on ladies' nights in clubs and bars across the country. A new EU directive will ban charging customers on the basis of gender, in a move that will hit businesses from clubs to car insurance companies.

Business leaders have slammed new rules that require companies to provide prayer rooms and give religious holidays to non-Christians as "unacceptable and ridiculous".

The Independent on Sunday​

• In homage to the 1942 movie Casablanca, former US diplomat Kathy Kriger has spent two years and invested $1m to bring Rick's Café to Morocco's largest city.

Last week two of the world's biggest brewers kicked off what could be China's first hostile takeover. SABMiller and Anheuser Busch are set to slog it out over the Harbin Brewery.

Diary: This Wednesday (May 12) TV satellite giant British Sky Broadcasting (Sky) will update the stock market with third quarter results.

The Sunday Times​

• Private research carried out for Irish drinks companies shows a dramatic decline in sales of cider for the 12 months to March.

The ST's "Idea of the Week" celebrates the marketing triumph of Budweiser's "born on" date campaign. The exercise hammers home the message that fresh beer tastes better.

Labour is to bring a new anti-discrimination regime that will impose a fresh duty on employers to promote equality between men and women, leaked cabinet papers reveal.

Architects are designing a new generation of "fit" office buildings that encourage employees to become healthier by making them walk while they are at work.